Druid Spirals (Vortices) - 5500 BCE to 1000 CE
The Druid Spiral is a visual marker for Druid civilization because it represents the concept that deities are coalescences of spiritual powers which optionally may be personified. This "coalescence of power" concept as a wheel or spiral found its way into the early Hindu Vedas as the chakra concept. These spirals are not to be confused with concentric circles which represent the moon, specifically, the motion/wind powers of the full moon god Su.
Notice the migration split into northern and southern routes after eastern Europe. This divides the Celtic (south) from the Germanic/Norse (nurth) subcultures. These subcultures met up again in Britian with Germanic/Norse culture settling on the east coast with the Celtic culture settling on the west coast. The Druid spirals seem to mostly belong to the Celtic culture.
Map from Gronenborn, D., & Horejs, B. (2023). Online at: https://www.academia.edu/9424525/Map_Expansion_of_farming_in_western_Eurasia_9600_4000_cal_BC_update_vers_2023_1_?email_work_card=title
Ireland ___________________________________________________
(September 7, 2023) The Druid Ancient Pagan Paradigm in stone. This is the entrance stone (labeled as K1) to the Newgrange mound tomb in Ireland dating to 3100 BCE. To the right are the life powers while the triple-spiral (triskelion) on the left represent the magical motion powers. These vortices are emerging out of a background of spatially connected spiritual powers (network, fabric). The life powers consist of 3 layers of paired masculine and feminine deities. The layers are source powers, connective powers, and manifestation powers. Photo from https://www.newgrange.com/kerbstone-k1.htm
The triskelion is only found in Ireland.
(Top Image from https://www.newgrange.com/tri-spiral.htm)
Triskelion from New Grange, Ireland (3100 BCE)
(July 3, 2022) The spirals at Newgrange are the most well-known spiral collection. The big three Neolithic farming areas in the British Isles around 3100 BCE were the Orkney Islands in the north, the Boyne Valley in Ireland, and the Salisbury Plain in England. These three became centers because they were mostly treeless and thus did not have to be cleared with stone axes. They were closely interconnected culturally with ideas spreading from one to another.
Two Triskelion stones are located at the Newgrange mound tomb located in Ireland north of Dublin near the Boyne river in Ireland. The mound is 85m (279ft) in diameter and 13m (43ft) high having an area of about 1 acre.
The Newgrange tomb chamber is aligned with the rising sun on the mornings of the Winter Solstice so at that time it is filled with light.
Newgrange is surrounded by 97 large stones called kerbstones some of which are engraved with megalithic art. These originally seem to been vertical and part of a henge at this sight. One of these is a large stone placed at the entrance.
Life Network, Spirals, and Wombs on Kerbstone 52 at Newgrange
The right side (original bottom) consists of eggs having 3 inner dots which probably represent the 3 life layers of the Ancient Pagan Paradigm. Surrounding them are womb symbols.
https://www.newgrange.com/newgrange-k52.htm
Life Network on Left of Kerbstone 67 at Newgrange
https://www.newgrange.com/images.htm
Newgrange Ireland Site Plan
https://www.newgrange.com/images.htm
Newgrage Mound Map
http://www.carrowkeel.com/sites/boyne/newkerbstones.html
Kerbstones at Newgrange Mound
http://www.carrowkeel.com/sites/boyne/newkerbstones.html
Knowth Ritual Macehead (Scepter) Boyne Valley Ireland 2800 BCE
Image from British Museum presentation by Alison Sheridan entitled "Exploring the Wider World of Stonehenge: Long Distance Connections and Movements" at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjJZUWTts3M&t=4323sat 1:03:14.
Drawing of Knowth Ritual Macehead Showing Vortices Over Network
Drawing from George Eogan and Hilary Richardson (1982) Two Maceheads from Knowth, County Meath. The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland. The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of IrelandVol. 112, pp. 123-138. Online at: https://www.jstor.org/stable/25508823?read-now=1&refreqid=excelsior%3A9020311826a7a4eff0b590f2baffd960&seq=1
A Network Only Ritual Macehead
Drawing from George Eogan and Hilary Richardson (1982) Two Maceheads from Knowth, County Meath. The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland. The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland Vol. 112, pp. 123-138. Online at: https://www.jstor.org/stable/25508823?read-now=1&refreqid=excelsior%3A9020311826a7a4eff0b590f2baffd960&seq=1
England and Scotland ___________________________________________
Paired (Horned) Spirals from Orkney
Image from British Museum presentation by Alison Sheridan entitled "Exploring the Wider World of Stonehenge: Long Distance Connections and Movements" at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjJZUWTts3M&t=4323sat 55:08 minutes
Drawing of Garboldisham Ritual Macehead (Scepter) from East England 2500 BCE
(Image from Andrew Meirion Jones, Marta Diaz-Guardamino (2017) The Garboldisham macehead: its manufacture, date, archaeological context and significance. Online at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321430456_The_Garboldisham_macehead_its_manufacture_date_archaeological_context_and_significance
Druid Spirals at Achnabreck, Kilmartin Glen West Scotland
Slide from British Museum presentation by Alison Sheridan entitled "Exploring the Wider World of Stonehenge: Long Distance Connections and Movements" at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjJZUWTts3M&t=4323s
Towie Ball - Scotland 3000 BCE
Picture from National Museum of Scotland. Online at:https://www.nms.ac.uk/explore-our-collections/stories/scottish-history-and-archaeology/towie-ball/
Two Layers of Spiral Pairs on Towie Ball
Picture from National Museum of Scotland. Online at:https://www.nms.ac.uk/explore-our-collections/stories/scottish-history-and-archaeology/towie-ball/
Triple Spiral? (Triskelion) on Towie Ball
Picture from National Museum of Scotland. Online at:https://www.nms.ac.uk/explore-our-collections/stories/scottish-history-and-archaeology/towie-ball/
Pictish Druid Spirals As Life Tree 800 CE
Neolithic Carved Stone Balls demonstrated by Chris Gee
A good experimental archaeology video on how these stone balls were carved.
Dr Alison Sheridan - National Monuments Service archaeology conference 2021
(August 21, 2024) Alison Sheridan is the leading expert on the interconnections of archaeological remains during Neolithic Britain. Here is her latest YouTube talk on the subject.
Balkans __________________________________________________
Cucuteni–Trypillia Culture: First Area Settled by Neolithic Famers to Fall to Indo-European Invaders (5500-3500 BCE)
Cucuteni–Trypillia culture grew wheat, rye and peas. Tools included ploughs made of antler, stone, bone and sharpened sticks. The harvest was collected with scythes made of flint-inlaid blades. The grain was milled into flour by quern-stones. Women were involved in pottery, textile- and garment-making, and played a leading role in community life. Men hunted, herded the livestock, made tools from flint, bone and stone. Of their livestock, cattle were the most important, with swine, sheep and goats playing lesser roles.
During its middle phase (c. 4000 to 3500 BCE), populations belonging to the Cucuteni–Trypillia culture built the largest settlements in Neolithic Europe, some of which contained as many as three thousand structures and were possibly inhabited by 20,000 to 46,000 people
Cucuteni–Trypillia Goddess with Network Lines and Spirals, Romania (5500-3500 BCE)
Photo by Marius Amarie from Archaeology Magazine. Online at: https://www.archaeology.org/issues/107-1311/features/tattoos
Cucuteni–Trypillia Pot with Spirals, Romania (4000 BCE)
Image from Wikimedia Commons at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cucuteni1.jpg
Originally in: The Lost World of Old Europe: The Danube Valley, 5000-3500 BC edited by by David W. Anthony and Jennifer Y. Chi, Princeton University Press
Bronze Bowl with Druid Triskelion -Bucharest, Romania (150 BCE)
Fundeni is a district in Sector 2 of Bucharest, Romania. It is situated in the northeastern outskirts of the city, on the left bank of the Colentina River, downstream of Plumbuita Monastery, and near the Fundeni Lake that was formed on the river.
Archaeological treasures of Romania Temporary exhibition at the National Archaeological Museum of Spain (October 2022 to Feb 2022). Photo by Angel M. Felicisimo at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/elgolem/51647273660/in/album-72157720020844618/
References
https://www.man.es/man/en/exposicion/exposiciones-temporales/historico/2021-2030/2022/202109-tesoros-rumania.htmlhttps://www.archeotravelers.com/en/2022/02/20/exhibition-the-archaeological-treasures-of-romania-the-dacian-and-roman-roots/
Gold Pendant With Druid Spirals, Romania (c. 200 BCE)
Online at: https://www.mnir.ro/expozitia-tezaur-istoric/
Druid Spiral As Spirit Assembly in Womb, Romania 4600–3900 BC
Animals and humans are a combination of biological life and conscious spirit. This ritual bowl connects to the way human spirits are formed from simpler conscious fragements. It is from Gumelnița culture which once existed around Sultana, Romania and dates to between 4600 and 3900 BCE. Photo from Radio Romania website.Online at: https://www.romania-actualitati.ro/documentare/scrierea-samanica-iii-spirala-id52005.html
Cucuteni-Trypillia Culture | Ancient European Civilization by Dan Davis
Druid Spiral on Sesklo Culture Pottery, Serbia (4000 BCE)
Druid Spirals on Eagle-Vulture/Griffon Head from Olympia, Greece (700 BCE)
Photo from display at the Archaeological Museum of Olympia in Greece by Jean Housen via Wikimedia Commons at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:20190507_084_olympia_museum.jpg
Druid Spiral from Middle Bronze Age, Seytomer Hoyuk in Turkey (1600 BCE)
Reference
Bilgen, Nejat (2019) THE MIDDLE BRONZE AGE LAYER SEYİTÖMER HÖYÜK-THE WEST END OF THE PHRYGIAN REGİON. Online at: https://www.academia.edu/41581059/THE_MIDDLE_BRONZE_AGE_LAYER_SEY%C4%B0T%C3%96MER_H%C3%96Y%C3%9CK_THE_WEST_END_OF_THE_PHRYGIAN_REG%C4%B0ON
Macedon Mosaic
This is an incredible mosaic from the Aigai palace of King Phillip II of Macedon (359-336 BCE, Alexander the Great's father) which artistically shows the three layers of the Ancient Pagan Paradigm. In the center is the earth with atmosphere. Surrounding it is the life network shown as a vine with its Druidic deity spirals. Around that is the sky-shell with the source deities their spirals in the corners. Built by Philip II (c. 359-336 BCE)
Photo is enhanced version of https://www.greecehighdefinition.com/blog/2019/3/15/palace-of-aigai-the-royal-capital-of-macedonia-is-being-rebuilt
Mediterranean _______________________________________________
Druid Spirals on Platforms in Malta Museum 3600-2500 BCE
Faint Spirals on Domus de Janas Tomb Walls in Sardinia 3400-2700 BCE
4-Layered Spirals on a Bull Platform at Domus de Janas Sardinia 3400-2700 BCE
Photo by Nicola Costangia via https://twitter.com/serbiaireland/status/1553386194704146433/photo/1
Druid Spirals, Buggiba Temple Complex, Malta
Online at: http://www.ancient-wisdom.com/complexes.htm
Druid Spirals, Tarxien Temple Complex, Malta
Online at: http://www.ancient-wisdom.com/complexes.htm
Druid Spirals on Child's Gold Tiara from Cyprus 1350 BCE
Image from University of Gothenburg in Sweden at: https://www.gu.se/en/news/gold-jewellery-from-the-time-of-nefertiti-found-in-bronze-age-tombs-in-cyprus
Druid Spirals As Waves On Ritual Trivet CA 2991 from Aegean Cycladic Islands 2700-2400 BCE
These trivets would have been used in fertility rituals to keep that water flowing. The Cycladic island of Delos became a major trade hub because it had easily accessibly to underground water. While not every trivet had spirals they all have a sun at their center.
Photo from Louvre CA 2991. Online at: https://collections.louvre.fr/ark:/53355/cl010260697
Druid Spirals As Waves On Ritual Trivet CA 2991 from Aegean Cycladic Islands 2700-2400 BCE
This side view shows that trivet typically had a dome shape so it had to be used to support legged objects.
The early archaeologists who discovered these called them "frying pans" and that is the name they continue to go by today.
Photo from Louvre CA 2991. Online at: https://collections.louvre.fr/ark:/53355/cl010260697
Photo by Pascal Radigue via Wikimedia commons online at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St%C3%A8le_navire_MN_carthage.jpg
Druid Spirals on a Mycenean Grave Stele 1550 BCE
Druid Spirals on Ritual Trivet from Marathon, Greece (3000 BCE)
On display at the National Archaeological Museum of Athens. This trivet is from the Early Bronze Age cemetery on the promontory of Agios Kosmas just south of Athens.
A trivet protects wooden alter tops from hot items such as incense burners. The early archaeologists who discovered these called them "frying pans" and that is the name they continue to go by today. Photo by Schuppi via Wikimedia Commons. Online at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Agios_Kosmas_%28Attica%29_Finds_10.JPG
Druid Spirals or Circles on Trivet from Marathon, Greece (3000 BCE)
On display at the Archaeological Museum of Marathon. Trivet is from tomb 13 of the archaeological site of Tsepi near Marathon Greece northwest of Athens.
A trivet protects wooden alter tops from hot items such as incense burners. The early archaeologists who discovered these called them "frying pans" and that is the name they continue to go by today. Photo by Dan Diffendale. Online at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/dandiffendale/8238325426/in/photostream/
Minoan Larnax (Side 1) Showing Druid Spirals On End 1600 BCE
Same Minoan Larnax (Side 2) Showing Fish Scales/Feathers On Other Side 1600 BCE
Spiral Decorated Pottery from Sardinia (3200-2800 BCE)
Photo from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozieri_culture#/media/File:Neolitico,_cultura_di_ozieri,_ceramica_dalla_grotta_di_s.michele_(ozieri),_3500-2700_ac_ca..JPG
Three Layers of the Ancient Pagan Paradigm Represented by Three Druid Vortices (1800 BCE)
Druid Spiral Bowl - Sardinia (4100 BCE)
Photo by Angel M. Felicisimo at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/elgolem/52319239848/in/album-72177720301656170/
First European Writing: Minoan Phaistos Disk (1900 BCE)
Etruscan Magliano Disk (450 BCE)
Minoan Crete Ritual Bowl (1800 BCE)
Image from: Baldicci, Giorgia (2017) Low Relief Potter’s Marks and the Phaistos Disk, A Note on the Comb Sign. In Annvario (vol. 95) Scuola Archeaologica Italiana di Attene
Scandinavia ____________________________________________
Druid spiral from Norway (~300 BCE)
Gold Medallion from Vindelev Viking hoard in Denmark Shows Spirals and Letters (550 CE)
Druid Spiral From Denmark
Pre-Viking Sword With Druid Spirals and Runes, Norway 50 CE
(November 26, 2023) This is dated based upon its rune style which is most like early Pontic with influences from the squared letter style of the Romans. This was made soon after Roman trade with Norway opened up after the Romans conquered Gaul. One of many swords with such spirals.
Online at Norwegian Unified Museum: https://www.unimus.no/portal/#/things/4f9d5d1a-b8ed-40a9-b4b1-ce288ae087d4
Translation in Akkadian (Rune Text 29.1)
(read from center outward. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels. Verbs are italic bold) - MuTu (Rune 29.1.1)
- MuTu (Rune 29.1.2)
(Dual use letters are E/H, I/Y, U/W, and '/A in which vowel appears at beginning of words except for Yahu which is keeping its traditional Hebrew transliteration)
In English
- Killer
- Killer
Pre-Viking Sword With Druid Spirals and Runes, Norway 50 CE
(November 26, 2023) This is dated based upon its rune style which is most like early Pontic with influences from the squared letter style of the Romans. This was made soon after Roman trade with Norway opened up after the Romans conquered Gaul. One of many swords with such spirals.
Online at Norwegian Unified Museum: https://www.unimus.no/portal/#/things/4f9d5d1a-b8ed-40a9-b4b1-ce288ae087d4
Translation in Akkadian (Rune Text 29.2)
(read from center outward. Capital letters on object. Small letters are inferred Inner vowels. Verbs are italic bold) - Ru Nu E (Rune 29.2.1)
- A Tu E (Rune 29.2.2)
- Tu Ku Zu (Rune 29.2.3)
(Dual use letters are E/H, I/Y, U/W, and '/A in which vowel appears at beginning of words except for Yahu which is keeping its traditional Hebrew transliteration)
In English
- Eagle-Vultures are revealing nothing
- Those astrology-powers are nothing
- Astrology-powers are involved with emanations
Druid Spirals Mixed In With Life Network - The Mammen Axe Head 950 CE Denmark
Mammen Axe Head 950 CE
Drawing of Both Sides
Drawing from: https://en.natmus.dk/historical-knowledge/denmark/prehistoric-period-until-1050-ad/the-viking-age/the-grave-from-mammen/an-axe-with-double-meaning/
Photo of Both Sides
This axehead is now on display at the National Museum of Denmark. https://en.natmus.dk/historical-knowledge/denmark/prehistoric-period-until-1050-ad/the-viking-age/the-grave-from-mammen/
Vallstenarum Stone, Sweden 500 CE
Photo by Ola Myrin. Found at Vallstena parish, Gotland municipality, Sweden. Online at: https://samlingar.shm.se/object/9F1A33A3-5929-48A1-996B-C6748C2886C9