Visitor Kealan McCambridge (10) is fascinated by the Janus figure on Boa Island
Posted on 04/21/2007 12:38:52 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
The two-faced Janus figure at Boa Island, Co Fermanagh, has been linked to speculation that it will be removed to a Belfast museum to protect it from damage. But the Ulster Museum has told this newspaper it has no interest in acquiring the pagan statue currently in an old graveyard... the Environment and Heritage Service confirmed yesterday that the fate of the 2ft tall figure is under consideration... The Janus figure is not connected to the Roman god but its name symbolises its two-faced nature. The statue inspired the Nobel Prize winning poet Seamus Heaney to write the poem January God... Councillor John O'Kane said there had been similar moves some years ago to remove the carved figures on nearby White Island to a museum and replace them with copies.
(Excerpt) Read more at belfasttelegraph.co.uk ...
Visitor Kealan McCambridge (10) is fascinated by the Janus figure on Boa Island
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But the star of this motley crew is undoubtedly the ‘Tanderagee Idol’, given the name because it stood for some time in the grounds of Ballymore Rectory, Tanderagee, Co. Armagh. Its previous history is only vaguely known: it came into the possession of the Reverend McEndoo, Rector of Tanderagee in The early part of the century and was supposed to be found in a bog near Newry, but how the Rector obtained it is unknown. It was later presented to the Municipal Museum of Belfast and today stands along the south aisle of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The statuette is only about two feet tall but lack of height does not lessen its effect which is powerful, even disturbing. It is a half-length figure, crudely sculptured: the mouth is like an open slot with rounded ends, and the lips are very thick. The nose reaches down to the upper lip and on each side of the nose there appears to be a short upturned moustache. A close fitting head-dress or helmet with thick rim covers the upper part of the head concealing the eyebrows of the protruding eyes. At the front of the head-dress there are two projections which could be horns, the figure itself appears clothed in a robe with short sleeves, reaching to the elbows: the sleeves seemed to be trimmed with a cuff, perhaps of thick fur. The right hand of the figure grasps the left-hand cuff. (Macalister 1935, 156-58).It is not known what the pose of the ‘Tanderagee Idol’ may mean or indeed if it any meaning, but as with other stone images and carvings in Ireland it has become associated with a certain legend. It seems that the idol is a representation of one of Ireland’s greatest Kings, Nuadha, who lost his throne after losing his arm in battle. At that time Ireland became ruled by Bres, who turned out to be a selfish and oppressive ruler, Nuadha was so furious with Bres that he had an arm made for himself out of silver and in a triumphant return to power overthrew Bres. The statuette is said to be a representation of Nuadha holding his silver arm.
Not to be confused with the Face of Boe...
If they really wanted to put butts in the seats, they’d put a feather boa around this statue and say it was of an ancient fairy.
Irish village gets its harlot back
ABCNews | 4-16-2007 | staff writer
Posted on 04/16/2007 10:55:19 AM EDT by bedolido
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