Saturday 23 January 2016

Orkahaugr Dragon

Or a lion or a wolf or a hare being attacked by a seagull...all pure conjecture. Anyway 'tis this of which I speak...


The "dragon" graffito that the Norse vandals scratched onto the walls of Maes Howe in Orkney [along with a load of other rather impressive runes] when they broke into the tomb. Do it now at say Stonehenge and you'd be up in court on a charge of desecration of an ancient monument. The most popular theory is that it is the dragon of paganism being slaughtered by the Christian crusader. I don't offer up any of my own thoughts on the matter save that he looks rather more like a canine to my eyes. Maybe we're just all over intellectualising it and it was just somebody's pet pooch! I expected him to be huge, but the original only reaches the heady heights of 2"! I bought the picture whilst there as a momento of our visit last summer.

Arilx

5 comments:

  1. We were staggered by the Runes at Maes Howe when we visited, as you say - yesterday's graffiti is today's historic treasure!

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    1. It is a very special place isn't it even setting aside the rather sanitised tourist aspect to the place. Tomb of the Eagles has an amazing atmosphere and is far less adulterated. Arilx

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  2. You're right, it's the least dragon-like dragon that I've ever seen..... and as for the seagull...

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  3. Replies
    1. I loved it too the minute I clapped eyes on it!
      Arilx

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