Oweynagat ('Cave of the Cats'), Co. Roscommon

Caves of Ireland ^ | prior to July 25, 2022 | unattributed

[SunkenCiv]

While not of great speleological significance...[a]s an archaeological monument it forms part of a complex of 50 archaeological monuments that make up the ancient pre-Christian Connaught royal site of Cruachán. It is therefore of special importance as a cultural adaptation of a natural geological feature...

Originally, an earthen mound surrounded the entrance but this was almost entirely removed in the 20th C. construction of the access laneway (Waddell, 1983). Thankfully, however, what is below ground is preserved in excellent condition. This consists of a double souterrain (which is closed-in on one side) leading, after 3m, to a natural cave. In the building of the souterrain, re-purposing of other archaeological monuments occurred, in which two ogham stones were incorporated as lintel stones in the roof.

One, at the entrance reads Fraech son of Medb. Mebd likely refers to the Queen of Connaught, Maeve, whose bickering pillow-talk with King Ailill over cattle ownership lead to the attempted stealing of the Cow Of Cooley and the rise to prominence of the fearsome and brutal Cú Chulainn. In recent memory, the cave was known as the entrance to the underworld where, at Hallowe’en each year, it served as a portal to and from hell...

While only 30m long, the rift is quite impressive and the walls preserve a good degree of moonmilk calcite. For an easy to access spot, it is also relatively clean and undamaged.

NOTE: ...please note that it is protected as a National (Archaeological) Monument as well as a protected habitat under Annex I of the Habitats Directive. It is of great merit that such a monument is open to the public so please ensure that your actions here won’t lead to its damage and the inevitable gating of the entrance!

[Beowulf9]

I did not know that the Circus Maximus dated from the Etruscan monarchy period. Interesting. I wish they’d find some more on Rome’s golden age and the Etruscans as well in those charred rolls being figured out in Pompeii.

I always wonder what Caligula would’ve thought of John Hurt’s interpretation of him. Certainly Hurt was loveable, (not so much ole’ Gaius Caligula).

[SunkenCiv]

Calig-boy came down with some kind of infection, was in a coma apparently, and was a different guy when he came to. Prior to that he was ruthless, and that continued, until he'd finished off or exiled his close family. After that he didn't have anyone he could even remotely trust in adminstrative roles, and scared the crap out of everyone with reign of terror style summary killings and such. John Hurt would have been toast. :^)

The Roman games are said to have grown out of Etruscan funeral games, but since we don't have Etruscan literature, it's probably not a leap to conclude that the Etruscans enjoyed/tolerated brutal contests and such. The Tomb of the Augurs has a wall painting showing a man with a bag covering his head trying to fend off a vicious dog.