118 



quaries* have suggested that this term might be traced to the 

 Hebrew, chemar-luach, a stone of burning-|- or sacrifice ; but the 

 first derivation appears the most reasonable, and is supported 

 by the circumstance of there having been priests of Crom, called 

 Crom-thear. J 



There seems not to have been any particular nicety, as to the 

 situation in which Crom-leacs were placed. Some are found in 

 valleys, some on the sides of hills, and a large proportion of them 

 on the tops of mountains, of lofty hills, and of artificial mounts and 

 cairns. They often stand single, but in many instances in con- 

 nection with circles of stones, pillar-stones, caves, and mounds ; 

 sometimes one, sometimes more of these monuments accompanying 

 the Crom-leac, and in a few cases it is united with nearly all of 

 them. 



These altars vary very much in size, and of course in form, as 

 that depends upon the natural shape of the stones; in most instances 

 they consist of three upright supporters, two at the lower, and one 

 at the upper end, upon which the altar stone was balanced ; but 

 there are a few with only two supporters, upon which is placed 

 horizontally the covering stone. Underneath the sloping covering 

 stone, and between the uprights a hollow is usually found, which 

 is thought to have been for the purpose of facilitating the passage 

 of cattle and children under the sacred fire, a practice which seems 

 to be alluded to in Scripture when the Israehtes are reproached 



* Rowland Mona Antiqua, p. 47 Smith's Hist. Co. Cork, I. p. 180. 



•j- Sir William Ousely describes an immense Crom-leac formed apparently of artificial stone, 

 fifty feet long and thirteen high, under which there is a narrow passage about four feet in height. 

 This stone is flat on the top like an altar. The peasants call it the " Mansion of the fire-worship- 

 pers." Travels in the East, II. 105. 



I O'Reilly's Diet. 



