132 



temple caves by the Brahmins of India, the Magi of Persia, and the 

 Gaurs or Druids of England and Ireland.* 



When New Grange was first opened in 1699, it contained the 

 two rock basons, at opposite sides, and in the circular area a pillar 

 stone, on each side of which lay a human skeleton. There was also 

 found underneath the pillar-stone two gold coins, one of the Emperor 

 Valentinian, and one of Theodosius, from which it may be judged, 

 that this cave temple was constructed before the invasion of the 

 Ostmen or Danes, -f to whom this Cairn has been sometimes 

 attributed. 



This tumulus, it may be observed, unites in itself the artificial 

 mount or high place, the sacred funereal cave temple, the pillar 

 stone, and the circle of upright stones. The resemblance of this 

 remarkable Cairn to the Egyptian pyramids struck Governor 

 Pownal so forcibly, that he does not hesitate to avow his opinion 

 that it was constructed for the same purposes, J while Mr. Faber 

 observes the likeness it bears to some of the most ancient Indian 

 pagodas, built to resemble a large cavern. " In New Grange," he 

 remarks, " we have the narrow passage, the central chamber rising 

 into an oviform dome like that at Canara, the cistern for purifica- 

 tion, and the mystic cross, a figure very frequently adopted in ti)e 

 construction of temples ; such multiplied peculiarities serve to shew 

 that the tumulus of New Grange was thrown up with the very 

 same ideas which prevailed among the Babylonians, Hindoos, and 

 Egyptians."§ 



• Maurice's Indian Antiq. I. p. 178. — and II. p. 177. 



t Phil. Trans. VI. p. 695 Hutton's Abridgment, 1809. 



X That these purposes were the celebration of the Cavern funereal mysteries, has been very 

 ably argued in a late number of the Classical Journal, in an article op the Egyptian Pyramids, 

 § Origin of Pagan Idolatry, III. p. 267. 



