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culiar construction of the stairs do not appear at all adapted, nor 

 would an unprotected entrance have been suitable. 



It has been considered by Mr. Nimmo as an observatory, but the 

 same objections apply to this as to the last conjecture. Where so 

 many conjectures have been made, another may allowably be sug- 

 gested. 



It might have been an open temple or amphitheatre, not for 

 viewing the battles of wild beasts, but for an assembled multitude 

 to behold the sacred rites and sacrifices offered to the meridian Sun. 

 In this case the steps would have enabled the spectators to gain with 

 ease the broad flat lop of the wall, on which they might either stand 

 or sit to behold the ceremonies. The two cells might be looked 

 upon as places to keep sacred utensils or instruments of sacrifice, or 

 to receive the initiated. In the centre there might have stood an 

 altar, as in the Giant's ring; or a sun-stone, as at Innis-Murray, or 

 both ; and perhaps were the ground to be examined something of 

 the kind might be discovered which would throw light on this curious 

 piece of antiquity. 



The vast number of small caves, with connecting passages ex- 

 cavated in the neighbouring mountains, rather confirm this idea, as 

 they prevail in every one of the seats of Baal's worship, liewn either 

 in natural elevations, or formed in artificial high places. To this 

 the name appears to agree, since among the explanations of Staig- 

 an-air, the appellation by which it is known to the country people, we 

 find that it may be Stig-an-air, a corrupted pronunciation of Stig- 

 an-athair, (the th silent,) the house of the Father, or the Father's 

 house, that is, a temple. Now Bel, or the Sun, was in ancient 

 mythology constantly called the Great Father, and worshipped as 

 the Creator, or rather as the producer of all things.* Strabo also 



• Maurice's Ind. Antiq. Origin of Pagan Idolatry. 



