The Pagan Sites of Europe Remembered (32): Druid's Temple, Ilton

Part job creation scheme, part neopagan LARP, the Druid's Temple at Ilton in North Yorkshire is a little over 200 years old, but it is nevertheless a sincere attempt to invoke Britain's pagan religious past, so it can be regarded as a semi-authentic pagan site.

The "temple" was the inspiration of the English writer and local landlord William Danby (1752 – 1833). Round about 1800, during an agricultural depression, Danby paid unemployed farm labourers to build a version of the famous Stonehenge stone circle. His attempt to hire a full-time druid to occupy the temple was less successful. To be honest, it would be hard to imagine how he would employ his time.

NEW PAGAN ART UNEARTHED AT POMPEII

Pompeii is the gift that keep giving. Since it was buried by a shower of volcanic ash almost 2000 years ago, the middle-sized Roman town has served as a time capsule -- or, more accurately, a series of time capsules, with new discoveries coming out every now and then. Just last month  two newly uncovered frescoes were revealed to the public, both of which are of excellent quality and in a fine state of preservation.

The one above shows a scene from the Iliad, with Paris the Prince of Troy, meeting Helen, the wife of Menelaus. Their elopement was the cause of the famous Trojan War with all its legendary and divine aspects.

The one below shows the Greek and Roman god Apollo trying to seduce the priestess and prophetess Cassandra. When she rejected him, Apollo, motivated by "incel" rage,  made everyone ignore her prophecies and warnings, including those concerning the Trojan War. 

The room in which both frescoes were discovered also includes a near-complete mosaic floor with more than a million individual white tiles. 

A TRIVIALISING BBC REPORT ON SARDINIA'S MAMUTHONES (1964)

A BBC report from 1964 on the Sardinian tradition of the Mamuthones. In addition to getting the number wrong (there are 12 Mamuthones - to symbolise the months - not 20), the BBC reporter trivialises it by zeroing in on some sort of "pick up" storyline. Actually, what we see here is one of many ancient pagan customs to "scare of" evil spirits to ensure a good year (the event takes place at various times). The Mamuthones are the dancers with masks and bells, while the men rather gently lassoing the ladies are the Issohadores. There is an element of a sexual fertility cult in that, but it is hardly the main focus and is certainly not a means for young Sardinian men to get off with women. Most of the Issohadores are clearly older men. Anyway, we must be grateful to the BBC for at least sending the cameraman.