Читать книгу Universe: The story of the Universe, from earliest times to our continuing discoveries - Peter Grego - Страница 34

One of the most familiar symbols to be found is the crescent representing the Moon and markings that indicate the monthly lunar cycle of phases. One such lunar calendar of 29 markings – one for each day of the lunar month – has recently been identified in the caves at Lascaux in France, dated to around 15,000 BC. This symbolism, acknowledging the Moon’s importance, is hardly surprising; the Moon’s light will have been of immense value to any culture without the benefit of streetlights and flashlights, in terms of hunting, nocturnal survival and in primitive religions which attached significance to Moon worship and observing the lunar cycles. What many experts consider to be a depiction of the Moon showing the main features discernable with the unaided eye – the dark patches, known as the ‘maria’ – has been discovered in 5,000-year-old rock carvings in prehistoric tombs at Knowth, County Meath in Ireland.