The Modern Antiquarian

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No narrowness of definition here, dear me no. For, although the Ancient Greek term Keltoi initially aimed only to define itself as a geographical catch-all label for those mysterious barbarian tribes to their west, the British Museum has chosen to revision the Celt and all things Celtic not for what they once were known, but for what those emotive terms have, down the recent centuries, come to be known. The volume as a whole has over 600 photographs and illustrations (most by Cope himself), as well as "over 50 poems". I enjoyed this immensely. I found his arguments convincing and it fired my enthusiasm for visiting more of these places.

Julian Cope on Celts: my wild romance | Exhibitions | The Julian Cope on Celts: my wild romance | Exhibitions | The

A visit to Avebury got him hooked on megalithic Britain and he determined to find out what he could about this pre-historic phenomenon. He may be a weird character, and maybe he doesn't shower enough, but he's put out a lot of fine music, and his memoirs are a load of fun. Julian Cope is one of Britain’s best known and most-celebrated post-punk visionaries. In this historical masterpiece, he takes us on an unforgettable journey across the British Isles, uncovering the first temples ever built and their myriad descendants, the relics of which can still be seen today. One piece -- "The Book of Ur" -- includes a detailed etymosophy (your guess is as good as ours) of words such as "Ur" and "Koeur". The Megalithic European by Julian Cope". The Independent. 24 October 2004. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022 . Retrieved 5 July 2020.a b Cope, Julian (16 June 2004). "Romancing the stones". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077 . Retrieved 5 July 2020– via www.theguardian.com. The business has expanded considerably since then, and our main emphasis is on high quality highly sought after books in various fields - art; photography; modern 1st's; motoring and other niche/underground obsessions!

Modern Antiquarian - Julian Cope The Modern Antiquarian - Julian Cope

The Modern Antiquarian by Julian Cope is published by Thorsons. In October 2004ce Julian Cope published The Megalithic European, a landmark guide to the stones of ancient Europe. Julian Cope studies William Stukeley’s book at the Celts exhibition. Photograph: Linda Nylind/The Guardian After eight years he had The Modern Antiquarian, a massive and impressive labour of love, and an ideal introduction to and overview of megalithic Britain.His obsessive traits seem to have served him well (although his enthusiasm for toy cars, as related in Repossessed, may be a bit much for some), and they do so again with this unexpected undertaking. Ah me, what Stukeley started! For this Lincolnshire rector was the most successful antiquary of the mid-1700s. His books – grandly illustrated publications every one – were lapped up by the population. To watch the migration of Stukeley’s thoughts from 1723’s overly Romanised Itinerarium Curiosum – via Stonehenge and Abury – to his posthumous (and entirely megalithically revisioned) Itinerarium of 1776 is to view at first-hand the manner in which the Celts have seduced the romantic imagination. Here at the museum is the greatest Celtic find of all: the legendary Gundestrup cauldron. It’s my all-time favourite prehistoric artefact: huge, silver, magnificent. Wonderful castings of Norse gods, men, animals and mythological beasts festoon its sides, while a recumbent bull guards its basin. The cauldron is striking for its characters and stories (most Celtic art is non-figurative) but I long ago decided it was pointless trying to itemise these snake-gripping figures, as the Celts had so many local pantheons. Most people are familiar with Stonehenge, but unaware that this is only the tip of the ice...er, stone-berg, as it were. My all-time favourite prehistoric artefact’: the silver Gundestrup cauldron, uncovered in 1891 in Denmark. Photograph: British Museum

Modern Antiquarian (Signed) by Cope, Julian: Collectable The Modern Antiquarian (Signed) by Cope, Julian: Collectable

In fact, Cope tells the reader, Stonehenge is unrepresentative, a late add-on -- "a fashioned Bronze Age power statement" erected "centuries after the height of megalithic building."I wanted to bring it all together: pictures, maps, illustrations and practicality in a Gazetteer, along with an overview of the big picture in an Essays section. Compelling too is the St Peter’s Kirk Pictish-symbol stone discovered on the north-east coast of South Ronaldsay. Again, this 5ft-long sandstone monolith stands way outside accepted Celtic regions, right at the edge of the ancient Norse world. The Papil Stone, removed from the grounds of a Shetland monastery close to the Viking stronghold of Jarlshof, is another artefact brought from outside perceived Celtic realms, but this always-thorough exhibition shows us Viking jewellery directly influenced – nay, copied – from its Celtic neighbours. On display is one very large Viking 10th-century open-ring brooch discovered on Orkney’s glorious Bay of Skaill. In the exhibition cabinet, this huge brash silver artefact – originally dug up near the Neolithic village of Skara Brae – dominates its far earlier Celtic neighbour like some overly chromed 1950s Cadillac parked up next to an Austin Allegro. Climbing aboard the 1781 bandwagon created by Iolo Morganwg’s brand new Society of the Ancient Druids, towns across Britain revived or even invented their own Celtic-styled festivals, my personal favourite being the “ancient” Cornish street theatre of Padstow’s Obby Oss, first recorded in 1803.

The Modern Antiquarian: A Pre-Millennial Odyssey Through

Cope varies between narrative (of his visits) and semi-scholarly studies, and he manages to make it all quite interesting. This is a big and utterly beautiful and fantastic book that everyone should have instead of a coffee table. I love Cope's attitude and ideas and his early writings about walks along neolithic routes were very inspiring to me. This led me off on a long walk along the Ridgeway to Avebury and got me out walking the streets of London, making notes and drawings. Dissatisfied with the guidebooks (and coffee table books) available he decided to put together his own handbook: Cope is also a recognised authority on Neolithic culture, an outspoken political and cultural activist, and a fierce critic of contemporary Western society (with a noted and public interest in occultism, paganism and Goddess worship).

Julian Cope at Silbury Hill, Wiltshire by Cat Stevens. All other photographs courtesy of Adelle Stripe It also serves as a welcome reminder that there is a world of archaeological wonder still out there in Britain, a heritage that must be taken care of (bravo to Cope for his efforts in this regard).