Boa Island,
Co. Fermanagh |
|
Boa
Island is a narrow island lying six miles west of Kesh at the
northern end of Lower Lough Erne in County Fermanagh, and connected
by bridges to the mainland.
The island
is famous for its double-faced Janus figure, a pagan stone statue
that is believed to date from the 4th or 5th century. The figure
is located in the overgrown Caldragh cemetery, which lies by the
lake at the west end of the island. Carved back-to-back, with
clearly incised symmetrical features and interlacing hair between
the heads,
the statue has a somewhat Byzantine appearance. A phallus can
be seen on one of the sides, below the crossed arms and warrior's
belt.
Alongside
the Janus figure stands a smaller squat figure known as the 'Lusty
Man', which was moved to the graveyard in the 19th century from
nearby Lusty More Island. It is thought to represent a Celtic
war goddess known as Badhbh, from whom the island derives its
name - 'Boa' being an anglicised version. Not a lot is known about
the purpose of these enigmatic idols. They could have been fertility
symbols, and the cavity on top of the heads may have been meant
as a receptacle for offerings to the gods. Near Boa Island is
Lusty Beg Island, a small resort with woodland cabins that is
popular in summer for watersports.
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