Fingal's Cave, the Poems of Ossian, and Celtic Christianity
On the isolated island of Staffa, near Iona, Scotland, stands a natural wonder of the world: Fingal's Cave, a cathedral-like space of hexagonal balsatic columns and a floor made of ocean and tides create constant musical sounds. To understand Fingal and his importance to Celtic culture, we must understand the poems of Ossian and ancient Celtic Christianity. The authors describe Fingal's Cave and the poems of Ossian, showing why they influenced such figures as Mendelssohn, Jefferson, Napoleon, and Turner. Illustrated.