Bodmin Moor Zodiac
Leo, The Lion of Goonzion
Many sightings of the Beast of Bodmin Moor say that it is lion-like, this could be a thought form emanation from the Leo Zodiac outline, which in turn may indicate the boundaries of a Mesolithic (and later Celtic) tribal area.
Leo’s body lies over Goonzion Downs, he is the Lion of Goonzion. Leo also stands on the village of Ley, it could be said that he is a “Ley lion”. Another place name that makes up his outline is Luna. Luna is the Latin name of the Earth's Moon as well as the Roman moon goddess Luna. Leo also stands over the 1412 Pant(h)ers Bridge.
The 'Roaring Shaft' in the complex of mines on Goonzion Down has been said to make a roar like 'a battery of stamps falling regularly with thuds and reverberated through the ground'. These noises may have been natural in origin, but they served to feed the dark images of monstrous beasts and spirits in the minds of those who worked to mine copper, silver and gold.
Computer enhanced image of Terrestrial Giant Leo.
Leonine carvings discovered in Warleggan church:
1)
Lion or Pant(h)er marked on floor.
2)
Crowned lion with reddened mouth.
Found on the wall of Warleggan church.
London Inn: Lion Head
There is only one public house within the outline of the lion, the London Inn at St Neot.
This is the brass lion fixed to the pub’s front door.
Here the lion emerges from the landscape in a contemporary prophetic web site
St Neot church stained glass: Noah's Lion
St Neot church stained glass: St. Mark's Celestial Lion
St Neot is one of many connections between the Bodmin Moor Zodiac and the Glastonbury Zodiac and the village lies within Leo’s boundaries. Neot or St Anietus was a monk and hermit at Glastonbury Abbey in the 9th century accounts say that he died in 877 of natural causes. The most notable tale about him is that he was supposedly only 15 inches tall. Neot is said to have worked miracles with animals and birds as well as fish, these strong connections with animals indicate a familiarity with the “Zoo” that makes up the Bodmin Moor "Zoo"diac. When Neot later fell ill his servant Barius visited the well and took two fish to his master. Neot ordered these to be returned and they were restored to life - a local miracle that reminds us of the yearly rebirth of the Pisces fishes. Another stained glass in St Neot church shows Jesus and his disciples around a round table, pointing us to the Christianisation of solar King Arthur’s Round Table legend, the table being the Zodiac circle. St Neot's memorial day is celebrated on 31 July while the sun is in the house of Leo, and traditional carnival festivities occur in both Leo’s villages of St Neot and Mount during this period.
Terrestrial Giant Head Detail
Iron Zion Lion
I
am on the rock and then I check a stock I have to run like a fugitive
to save the life I live Im gonna be iron like a lion in zion (repeat)
Iron lion zion Im on the run but I aint got no gun See they want to be
the star So they fighting tribal war And they saying iron like a lion
in zion Iron like a lion in zion, Iron lion zion Im on the rock,
(running and you running) I take a stock, (running like a fugitive) I
had to run like a fugitive just to save the life I live I'm gonna be
iron like a lion in zion (repeat) Iron lion zion, iron lion zion, iron
lion zion Iron like a lion in zion, iron like a lion in zion Iron like
a lion in zion
Bob Marley
Over the course of a year, Nigel Ayers sequentially explored the outlines of the zodiac figures perceived and plotted on large-scale maps and aerial photographs of the moor. For an account of his explorations, read his book The Bodmin Moor Zodiac.