Ireland (764 m) - Sacred Celtic and Early Christian Site Croagh Patrick is Ireland’s other great pagan-Christian mountain. Located close to the westernmost point in Europe with a view of the North Atlantic, it was long associated with pagan sun worship. It later became a base for St. Patrick, and its name means “St. Patrick’s Stack”. Unlike Slieve Donard, Croagh Patrick … [Read more...]
SLIEVE DONARD
Ireland (850 m) – Sacred Celtic and Early Christian Site Slieve Donard is the tallest mountain in Northern Ireland and one of the chief peaks associated with Celtic mythology in the British Isles. It also played a role in early Christian history in Ireland, and its name means “Donard’s Mountain” in honor of the saint who once preached there. Slieve Donard was one of the key … [Read more...]
ROCK OF GIBRALTAR & JEBEL MUSA
Gibraltar and Morocco (426 m, 842 m) – Sites of the Pillars of Hercules The Rock of Gibraltar on the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula and Jebel Musa on the northern tip of the Maghreb region of Africa have long been associated with each other. Flanking the highly strategic Straits of Gibraltar, these two mountains marked the end of the known world in ancient times. … [Read more...]
MOUNT ETNA
Italy (3,350 m) – Site of the Forge of Hephaestus Mount Etna in Sicily is the largest active volcano in Italy, and in Europe, and one of the largest active volcanoes in the world. It erupts on a regular basis, with descriptions recorded as far back as Roman times. The name Etna is believed to be Phoenician in origin and probably means “Furnace”. Etna played several roles in … [Read more...]
MOUNT PARNASSUS
Greece (2,457 m) – Site of the Oracle of Delphi Mount Parnassus, the third and probably most visited of Greece’s most famous mythological mountains, is closely associated with the city of Delphi and its world-famous oracle, as well as anumber of other Greek legends. The ruins of the ancient shrine of Delphi still stand on its slopes, making it one of the most important … [Read more...]
MOUNT OTHRYS
Greece (1,726 m) – Home of the Titans Mount Othrys in Central Greece was the mythological antithesis of Olympus. According to Greek legend, it was here that the titans, the arch-enemies of the Olympians, made their home, and from here that they coordinated their war against the Gods. Today it is a popular destination for climbing and hiking. In ancient Greek myth, a war … [Read more...]
MOUNT OLYMPUS
Greece (2,917 m) – Home of the Olympian Gods Mount Olympus on the frontier between Thessaly and Macedonia is the tallest mountain in Greece. According to ancient tradition, Olympus was the home of Zeus and others of the Greek deities, and was considered among the most sacred of mountains until the arrival of Christianity displaced the ancient pagan practices. In ancient … [Read more...]
MOUNT HENG (SOUTHERN)
China (1,301 m) – One of the Five Sacred Mountains of China (southern) The Mount Heng located in Hunan province is also known as the Southern Mount Heng in order to distinguish it from its northerly counterpart in Shanxi. It is the shortest of China’s Five Sacred Mountains and, not surprisingly, the most southerly. It is historically one of the less important of the Five … [Read more...]
MOUNT SONG
China (1,500 m) – One of the Five Sacred Mountains of China (central) Mount Song is midmost of the Five Sacred Peaks and is also known as the “Great Central Mountain”. Despite is central location in Henan Province, it is one of the less prominent of the sacred peaks, and surprisingly isolated, at least compared to Mount Tai. It is sacred to both Taoists and Buddhists, and is … [Read more...]
MOUNT HENG (NORTHERN)
China (2,017 m) – One of the Five Sacred Mountains of China (north) The Mount Heng located in Shanxi province is also known as the Northern Mount Heng in order to distinguish it from its southerly counterpart in Hunan. It is the second highest of China’s Five Sacred Mountains and, not surprisingly, the most northerly. Because of its distance from the more populous areas of … [Read more...]
