About five years ago,I was sitting around one evening watching the local public t.v station KQED, They were presenting,with occasional pledge breaks,the fascinating interview of the scholar and writer Joseph Campbell. It was hosted by the great journalist Bill Moyers. The interview was conducted at the Lucas ranch in Marin county. the evening was a wonder to say the least. For those of you unfamiliar with J.C's scholarship He was and remains posthumously the preeminent expert on ancient and modern mythology. He has written at least 10 books and edited a number of others surrounding the subject. This interview was titled "The Power of Myth" covering among other things, the "first story tellers". It was in this section,where he goes in to detail using his own fantastic ability to tell a story, his initial visit to the cave network in south central France in the town of Lascaux. He tells of entering these dark places and coming upon these exquisite paintings on the walls and ceilings , paintings of animals and in particular a bull some 20ft long on one wall, It wasn't until his visit to a comparatively modern cathedral in Chartres,that he realized fully the significance of the efforts, that this group of ancients endeavoured to create. This amazing church near Paris, houses some of the most fantastic carved figures of saints covering the walls. he couldn't help,but to be brought back to Lascaux and the walls and the pictorials of the hunt. This was their church. Chartres was his.
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