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CHASING HARES
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The search for the meaning and origin of the ancient symbol of the three hares.
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An ancient symbol in the roof of a Dartmoor church turns out to link paganism, Islam, Christianity and Buddhism over almost 2000 years, in a fascinating historical detective story.
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Medieval roof boss, Wissembourg
copyright Chris Chapman |
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 听Listen again听to the programme |
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Chasing Hares
Writer and historian, James Crowden, 听follows three historical detectives from a church in Devon to a high mountain kingdom in the Himalayas searching for the meaning and origin of the ancient symbol of the three hares.
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The search began with a carving in the roof of a medieval Devon church, but the hare-chasers trace its origins through medieval Europe; via an ancient casket said to have contained the bones of St Lazarus, a 13th century monastery bell, and a Chapter house roof where the hares are found rubbing shoulders with the pagan Green Man; all the way to the mountain Kingdom of Ladakh and 12th Century China.
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So what does the symbol mean and how has it travelled such immense distances?
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The answer connects the pagan goddess who gave her name to Easter to the Virgin Mary, the Buddha, and the great Mongol Empire.
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You can see photos of the hares, find out about the Three Hares Project and contribute your own sightings at:
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