Ecclesiastical Architecture Of Ireland An Essay On The Origins Of Round Towers In Ireland

1845. Petrie may be regarded as the first scientific investigator of Irish archaeology, his contributions to which are also in themselves of much importance. He received a gold medal from the RIA for his famous Essay on the Round Towers of Ireland, which is included in this edition. Many theories had previously been advanced about the purpose of the round towers, which were variously described as Phoenician fire-temples, minarets, phallic symbols, and tombs; in his closely argued and well-documented essay Petrie showed that they were ecclesiastical buildings, erected for use as belfries, watchtowers, and keeps, and his findings won general acceptance.Petrie, George is the author of 'Ecclesiastical Architecture Of Ireland An Essay On The Origins Of Round Towers In Ireland' with ISBN 9780766192850 and ISBN 0766192857.