The Megalith of Stonehenge is located about 80 miles south-west of London, England. The word Stonehenge is Old English for 'hanging stones.' The stone structure features an outer ring 100' in diameter that is made of thirty 16' high pillars that were originally topped by 30 lintels to form an unbroken circle. Inside this circle are 5 trilithon doorways that are nearly 30' high.
There is much speculation on the origin of Stonehenge. The rock used in its construction is ' a type of blue-tinted dolerite and some sarsen, The dolerite was brought in about 130 miles from Wales and the sarsen from about 20 miles away.
Four Stages of Construction
It is believed that Stonehenge was built in 4 stages between 3100BC and 1100BC.
- Stage 1: circular embankment, 'Heel Stone', wooden poles
- Stage 2: 2 rows of bluestones at the centre
- Stage 3: doorways and trilithons.
- Stage 4: bluestones reset and roadway extended.
Theories on the Origin of Stonehenge
Nowadays it is known that Stonehenge was an astronomical and ritual site used by Celts and specifically Druid priests. It is hard to believe that this knowledge had been lost. Over the ages several theories on the origin and use of this structure arose. These are as follows:
- 1130 AD Geoffrey of Monmouth in his account of the "Dance of the Giants" claimed that Stonehenge had been created in the time of Merlin. A race of Irish giants had brought the stones from Africa to Ireland where they were used for their healing and magical powers. Merlin used his powers to transport the stones to Salisbury and reset them in formation. This folklore was popular until Elizabethan times (500 yrs. later).
- 1620AD Indigo Jones, an architect of King James I, attributes Stonehenge to a Roman source and claimed that it was a temple to Coelus the Roman sky god. He thought it was built between 0 AD and 410 AD.
- 1663 Water Charleton claimed it was built by the Danes.
Eventually these theories were replaced by the current view.
Pagan Temple
John Aubrey (b1626-1697) and later William Stukeley (in 1710) developed the theory that Stonehenge and several other megaliths were pagan temples and used by Druids (the priestly class of the Celts).
In Stonehenge, a Temple restored to the British Druids (1740) Stukeley linked the patriarchs of the Old Testament, the Druids and the Church of England. He claimed that the Druids were misunderstood and compared tales of their alleged practice of human sacrifice to the story of Abraham and Isaac in the Old Testament. Stukeley wanted to restore the religious past of Britain and embraced a form of Druid/Christian synthesis.
The nineteenth century architect, John Wood, claimed that the placement of stones corresponded to lunar cycles. It was also in this century that studies led researcher to believe that Stonehenge was built prior to the Roman invasion.
Astronomical Alignments
Stukeley made an important observation in the study of Stonehenge when he pointed out the astronomical alignments of the complex. This included the point of sunrise on summer solstice. Other scientific developments include:
- 1906 Stonehenge and Other British Stone Monuments Astronomically Considered by astronomer John Lockyer said that the stones indicated points in solar, lunar and stellar movements.
- 1965 Stonehenge Decoded Gerald Hawkins (astronomer) used computer analysis to point out the detailed astronomical information that could be derived from Stonehenge.
- 1973 Alexander Thom found that the megalith builders displayed an understanding of Pythagorean Geometry centuries before Pythagoras.
In the Parapsychological field Alfred Watkins (Early British Trackways 1922) claims to have found a grid of straight lines (leys) that linked megalithic sites and burial mounds. Revival of interest in leys in the 1960s. Believed to form a psychic power grid with megaliths and burial mounds being 'focal points' for this energy.
Druids and Synchronicity
As in other parts of the" Christian World" the traditional calendar of "converted" peoples was often retained. Druid and Celtic and Pagan myths were preserved by Irish monks. Stories told by filids (Irish storytellers) were written down by these monks as well. In reworking these tales many of the Irish gods were changed from deities into superhuman heros (i.e. Lugh). In this manner there was a sychronicity of cultures in which many of the older practices and beliefs continued in a modified form.
Aspects of the Celtic Calendar have been retained in the current Cristian one.
- Feb 1st Spring Imbolic (St Brigid's Day)
- May 1th Summer Beltaine (fire of Belenos)
- June 20 Mid Summer's Eve
- June 21st Summer Solstice (St Jean Batiste Day - June 24th)
- Oct 31st Eve of Samhain (Halloween) otherworld joins this world in a time of (dread & danger)
- Nov 1st end of Samhain, start of new year (All Saints Day)
- Dec 21st Winter Solstice (Christmas - Dec 25th)
The Megalith of Stonehenge stands as a monument to workmanship and wisdom of the early Celtic people of the British Isles. At the same the the "fog" that surrounded its origin speaks to the intensity with which Druid religion was smothered. The new order preferred to seek answers in myth or Roman history.
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