Stonehenge

Stonehenge


General Description

In the county of Wiltshire, which is embedded in the midst of England’s magnificent plains stands a prehistoric monument known was Stonehenge whose origins and purpose have been discussed and argued about for decades. The name Stonehenge means “hanging stones” which was given to the structure by the Saxons. It is also known as the “giant’s dance” which was a name given to it during the Medieval times. While the monuments design and structure may strike an ordinary individual as rather simple and random, research over the years have uncovered a tremendous amount of details regarding this creation which is believed to have been erected as early as 2300 B.C according to recent archeologists. More specifically, experts agree that the construction of Stonehenge lasted well over 1500 years implying several generations of people have worked on it in phases making it even more unique. Thus it is no surprise that in 2002 it was voted as one of the Seven Wonders of Britain. However, when studying this work of art one must realize that it was initially built by a culture that did not have a written language thus all of the findings are based on expert testimony and the majority of the specifics are up for personal interpretation.

Architectural Design

Stonehenge was constructed in three stages which experts predict to have lasted over 1500 years. Stonehenge I consisted primarily of a ditch with two banks, three standing stones, four wooden posts and a ring of 56 holes, called Aubrey Holes (Hefner). During Stonehenge II 80 giant bluestones were built within the henge, archeologists believed these stones were transported for over 150 km which during the time was a very daunting and demanding task. The final stage was further divided into three sub-stages however the main event during these stages was the erection of the Altar stone which stands in the middle of the horseshoe. Stonehenge represents magnificent structural engineering and even though there is no evidence as to which tools were used to design this structure, experts have estimated that no less than 1500 men worked on it at once and that a total of 1,497,680 worked on it including logistics and planning (Hefner).

Harmony with Nature

Due to the age of Stonehenge, experts believe it was constructed as a continuation of God’s initial creations on the planet. Specifically, the structure blends into the plains as if it was planned and constructed by God himself. Furthermore, the cultures who have built and used it often times used it as a passage way to another life or as a place of worship. The structure truly is in sync with its surroundings and it portrays nature at every level of its design.

Symbolism and Sacred Objects

At the pinnacle of the structure lies an astonishing Altar Stones, which arguably is the most sacred object. Experts believe it was used for sacrifices and burials and many more activities. As noted before the altar lies in the middle of the structure highlighted the importance by the mere placement. The center of the structure or the center of life, everything evolves around this stone and what it represents.
How it is used by Worshippers
Over the many years, there have been a plethora of claims as to who used Stonehenge and for what purpose. Most can agree on the findings that it was at one time a burial ground. Recently, archeologists have suggested that it was used as a place of healing due to the tranquil aura which surrounds the structure (Morgan). Furthermore, some experts believe it represented a “Land of the Dead” and thus was used as a place for sacrifice to please the gods. However, since it was designed and erected by a culture with no written language, the true intentions of this breath-taking work of art can only be left in the eye of the beholder which creates an even more mysterious attraction.

Sources
Morgan, James. "Dig pinpoints Stonehenge origins." BBC NEWS. 21 Sept. 2008. 8 Apr. 2009 .
Hefner, Alan. "Stonehenge." The MYSTICA.ORG. 5 Apr. 2009 .


Written By Dennis Onabajo