The King…spoke to him about the monument which he was planning. ‘If you want to grace the burial-place of these men with some lasting monument,’ replied Merlin, ‘send for the Giants’ Ring which is on Mount Killaraus in Ireland. In that place there is a stone construction which no man of this period could ever erect, unless he combined great skill and artistry. The stones are enormous and there is no one alive strong enough to move them. If they are placed in position round this site, in the way in which they are erected over there, they will stand for ever.’
– Geoffrey of Monmouth, The History of the Kings of Britain, c. 1136
What Is Stonehenge?
Stonehenge is a ancient monument located in Wiltshire, England, that is made up of a ring of standing stones. The stones are arranged in a circular pattern and are believed to have been placed there during the Neolithic period, between 2500 and 2000 BC. There are many legends and myths surrounding Stonehenge, some of which have been passed down through the ages and others that have been more recently invented. #history #funfact
Stonehenge Legends
Stonehenge Was Built By The Druids
The druids were a class of Celtic priests who were active in ancient Britain and Europe. According to this legend, the druids built Stonehenge as a place of worship and used it to predict the future and to perform rituals. However, there is no concrete evidence to support this legend, and historians believe that the druids were not active in Britain until several hundred years after Stonehenge was built.
Stonehenge Was Built By Giants
This legend suggests that the stones at Stonehenge were brought to the site by a group of giants, who used them to mark the graves of their kin. Again, there is no concrete evidence to support this legend, and historians believe that the stones were likely placed at Stonehenge by human hands.
Stonehenge Was A Sacred Site
Some people believe that Stonehenge was a place where people went to communicate with the gods or to seek guidance. It is possible that Stonehenge was used for religious or spiritual purposes, but this has not been definitively proven.
Stonehenge Marks The Solstices
Stonehenge is aligned with the sunrise and sunset on the summer and winter solstices, which are the longest and shortest days of the year, respectively. This has led some people to believe that the stones were used to mark these events and to track the passing of the seasons. However, it is also possible that the alignment with the solstices was a coincidence, and that the stones were placed at Stonehenge for other reasons.
Wizard Merlin Built Stonehenge
According to this legend, the magician Merlin used his magical powers to transport the stones from Ireland and place them at Stonehenge. This legend is purely mythical and has no basis in historical fact.
Celts Built Stonehenge As A Place Of Worship
The Celts were a group of ancient peoples who lived in Britain and Europe. According to this legend, the Celts built Stonehenge as a place of worship and believed that the stones had magical powers. However, there is no concrete evidence to support this legend, and historians believe that the stones were likely placed at Stonehenge by a different group of people.
Stonehenge Have Curative Powers
Some people believe that the stones at Stonehenge have the power to cure illness and to bring good luck. However, there is no scientific evidence to support this legend, and it is likely that this belief is based on superstition rather than fact.
Stonehenge Was Built By Extraterrestrial Beings
According to this legend, Stonehenge was built by extraterrestrial beings who used the stones to mark their landing site on Earth.