Stonehenge

General Description

Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in the southern England county of Wiltshire that evolved in several phases of construction. The earliest phase of the monument dates back to 3100 BC. Stonehenge is considered to be the most famous Neolithic monument; it consists of thirty upright stones (sarsens) in a series of concentric rings around an altar stone in the center. The sarsen stones are each over ten feet tall and weigh 26 tons. There are thirty lintels perched horizontally atop the sarsens. Archaeological evidence supports the theory that Stonehenge served as a burial ground for at least the first 500 years.

Architectural Design

Stonehenge's architectural design is considered to be Neolithic monumental style. Stonehenge was built in six stages dating between 3100 BC to about 1600 BC. It was constructed during the transition from the Neolithic Period to the Bronze Age. It essentially is a prehistoric stone circle arranged in post-and-lintel formation.

Harmony with Nature

Stonehenge stands in open, slightly sloping grassland. Recent evidence suggests that the stone rings were used as astronomical observatories. The first phase of the Stonehenge construction, referred to as Period I, was a circular ditch 320 feet in diameter. The circle was constructed to align with the midsummer sunrise, the midwinter sunset, and the most southerly rising and northerly setting of the moon. The actual motions of the Sun and the Moon are reflected in the structure. The number of stones or holes in the ground in the various rings around Stonehenge each represents a certain number of days or years in the cycles. It is believed that the design of Stonehenge was used to predict the agricultural cycle.

Symbolism and Sacred Objects

In the 1700's British antiquarian Dr. William Stukeley, claimed that Stonehenge was built by Druids to worship the serpent. Stukeley called the serpent temple "Dracontia." Some speculate that the serpent symbolism may be related to solar and lunar eclipses. Draco is the Latin word for "serpent" or "dragon" and in astronomy, the length of time for the moon to return to a node is called the draconic month. Since the position of the lunar nodes is the key to eclipses, some believe that "perhaps the mythical serpents of Stonehenge and the legendary dragon that eats the Sun are symbols of the same thing: the invisible presence in time and space that eclipses the Sun and the Moon."

How it is used by Worshippers

Since Stonehenge is prehistoric, the exact purpose of the monument is unknown. There are several theories and many speculations. The first theory is widely accepted and is the belief that Stonehenge served as a sacred site for burial of high-ranking citizens. As previously mentioned, evidence supports the idea that Stonehenge served as burial grounds for the first 500 years. Stonehenge has also been called an observatory for marking significant astronomical events. It is also generally accepted that Stonehenge was constructed as a temple to the sun. Some have speculated that it was a temple made for the worship of ancient earth deities.
In present day, Stonehenge is a place of pilgrimage for neo-druids, and for some following pagan or neo-pagan beliefs. Stonehenge has become increasingly associated with British Druidism, Neopaganism and New Age philosophy. However, current ritual use of Stonehenge is carefully controlled.

Sources

www.stonehenge.co.uk
www.britannia.com/history/h7.html
www.sacred-destinations.com/england/stonehenge
www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonehenge