Interesting Facts About Stonehenge

The name Stonehenge is derived from the Old English words; stn means stone and hencg meaning
hinge or hen(c)en, which means hang or gallows. Stonehenge is located in the English county
Wiltshire, about 3.2 kms west of Amesbury and 13 kms north of Salisbury, in southern England.
Stonehenge is a man-made circular structure made of different-sized stones. These stones were
buried deep in the ground to make them stand erect and smaller stones were placed horizontally on
the top, giving it a doorway-like effect.

Who Built Stonehenge?

The Stonehenge is a single structure made of several stones, earth, and timber. It was constructed in
phases over a period of more than 1500 years. Who built the Stonehenge still remains a mystery.
Everyone from the great Neolithics to the Danes, Romans, Saxons, Merlin, and Phoenicians Celts
could have built it. Legends like the dancing giants turning into stone, resulting in the circular
position of the stones, has added to the mystic allure of this megastructure. However, some more
interesting theories regarding its origin are given below:
Druids
The most popular belief is that the Druids have been attributed with the construction of the
Stonehenge. It was speculated that the structure was used for sacrificial ceremonies by the high
priests of the Celts. However, this notion was dismissed in the 20th century, when it was proved that
Stonehenge was built 5000 years ago by Neolithic people of the British Isles.
Friar's Heel
This myth credits the Devil himself as the architect of Stonehenge. It is believed that an old woman
who lived in Ireland had some big stones in her backyard, which the Devil wanted. He disguised
himself as a gentleman and lured her into selling the stones with a bag of gold. He promised her the
amount of gold she could count during the time he moved the stones. However, the minute she
started her count, he magically transported them to Salisbury Plain in England, where they stand
today. An elderly priest overheard the Devil bragging that no one would ever be able to tell how
many stones he had managed to steal from her. However the priest could, which greatly angered the
devil. In his rage he threw one large stone at the priest, hitting his heel.
Merlin and King Aureoles Ambrosias

According to this legend, High King Aureoles Ambrosias, desired to build monument for his three
hundred English noblemen who were massacred by the Saxons. It was Merlin who suggested that
they move Ireland's Giant's Ring stone circle to Salisbury Plain. On reaching Ireland, King Uther
ordered Merlin to magically dismantle and transport the stones as they were too large to carry.
Merlin transported them to the plains, around the graves of the English noblemen. It is believed that
Aurelius and Constantine are also buried there.
Scientists Theory
According to the modern-day scientists, Stonehenge was built over a period of time by three
different tribes.

Windmill Hill People: It is believed that the tribe of Neolithic agrarians started the construction of
Stonehenge around 3000 B.C. These people built large stone-encased tombs and some part of their
burial ground is very close to the Stonehenge. They laid the design for the monument in accordance
with their rituals of worship and reverence for circles and symmetry. Beaker People: Around 2000
B.C, this tribe invaded the Salisbury Plain. Their name has been derived from their ancient traditions
of burying their dead with beakers or pottery drinking cups along with daggers and battle axes. They
were considered to be highly skillful and capable of working with sophisticated mathematical
concepts. Wessex People:This tribe came to Stonehenge around 1500 B.C, at the height of the
Bronze Age. They belonged to the most advanced cultures and were well-organized traders, but their
wealth was concentrated among only few of its members. The bronze dagger carving found on one of
the large stones is believed to be their skill. The precise calculations and construction of the
Stonehenge was credited to their advanced way of life. Why was Stonehenge Built?
The purpose of building Stonehenge is shrouded in mystery. Some believe that it was a temple built
to worship ancient earth deities, and that the Aubrey Holes may have been dug for the purpose of
making an offering to the gods. Another theory suggests that it could have been a type of an
observatory for marking celestial movements for ritual purposes. This theory is based on the
alignment of the stones by the Wessex people. According to British author John Mitchell, Stonehenge
was "a cosmic temple dedicated to all twelve gods of the zodiac. It represents the ideal cosmology,
the perfect and complete image of the universe". Archaeologists believe that Stonehenge was a
ceremonial burial ground as they have found cremated remains in many of the Aubrey Holes.

Fascinating Facts about Stonehenge

Stonehenge was added to the UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in 1986, and is legally
protected by the Scheduled Ancient Monument. It is managed by English Heritage while the
surrounding land is owned by the National Trust. Thirty million labor hours may have been used in
the construction. The circle was aligned with important sun events like the midsummer sunrise,
midwinter sunset, and the southerly rising and northerly setting of the moon. The building
comprised sophisticated mathematical and geometrical understandings of the structural engineering
of the construction. Two types of stones were used for the construction - blue stones weighing
nearly four tons, and sarsen stone weighing twenty-five tons. Stonehenge is one of the most ancient
monuments in the world which reflects the culture of the prehistoric times. A grave cause for
concern is that presently this heritage site is struggling to survive against the tide of urbanization,
commercialization and encroachment. Greater care needs to be taken to preserve this historic
monument so that future generations can also enjoy its ancient and rich history.