Who Built Stonehenge?
As I have hinted, there are many myths and legends about Stonehenge. Travelers and locals alike are responsible for these strange and unique tales. In the past, people have attributed the building of this great megalith to the Danes, Romans, Saxons, Greeks, Atlanteans, Egyptians, Phoenicians Celts, and even King Aurelius Ambrosious and Merlin. In one legend, dancing giants turned into stone, resulting in the circular position of the stones. Some people today connect Stonehenge with UFO’s and aliens, pointing out that crop circles and ley lines continually appear in close vicinity to it. Many past archeologists believed that the Druids, the high priests of the Celts, constructed it for sacrificial ceremonies. They believed that only such a mysterious and mystical group such as the Druids could build an ancient temple so magnificent. It was John Aubrey, a Stonehenge antiquary (c. 1660), who first linked Stonehenge to the Druids. Dr. William Stukeley, another antiquary, also claimed the D
There are probably hundreds of myths and legends about Stonehenge. Various people have attributed the building of this great megalith to the Danes, Romans, Saxons, Greeks, Atlanteans, Egyptians, Phoenicians Celts, King Aurelius Ambrosious, Merlin, and even Aliens. One of the most popular beliefs was that Stonehenge was built by the Druids. These high priests of the Celts, constructed it for sacrificial ceremonies. It was John Aubrey, who first linked Stonehenge to the Druids. Additionally, Dr. William Stukeley, another Stonehenge antiquary, also claimed the Druids were Stonehenge’s builders. Stukeley studied Stonehenge a century later than Aubrey and became so involved in the study of the Druid religion that he himself became one. Through his work he was very instrumental in popularizing the theory that Stonehenge was built by Druids. Unfortunately researchers have proven this age-old theory linking Stonehenge’s construction to the Druids impossible. Through modern radio carbon dating
Why? This ancient monument of huge stones solitarily standing on the Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England has captured imaginations for centuries. Theories about who built it have included the Druids, Greeks, Phoenicians, and Atlanteans. Speculation on the reason it was built range from human sacrifice to astronomy. Investigations over the last 100 years have revealed that Stonehenge was built in several stages from 2800 – 1800 BC. It seems to have been designed to allow for observation of astronomical phenomena – summer and winter solstices, eclipses, and more.
