Emily Stehr

Interesting History of Stonehenge Emily Stehr

Interesting History of Stonehenge Word Origin and History of Stonehenge: "A prehistoric monument on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, England, consisting of a large circle of megaliths surrounding a smaller circle and four massive trilithons; dating to late Neolithic and early Bronze Age times (circa 1700-1200 BC) and believed to have been connected with a sun cult or used for astronomical observations. "Early 12th century, Stanenges, literally 'stone gallows', perhaps so called from fancied resemblance to old-style gallows with two posts, with the second element related to the verb hang. Some antiquarians suggest the notion may be of 'supported in the air, that which hangs in the air' (compare henge-clif for Latin praeruptum), in reference to the lintel stones, but the order of the elements and the inflexion is against this. An ancient name for it was the Giant's Dance.' http: //www.dictionary.com/browse/stonehenge William Howells; Cambrian Superstitions, Comprising Ghosts, Omens, Witchcraft, Traditions, etc: To which are Added a Concise View of the Manners and Customs of the Principality, and Some Fugitive Pieces; T Danks; 1831 William Howells writes: "It appears that these fiends were very obsequious to their commands, as we find from the story of the devil carrying a witch over the brook, and being compelled to build Crowland Abbey, because he had disturbed the workmen in laying the foundation; also the demon who constructed the ditch, called after him the Devil's Ditch, bordering upon Suffolk and Essex; and (as some say) a devil who brought the stones out of Wales to build Stonehenge."