_Of the cell or_ adytum _of_ Stonehenge. _Of the_ Surgeons
_amphitheater_, London.
Disputations become cloisters and porticoe’s. Let us now with minds
free from passion, enter the _adytum_ with an intent to find out its
true figure, to examine what it really was, and what it is. And that
may easily be done, because (as I said before) as to the _trilithons_
of which it is chiefly compos’d, they are all remaining. Not a bit is
lost, but what mischievous and silly people knock off with hammers, to
see whether, as the wretched vulgar notion would have it, the stones
be factitious. TAB. XVIII. is a design of it, which I made sitting in
the center of the grand entrance in the inner circle. This point is
properly the door-way or entrance into the _adytum_, as a wicket or
little door, whilst the jambs of the hithermost _trilithons_ present
themselves, as the greater door, of above 40 feet wide, 25 cubits.
I observe in the old _Greek_ story, many footsteps of the primitive
patriarchal way left in their sacred structures, which are parallels to
this work before us, and others of our Druids. For instance, _Pausanias
in atticis_ speaks of a temple dedicate to _Venus_, in the front of
which, is a wall (as he calls it) built of rude stones. Nevertheless he
concludes it to be a very famous work. One may very well imagine, this
wall of rude stones is the remnant of some such old work as ours, left
for the sacred regard the people had to it, even after art was risen
to great height, together with superstition and idolatry. For that the
most ancient _Greeks_ had very little of idolatry, any more than our
Druids, I shall show when I discourse on that head. Again: the more
sacred part of the temple at _Hierapolis_ answering to our _Adytum_,
had no door, tho’ none enter’d therein but the chief priests. _Lucian
de deâ Syria._ I suppose it was in imitation of the ancient usage,
without doors to shut or open, as our temple here. For the ancients
thought it wrong, to confine the deity, as it were, within any cover’d
place: ’till _Moses_, by God’s direction, made a tabernacle cover’d
with skins, which was to adumbrate the Messiah Son of God, who was
to be cloathed with out nature. And _Solomon_’s temple was built in
imitation of this tabernacle. But before that, the ancients meant no
more by temples, or altars, as they were first call’d, than a certain
known and conspicuous place, ornamented in a particular manner, that
should mark out a _kebla_, or a place towards which we are to address
the Deity, and that for uniformity sake. As the _Turks_ and _Arabians_
do now, who are the descendants of _Ishmael_, and had this custom
from _Abraham_. Tho’ the supreme Being be omnipresent, yet for our
convenience, where time, place, and such kind of circumstances are
necessary to a public action, he would have, as it were, the place of
his presence made notorious. As in the _Jewish_ dispensation he did in
a most extraordinary manner, by the _shechinah_. And from _Solomon_’s
temple, all the rest of the world borrow’d the fashion of temples,
properly so call’d, built magnificently and with roofs. For the sacred
houses mention’d in scripture before then, were only little chapels,
shrines, like our Druids _kistvaens_, which sometime they carried
about in a cart, sometime were fix’d in cities, for publick use; as
_Beth Dagon_, and the like. These were but _kistvaens_ improv’d,
niches turn’d into _sacella_, in imitation of two or three stones in
_Abraham_’s altars, which we may well call the _kebla_, and find many
of them among our Druid antiquities.
The cell is form’d by a radius of 12 cubits and a half, from the two
centers _a_ and _b_, as to the inward curve; the outward takes a radius
of 15 cubits; for these stones are two cubits and a half thick. The two
circles are turn’d into an oval, by a radius of 30 cubits, (after the
usual manner) set in the two centers _c_ and _d_, where the two circles
intersect. The former centers are 12 cubits and a half distant from
each other, the length of the radius. The same oval is obtain’d by a
string of 60 cubits, the ends ty’d together, and turn’d round upon two
centers, according to the gardiners method. An oval form’d as this is,
upon two centers coinciding with each other’s circumference; or, which
is the same thing, whose centers are distant from each other the length
of their radius, is most natural and most beautiful, being the shape
of an egg. Most probably these religious philosophers had a meaning,
in thus including an egg-like figure, within a circle, more than mere
affectation of variety. Whatever that was, we may reasonably conclude,
that from the method in antiquity, of making the _kebla_ of a curved
figure, the christians borrowed theirs of turning the east end of their
churches in that manner; and that the Druids in the work before us,
have produc’d the noblest _kistvaen_ or _kebla_ that is known.
My purpose in drawing many prickt lines upon the plate, is not
difficult to be understood. Nor does it require particular
explanations. To avoid affectation or tediousness, I leave them to
the readers amusement: only observe, that Mr. _Webb’s_ equilateral
triangles have no hand in forming the cell. The intent of it is
very distant from a regular polygon. But that it is incomparably
more beautiful; than such a one would have render’d it. It is as a
magnificent niche 27 cubits long, and as much broad, measuring in the
widest place.
This part is call’d Σηκος or _concha templi_ and _adytum_, into which,
we may suppose, none but the upper order of priests, together with the
high-priest, were commonly to enter, during the time of ministration,
in religious rites. We may imagine the beauty of the appearance here
upon those occasions, when an innumerable company of the Druids
assisted, all in white surplices. The center of the excentricity of
this oval is but three cubits nearer the entrance, than the center of
the whole work. And they have cut off but one _trilithon_, which they
make the opening of the _adytum_; meeting the eye to great advantage,
from the grand entrance. By the aforesaid contrivance, there is left a
space of five cubits between the jambs of the opening of the _adytum_,
and the inner circle in front, just the same as is between the inner
and outer circle. The inner circle there performing the office of
_cancelli_ to it, as we observ’d before. If a choir of this form was
put in practice, and executed by a masterly hand, it would have a very
extraordinary effect, and perhaps excel the too similar concave of
a cupola. Our Druids had undoubtedly such a notion, in placing this
within a circle. And for the sake of this, they turn’d the two circles
into a smaller species of an ellipsis.
[Illustration: _P. 24._ TAB XIII.
_Stukeley. delin._ _G. Vander Gucht Senl._
_Prospect of_ STONEHENGE _from the Southwest_.]
There’s a Druid antiquity like our _adytum_ in shape, call’d _Eglwys
Glominog_, on the top of _Arennig vaur_ in _Lhanykil_ parish,
_Merionydhshire_, but made of a continued wall. The ancients thought
the world of an egg-like shape, and as the world is the temple of the
Deity, they judg’d it proper to form their temples, so as to have a
resemblance thereto. The ancient hieroglyphic of the Deity is a circle,
and I have reason to believe it more ancient than the flood. _Plato_,
who learnt much from the ancestors of our Druids, says in _Diogenes
Laertius_, that God is spherical, which he must mean hieroglyphically.
So our Druids, as well as he, may mean the infinity of nature in the
Deity, who made the world, by this scheme of _Stonehenge_; at least
they understand by the circle, the seat and residence of the Deity, the
heavens, which include all things.
It seems to me, that _Inigo Jones_ from this _adytum_ projected the
plan of the _Surgeons_ theatre in _London_, a fabric for seeing
and hearing much admired by all good judges. And which my Lord
_Burlington_, out of a spirit truly noble, and a great love for the
architect’s memory, has lately repair’d, with his own charges and
excellent skill. I find the _Surgeons_ theatre (or rather amphitheatre)
is form’d from the same proportion as our _adytum_, the transverse and
conjugate diameters being as 4 to 3, _viz._ 40 foot and 30 foot. And
this appears to me a strong presumption, that _Inigo Jones_ did not
make the ground-plot of _Stonehenge_, publish’d under his name. The
_Surgeons_ amphitheatre is a good deal less than our cell.
Such is the noble and easy geometry of the _adytum_ of _Stonehenge_.
The stones that compose it, are really stupendous, their height,
breadths and thickness are enormous, and to see so many of them plac’d
together, in a nice and critical figure, with exactness; to consider,
as it were, not a pillar of one stone, but a whole wall, a side, an end
of a temple of one stone; to view them curiously, creates such a motion
in the mind, which words can’t express. One very remarkable particular
in the construction of this _adytum_, has escaped all observers: which
is this. As this part is compos’d of _trilithons_ (as I before call
them) sett two and two on each side, and one right before; they rise in
height and beauty of the stones, from the lower end of the _adytum_,
to the upper end. My meaning is this. The two hithermost _trilithons_
corresponding, or those next the grand entrance, on the right hand,
and on the left are exceeded in height, by the two next in order; and
those are exceeded by the _trilithon_ behind the altar, in the upper
end of this choir. So that in laying down the measures of the parts,
that compose this place, the reader must be content to take my word.
Mr. _Webb’s_ measures cannot be precise in all of them, seeing he knew
nothing of this particular; and that his notion of an hexagon, is
contradicted by it, as well as by fact. “He says p. 60. the stones of
the greater hexagon seven foot and a half in breadth, three foot nine
inches thick, and twenty foot high, each stone having one tenon in the
middle.” His measure of seven foot and a half in breadth, only shews
the vastness of the stones, it is no precise measure, for the founders
regarded not any preciseness in their breadth: because two together
were design’d to make a _compages_, whereon to set the impost, and this
I call a _trilithon_. Each _trilithon_ stands by its self, independant
of its neighbour, not as the stones and imposts of the outer circle,
link’d together in a continued _corona_, by the imposts carried quite
round. Indeed the breadth of a stone at bottom is seven feet and a
half, which is 4 cubits and a half. Two stones therefore amount to nine
cubits, and there is a cubit of interval between them, making in the
whole ten cubits. But they were not careful of the particulars, only of
the whole, in one of these _compages_ or _trilithons_.
The stones of the cell are made to diminish very much, towards the
top, most apparently with a design, to take off from their weight,
and render them what we call top-heavy, in a less degree. Hence the
interval between the two upright stones of the _compages_ widens so
much upwards. This must certainly contribute very much, to their
stability. In assigning 20 foot for their height, Mr. _Webb_ has
well taken the _medium_. A very small matter more than 20 feet makes
exactly 12 cubits of the _Hebrews_, _Egyptians_ and Druids. The reader
remembers the proportion I assign’d between the _English_ foot and this
cubit. 20 inches and ⅘ make a cubit, therefore 20 feet and ⅘ make 12
cubits. The true case as to the height of the _trilithons_, is thus
respectively, and which may be seen in TAB. XV. with the harmony and
symmetry, in the proportion of the whole. We may observe their gradual
rising in height, all from the same base, like pillars of higher orders
and more diameters. But the intelligent reader must needs see, that
our founders never had sight of _Greek_ or _Roman_ pillars, and never
pretended to imitate them, or take any one idea from them. And of these
three different orders or degrees of altitude, in these _trilithons_,
one exceeds the other by a cubit. So that their heights respectively
are 13 cubits, 14 cubits, 15 cubits.
The imposts of these _trilithons_ are all of the same height. Mr.
_Webb_ p. 61. “informs us, the architrave lying on the top of the great
stones of the hexagon and mortaised also into them sixteen foot long, 3
foot 9 inches broad, 3 foot 4 inches high.” Mr. _Webb’s_ 16 foot long,
is too scanty, it amounting to 9 cubits and 2 palms, but the intent
of the founders was to make these imposts equal both in length and
breadth to the foundation of the upright stones that supports them, I
mean the two stones at bottom, the sustaining part of the _compages_,
which in its whole breadth makes 10 cubits; and 10 cubits long the
imposts are to be assign’d. Most certainly whoever undertake to measure
them, whether from those fallen on the ground, or still in their proper
place, will be apt to fail in giving them just length. Both because 1.
’tis observable that these imposts are form’d somewhat broader upwards,
than in their bottom part; but this may not be taken notice of by every
one. This was done very judiciously upon an optical principle, which
it is plain the founders were aware of. For a stone of so considerable
an elevation, by this means only, presents its whole face in view.
Therefore they that measure it at bottom will not take its true length.
2. If they take the dimension, either from a stone still in its proper
place, or from one fallen down, they will be very liable to shorten the
measure. For in the first case, the upper edge of these imposts, must
needs have suffer’d from the weather, in so elevated an exposure, thro’
the space of 2000 years. It is very apparent they have suffered not a
little. Large and deep furrows of age are visible all around them. But
if they measure those fallen, they must well imagine such have doubly
suffered, from weather, and from the people every day diminishing all
corners and edges, to carry pieces away with them. So that in this
case, analogy and symmetry only can supply these defeats. Thus we found
before, that the breadth of the imposts of the outer circle is equal to
their ichnographical breadth: so it is here, being 10 cubits. Besides,
the outer face of these imposts is longer than the inner, as being
in the larger circle. Therefore ten cubits is to be understood their
medium measure.
[Illustration: _P. 26._ TAB. XIIII.
_The orthographical Section of Stonehenge upon the Cross diameter._]
Mr. _Webb_ gives it as a general measure, that they are 3 foot 9 inches
broad. He has before told us, the uprights which support them were 3
foot 9 thick; take that twice, it makes 7 foot and a half, which he
assigns for the breadth, of the uprights. This is all just within a
trifle, and it is not expected that he who was not aware of the cubit,
by which these works were made, should do it with greater accuracy. The
truth of the whole is this: _Webb_’s 7 foot and half is 4 cubits and a
half, as we said before; the half of it is 3 foot 9, and a very little
more. But this must be taken for the least breadth of the imposts,
that at the ends. For in the middle they are somewhat broader. Tho’
the inside faces are strait, yet, as we observ’d, in proper place, of
the imposts of the outer circle; so here, they are rounded behind:
their outer circumference answering to the great oval upon which they
are founded. So likewise their ends are made upon a _radius_ of that
oval, whence the inner face of the impost is somewhat shorter than the
outer, and is another reason why their lengths may easily be taken
somewhat too short. I have drawn the imposts in their true shape in
the ground-plot. The artifice of the tenons and mortaises of these
_trilithons_ and their imposts, what conformity they bear to that of
the outer circle, is exceedingly pretty, every thing being done truly
geometrical, and as would best answer every purpose, from plain and
simple principles. In the bottom face of the impost, if divided into
three squares, the two mortaises are made in the middle of the two
outermost squares. Draw diagonal lines from corner to corner; where
they intersect, is the center of the mortaise; which central distance
from one to the other, is seven cubits of the Druid measure. Each tenon
is a cubit broad upon its longest diameter, for they are of an oval
figure. An admirable contrivance, that the imposts should lie firm
upon the heads of the uprights, and keep the uprights steady in their
places, to strengthen and adorn. We may remark this pretty device, in
the management of the tenons and mortaises. Cut an egg across upon its
shortest diameter or conjugate; one half thereof represents the shape
of the tenons of the outer circle. Cut it across upon its transverse
diameter, one half is the shape of the tenons of the _adytum_. ’Tis
evident the meaning of it is this. The tenons of the outer circle are
higher in proportion, than the others, because the imposts are less
and lower than the others, and on both accounts more liable to be
disturb’d, either by accident or violence, than the others: therefore
more caution is us’d for their preservation. This is an instance of
art, noble and simple withal. Mr. _Webb_ says the imposts are 3 foot 4
inches high, which is precisely 2 cubits, a sixth part of the height of
the _medium_ order of _trilithons_; as the imposts of the outer circle
are a sixth part of the height of the stones of the outer circle. The
medium order of _trilithons_ is above 24 foot high, _i. e._ 14 cubits.
The lower order is 13 cubits, _viz._ those next the entrance. The upper
_trilithon_ behind the altar was 15 cubits. Each rising a cubit higher
than the other, as we before observ’d.
I promis’d to show the reader what _Stonehenge_ is, and what it
was. The latter, I presume, is done in the four prints, TAB. XII,
XIV, XV, XVI. being geometric orthographical sections of the whole
work, all necessary ways, such as architects prepare in design, when
they set about a building. ’Tis wholly needless to spend many words
in explaining them. What the work is, of our _adytum_ at present,
is shown in the subsequent prints, TAB. XVIII, XXI, XXII. The Vth
corresponds with the XIIth. The one shows the front of the temple when
in perfection, the other as now in ruins. The XVIth may be compar’d
with XIX and XX. all presenting a view from the _adytum_ toward the
entrance. TAB. XVIII. is a contrary view, when one standing by the
entrance, looks toward the _adytum_. The same is presented in _Plate_
VII. which I call a peep into the _sanctum sanctorum_. XXII. is the
same, but a little oblique. This plate shows at present, what the
XIVth does in its original. _Plate_ XV and XXI. correspond, showing
the _adytum_ on one side, in its perfect, and in its ruinous state.
Particularly they explain, what I spoke of, as to the orderly rising of
the _trilithons_ in height, one above another, from the lower end to
the upper end of the _adytum_. TAB. XXII. illustrates it, by exhibiting
to view, the other and most perfect side of the _adytum_. ’Tis an
oblique prospect of it, from the entrance.
The quantity of the solid is well adjusted, in proportioning the
stone-work of this _adytum_, to the intervals upon the ichnography.
Each _trilithon_ is 10 cubits, and each interval about 6. The jambs,
or _vacuum_ of the entry expand themselves to 25 cubits, which is
about 43 feet. From which measure my Lord _Pembroke_ demonstrated the
falsity of _Webb_’s hexagonal scheme, when his Lordship first did me
the honour to discourse about _Stonehenge_. In Mr. _Webb_’s designs, we
find two jambs (taking one _trilithon_ away) expand but little above
31 feet, by his own scales. Tho’ I don’t pretend, but that some of my
foregoing measures, may here and there possibly vary a little, upon
a very strict trial, and where proper judgment is not us’d, because
the stones in some parts may protuberate, or great parts of them may
have fallen off; yet 10 foot difference from truth cannot be allow’d
of. In the _Plates_ XIX and XX. observe the inside of that upright
stone, which makes the northern jamb of the chief entrance of the
outer circle. A very great piece is fallen off towards the top, which
discovers its tenon and the mortaise of the impost above it. And in
the management of such prodigious stones as these are, fix’d in the
ground, and ramm’d too like posts: ’tis not to be wonder’d at, if by
chance we find some little variation. Tho’ for my own part, I observ’d
none; rather wonder’d, how it was possible for them, without lewices
and the like devices, to set them in their places to such preciseness.
And the reader, whose mind has receiv’d no prepossession, cannot but
be abundantly satisfy’d, that the multitude of measures I have given
from Mr. _Webb_’s own account, are perfectly agreeable to the scale
of cubits, deduc’d from works of the _Egyptians_ and others: and that
in round and full numbers, not trifling fractions. If we collate
the numbers given, with the _Roman_ scale, the measures appear very
ridiculous and without design; and that is a sure way of confuting the
opinion, of its being a _Roman_ work. But as these stones are generally
rough, and by time must suffer in all dimensions, ’tis not practical to
take their true measure, without necessary judgment, and relation had
to symmetry.
Of these greater stones of the _adytum_, as I observed before, there
are none wanting. They are all on the spot, 10 upright stones, 5
cornishes. The _trilithon_ first on the left hand is entire _in situ_,
but vastly decay’d, especially the cornish. There are such deep holes
corroded, in some places, that daws make their nests in them. The
next _trilithon_ on the left hand, is entire, compos’d of three most
beautiful stones. The cornish happen’d to be of a very durable kind
of _English_ marble, and has not been much impair’d by weather. My
Lord _Winchelsea_ and myself took a considerable walk on the top of
it, but it was a frightful situation. The _trilithon_ of the upper end
of the _adytum_, was an extraordinary beauty. But alas through the
indiscretion probably, of some body digging there, between them and the
altar, the noble impost is dislodg’d from its airy seat, and fallen
upon the altar, where its huge bulk lies unfractur’d.
_Recidit in solidam longo post tempore, terram
Pondus, & exhibuit junctam cum viribus artem._ Ovid _Met._
The two uprights that supported it are the most delicate stones of
the whole work. They were, I believe, above 30 foot long, and well
chizell’d, finely taper’d and proportion’d in their dimensions. That
southward is broke in two, lying upon the altar. The other still stands
entire, but leans upon one of the stones of the inward oval.
_Jamjam lapsura cadentique
Imminet assimilis_——————
The root-end or unhewn part of both, are rais’d somewhat above ground.
We cannot be sure of the true height of this, when it was perfect: but
I am sure 15 cubits, which I have assign’d, is the lowest. The next
_trilithon_, _that_ toward the west, is intire, except that some of the
end of the impost is fallen clean off, and all the upper edge is
very much diminish’d by time. As _Lucretius_ says,
————_Minui rem quamque videmus,
Et quasi longinquo fluere omnia cernimus ævo,
Ex oculisque, vetustatem, subducere nostris._
[Illustration: _P. 28._ TAB. XV.
_The Orthographic Section of Stonehenge upon the Chief diameter_]
The last _trilithon_, that on the right hand of the entrance into the
_adytum_, has suffer’d much. The outer upright being the jamb of the
entrance, is still standing, the other upright and impost are both
fallen forwards into the _adytum_, and broke each into three pieces. I
suppose from digging near it. But from one piece of the impost lying
loose, in the middle, between the jambs of the _adytum_, Mr. _Webb_ in
the plan of his ruins of _Stonehenge_ (being his 6th _Scheme_) forms
the remains of his imaginary 6th _trilithon_, supposing it one of the
stones of the inner or lesser hexagon, as he calls it. Yet if this
fragment was really a stump of such a stone, as he would have it, still
it would not create an hexagonal form of the cell, but stand just in
the middle of the entrance, and block it up in a very absurd, unseemly,
and incommodious a manner. And nothing can be more certain, than that
there never was such a thing in being. That stone of the _trilithon_
which is standing, has a cavity in it which two or three persons may
sit in, worn by the weather.
_Stonehenge_ is compos’d of two circles and two ovals, respectively
concentric. At the distance of two cubits inward from the greater oval,
describe another lesser oval, on which the stones of the inner oval
are to stand: 19 stones in number, at about the central distance of
3 cubits. This lesser oval is to be describ’d by a string and the 2
centers, as before. Or by 2 circles from a 10 cubit _radius_, and the
2 centers _a_ and _b_, as of the other before was spoken. Mr. _Webb_
says, p. 60, “the stones of the hexagon within, 2 foot 6 inches in
breadth, one foot and a half thick and 8 foot high, in form pyramidal.”
His two foot and a half is our cubit and half, for the breadth of these
stones; being but a third of the breadth of the stones of the greater
oval. And the interval between stone and stone, the same. Their height
is likewise unequal, as the _trilithons_, for they rise in height as
nearer the upper end of the _adytum_. Mr. _Webb_’s 8 foot assign’d, is
a good _medium_ measure, for it is just 4 cubits and 4 palms, the third
part of the height of the _medium trilithon_. From the ruins of those
left, we may well suppose, the first next the entrance and lowest were
4 cubits high; the most advanc’d height behind the altar might be five
cubits, and perhaps more. The stones are somewhat of what Mr. _Webb_
calls a pyramidal form, meaning that of an _Egyptian_ obelisk, for they
taper a little upwards. They are of a much harder sort than the other
stones, as we spoke before, in the lesser circle. The founders provided
that their lesser bulk should be compensated in solidity. They were
brought somewhere from the west. Of these there are only 6 remaining
upright. The stumps of two are left on the south side by the altar.
One lies behind the altar, dug up or thrown down, by the fall of that
upright there. One or two were thrown down probably, by the fall of the
upright of the first _trilithon_ on the right hand. A stump of another
remains by the upright there, still standing. Their exact measures
either as to height, breadth or thickness, cannot well be ascertain’d.
For they took such as they could find, best suiting their scantlings,
but the stones were better shap’d and taller, as advancing towards the
upper end of the cell.