_Of the area round_ Stonehenge. _The bowing stones. The manner of
sacrificing._
Of the court round the temple of _Stonehenge_, somewhat is said
already, and of the two stones standing within the _vallum_: and of the
two cavities remarkable, which have some correspondency therewith. I
supposed, they were places, where two great vases of water stood, for
the service of the temple, when they perform’d religious rites here.
And I endeavour’d to illustrate it by a coin of the city _Heliopolis_.
60 cubits is the diameter of _Stonehenge_, 60 more reaches the inner
edge of the circular ditch of the court. The ditch originally was near
30 cubits broad, but thro’ long tract of time, and the infinity of
coaches, horses, _&c._ coming every day to see the place, ’tis levell’d
very much. The intire diameter of the court, reaching to the outward
verge of the ditch, is 4 times 60 cubits, which is about 410 foot. The
five outer circles of the ditch are struck with a radius of 80, 90,
100, 110, 120 cubits.
Just upon the inner verge of the ditch, at the entrance from the
avenue, lies a very large stone, at present flat on the ground. Mr.
_Webb_, p. 57. pretends to give us the measure of it, confounding it
with the other two before-mention’d to be within the _vallum_, to
which they have no relation, no similarity in proportion. This is to
favour his notion of three entrances of the _area_, dependant upon his
hypothesis of equilateral triangles. He there tells us at the letter F,
“the parallel stones on the inside of the trench were four foot broad
and three foot thick but they lie so broken and ruin’d by time, that
their proportion in height cannot be distinguish’d, much less exactly
measur’d.” Thus he, but ’tis _invita Minervâ_; for all three stones,
in all appearance, are as little alter’d from their first size, as any
stones in the work. The two stones within the _vallum_ are very small
stones, and ever were so. The one stands; the other leans a little,
probably from some idle people digging about it. This stone at the
entrance is a very great one, near as big as any one of the whole work,
and seems too as little alter’d from its original form: only thrown
down perhaps by the like foolish curiosity of digging near it. Instead
of _Webb_’s four foot broad, it’s near seven: but to speak in the Druid
measure, four cubits. It is at present above 20 foot long. If it stood
originally, and a little leaning, it was one of those stones which
the _Welsh_ call _crwm lechen_, or bowing-stones. However, Mr. _Webb_
must falsify the truth very much, in making this and the two former
any thing alike in dimension, situation and use. But he does so, much
more in the next, which is doubtless a _crwm leche_, still standing in
its original posture and place in the avenue. ’Tis of much the like
dimension as the other, tho’ not so shapely, and stands in like manner
on the left hand, or south, of the middle line, of the length of the
avenue. I surmise, the Druids consider’d the propriety of making the
other a little more shapely than this, because within the _area_, and
nearer the sacred fabric. There is the distance of 119 feet between
them, to speak properly, 80 cubits. This interval Mr. _Webb_ contracts
to about 43 foot, and supposes there was another stone to answer it on
the right hand, as also another to answer that on the inside the ditch.
And he supposes the like of those before-mention’d, both within and
without the ditch, at his two fancy’d entrances. But of these, there is
_nec vola nec vestigium_, and I dare say, never was. This stone has a
hole in it, which is observable of like stones, set thus near our like
temples: as we shall see in the progress of this work. The stone is of
24 foot in circumference, 16 high above ground, 9 broad, 6 thick. The
use of it I can’t certainly tell; but I am inclin’d to think, that
as part of the religious worship in old patriarchal times, consisted
in a solemn adoration, or three silent bowings: the first bowing
might be perform’d at this stone, just without the ditch, the second
perhaps at the next stone, just within the ditch. Then they turn’d by
that stone to the left hand, as the manner was, in a procession round
the temple, both the priests and animals for sacrifice. At those two
stones and water-vases, probably there were some washings, lustrations,
or sprinklings with holy water, and other ceremonies, which I don’t
pretend to ascertain. Then upon the entry into the temple, perhaps
they made the third bow, as in presence of the Deity. After this, in
the _court_, we may suppose the priests prepar’d the hecatombs and
customary sacrifices. If that great stone just within the ditch, always
lay, as it does now, flat on the ground, and _in situ_, (which I am not
unwilling to believe) then, I apprehend, it was a table for dressing
the victims. _Ezekiel_, in describing the temple of _Jerusalem_, speaks
of such in the entry, xl. 30, 40, 41, 42, 43.
’Tis just to think, the ancient form of sacrificing here, like that
of the _Romans_, _Greeks_ or elder nations, was pretty much the same
as that among the _Jews_, and _that_ as in patriarchal times; and in
short, no other than the original practice of mankind, since the first
institution of sacrifices, at the fall. Therefore we shall subjoin it
from _Homer_’s description, in _Iliad_ I. It quadrates extremely well,
in all appearance, with the place and temple before us.
Straightway in haste, a chosen hecatomb
To God, prepar’d, the well-built altar round,
They place in order. Then their hands they wash,
And take the salted meal. Aloud the priest,
With hands uplifted, for the assembly prays.
After the prayers, they wav’d the salted meal,
And then retiring slay the animals.
The skins being stript, they cut off both the thighs,
And cover them with cawl; first offer’d crude.
The priest then burns a part on plates,† thereon red wine,
Libation pour’d. The ministring young men
Stand by him, with their five-fold spits in hand.
But when the thighs are burnt, out of the rest
Entrails and flesh, harslets and stakes they make,
Upon the spits transfixt. Then roasted well
They set all forth. After the duty done;
A feast they next prepare. Plenty of food
Distributed around, chearful repast.
Banquet being o’re, the youths huge goblets crown,
And fill to all in cups. Then sacred hymns
Sung to the Deity, conclude the day.
† In another place he adds,
With choice cloven bits of wood,
Without leaves——————————————
These are most ancient rites, symbolical of the purity of the sacrifice
of the _Messiah_, pointed at by, and deriv’d from the _Mosaic_
dispensation, where every thing of sacred purpose was to be perfect.
Thus much is sufficient to give the reader an idea of the ancient
manner of sacrificing, such, no doubt as was practis’d at this very
place entirely the _Hebrew_ rite. I suppose only the priests and chief
personages came within the _area_, who made the procession with the
sacrifices along the avenue. The multitude kept without, on foot or in
their chariots.
[Illustration: _P. 34._ TAB XVIII.
_A direct view of the Remains of the adytum of Stonehenge._
_Stukeley delin._ _A. Motte Sculp._]