————_Jam nunc solennes ducere pompas
Ad delubra juvat, cæsosque videre juvencos._ Virg.
I have often admir’d the delicacy of this ascent to the temple. As soon
as you mount from the bottom, ’tis level for a great way together: and
the whole length of it is a kind of ridge, for it slopes off both ways
from it on each side; so that the rain runs off every way. Just about
half way there is a depressure, as a pause or foot pace, showing one
half of the avenue ascending, the other descending, both magnificent,
in the ancient gusto. There was a temple of _Jupiter Labradæus_ near
_Mylasa_ a city of _Caria_, much frequented. The way leading thither
was called sacred, and pav’d 60 furlongs, thro’ which their procession
went. _Philostratus_ says, you went to the temple of _Diana_ at
_Ephesus_, by a stone portico of a _stadium_. _Pausanias in Phocicis_
says, the avenue to the temple of _Minerva Cranea_ near _Elatea_ is
ascending, but so gently that it is imperceptible. Again in Chap. X.
we read of a pav’d way, to the oracle at _Delphos_. But the natural
pavement of our avenue is much finer. I take notice, that _Jupiter
Labradæus_ was a statue holding a halbard in his hand, which instrument
like a _securis_ or amazonian ax, was as a scepter to the _Lydian_
kings. And apparently our _English_ halbard is the very word, with
an asperate way of pronunciation prefix’d, _Labrada_. So our Druids
carried about a sharp brass instrument which we often find, call’d a
celt, (I know not whence) with which they us’d to cut the _Misletoe_,
at their great festival in midwinter. I have represented one hanging at
our Druids girdle, in TAB. I. it was to be put into the slit at the end
of his staff, when used. But of this hereafter. Now with the _Poet_ in
his celebrated _Ode_
—————————————————— _Quibus
Mos unde deductus per omne
Tempus, Amazonia securi
Dextras obarmet, quærere distuli:
Nec scire fas est omnia_———— Horat.
being arriv’d again at _Stonehenge_, from the last print, TAB. XXVIII.
though small, we may see the beauty of the curve in the outer circle
of that work, especially from the avenue, when the eye is below it. We
observe the same in the grand front view. TAB. V.
And now we are return’d to the sacred fabric, we will discourse a
little upon these temples in general, and so conclude this chapter.
In Macrob. _Saturn._ I. 18. mention is made of a famous round temple
in _Thrace_, where they celebrate most magnificent religious rites.
It is upon the hill _Zilmissus_. The temple is open at top. I suppose
like ours, not a little round hole like as in the _Pantheon_, nor is it
a small round _sacellum_ like those little round temples at _Rome_ to
_Romulus_, to _Vesta_, &c. It is not reasonable to think they should
build a _Pantheon_ in _Thrace_, nor can I understand it otherwise,
than that, it was like our _Stonehenge_, and in truth an ancient
patriarchal structure of a primitive model. The Deity here worshipp’d
was call’d _Sabazius_ says he, some make him _Jupiter_, some the sun,
some _Bacchus_. These are the first perversions of the _Jehovah_ of
the _Jews_. In my Judgment, the name _Sabazius_ is a corruption of
the _Hebrew_ name of God צבאות _sabaoth_, _Deus exercituum_, a title
that would well suit the warlike _Thracians_. In time Idolatry debased
every thing. When they perform’d the religious rites of _Bacchus_, they
cried _Evohe_, _Sabbai_, and call’d him _Evius_, _Evan_, _Sabazius_,
&c. _Evohe_ is a corrupt manner of pronouncing יהוה _Jehovah_, and
this sacred cry is truly no other than what frequently occurs in
holy scripture. יהוה צבאות _Jehovah Sabaoth_. He is the king of
glory, _Psalm_ xxiv. 10. But I have discoursed on this head in my
_Paleographia Sacra_ N^o I. which will be continued.
_Diodorus Siculus_ in his Book II. mentions a very eminent temple of a
round form, among the _Hyperboreans_, as he calls them, who inhabit an
island situate in the ocean over-against _Gaul_, which is not less than
_Sicily_. He gives an odd account from thence mix’d with fable, and
seemingly some reports of _Stonehenge_ itself.
Mr. _Toland_ is confident, this hyperborean region is our _Schetland_
isles, whence _Abaris_ the Druid and hyperborean philosopher, famous
in _Grecian_ story. Whilst I am writing this, _March_ 6. 1739–40. we
had an account read before the _Royal Society_, much confirming Mr.
_Toland_’s notion; speaking of the admirable temperature of the air
there, not subject to such extremities, such sudden changes, as even in
_Britain_ itself. There are such temples as ours there.
_Arnobius_ in VI. speaking of the origin of temples, “We don’t, says
he, make temples to the Gods, as if we design’d to shelter them
from the rain, the wind, the sun: but that we may therein present
ourselves before them, and by our prayers, after a sort, speak to them
as if present.” We may well affirm this of our temple, built after
the manner of the patriarchal ones, tho’ probably an improvement,
and somewhat more magnificent. Ours consists of two ovals and two
circles. Many in our island, which I suppose older than _Stonehenge_,
consist of one oval, or niche-like figure made of three stones only,
(of which our _adytum_ is a more magnificent specimen) and a circle
of rude stones fix’d in the ground; of which our work, crown’d with
a circular cornish, is a more magnificent specimen. Sometime I meet
with a niche without a circle, sometime a circle without a niche.
We may well say, the circle is analogous to our chapels, churches,
or cathedrals, according to their different magnitude; the niches
correspond to our choirs, altars, and more sacred part of the sacred
building, the more immediate place of the residence of the Deity. They
are what now the _Turks_ and _Arabians_ call the _kebla_, deriv’d,
as we said before, from the patriarchal practice, and particularly
from the great patriarch _Abraham_. I doubt not but the altars which
he and his posterity made, mention’d in scripture, were a stone upon
the ground before three set in a niche-like figure, and the whole
inclos’d in a circle of stones. At other times they set only one stone
for a _kebla_, as sometime our ancestors did likewise. This practice
was propagated generally among all ancient nations. Among many it was
forgotten, or not practised, where they had but little religion at all.
Among others, after idolatry had prevail’d with them, they thought all
former manners of worship like their own, and mistook the stones which
were _keblas_ or places of worship, for the objects of worship. Hence
_Maximus_ of _Tyre_ says, the _Arabians_ worshipp’d he knew not what,
for he saw only a great stone. Which, no doubt, was the _kebla_ toward
which they directed their devotion, as they had learnt from _Abraham_,
or the like patriarchal ancestors. So _Pausanias_ in _Achaicis_ says,
the ancient _Greeks_ worshipp’d unhewn stones instead of statues; more
particularly among the _Pharii_, near the statue of _Mercury_, were 30
square stones, which they worshipp’d. If our author could not make his
narration agreeable to common sense, he might well mistake this ancient
patriarchal temple, somewhat like ours of _Stonehenge_, for a circle of
deities: he himself being a stranger to any other than image-worship. I
shall handle this matter more largely hereafter, and now let us descend
again from the temple to the _cursus_. Only I would close this chapter
with this short reflection. This avenue is proof enough (if there
needed any) that our work is a temple, not a monument, as some writers
would have it. But it requires no formal confutation.
[Illustration: _P. 40._ TAB. XXI.
_Stukeley del._
An inward View of STONEHENGE .AA. _the altar_.
_or Side view of the cell._]