Why does Stonehenge continue to capture the imagination - Essay Example

The construction on Stonehenge began about 5,000 years ago and was completed about 4,000 years ago. The huge and colossal scale and strange aim of Stonehenge draw the attention of eight hundred thousand visitors every year, and many people visit this monument during summers to view the sunrise at this mystical and ancient site (UNESCO, 2012). The Stonehenge is undoubtedly a spectacular sun rise and sun set view and is obviously seen as a site of worship for the ancient people of Europe. History says nothing about the religion of Stonehenge people but the site became a place for worship and pilgrimage for Neo pagans who recognized themselves as Celtic paganism or Druids.

The site is also popular with the people of New Age who say that the site has some powerful energy associated with it. Not only the construction but the location and site of Stonehenge also capture the attention of thousands of people visiting it each year (Stonehenge, 2012). Even today, the construction of Stonehenge is said to be an inspiring achievement of the engineers, requiring time and commitment, and also a huge amount of manual labor. First, there was a huge bank and ditch known as ‘henge’ dug into the surface of Earth around 5,000 years ago.

The ditch as made by tools made up of wood or antlers of red deer. The fundamental chalk was united by picks and scooped with shoulder blades of the cattle. Subsequently, it was put into baskets and then moved away (Stonehenge, 2012). In 2000 BC, the very first stone circle (the inner circle) made up of tiny bluestones, was set up, but was discarded even before its completion. The stones which were used for the first circle are thought to be taken from Prescelly Mountains, which are situated almost 240 miles away from the Stonehenge, in the southwestern side of Wales.

These bluestones have a weight of about four tons per stone and almost eighty stones are used. Considering the distance and the transportation mood of that time, it was a lot of distance to cover (Heritage). Still today, nobody has been able to give an accurate answer of who built the Stonehenge. It is still a mystery to be solved which makes this place even more eye catching and astonishing. The construction of the monument has been linked to several ancient populations, but the most lasting and appealing ascription has been given to the Druids as described earlier.

This wrong conception was brought in by John Aubrey around three centuries ago. Some Roman writers, including Julius Caesar link this construction to Celtic priesthood who grew at the time of their initial conquest in about 55BC. But, the stones were already standing there for 2,000 years by this time, and most probably were in a devastated condition. Furthermore, the Druids were worshippers of forest temples and not stone structures (Stonehenge, 2012). King Arthur’s legends give a reconciliation of Stonehenge construction.

It was narrated by Geoffrey, the famous writer of twelfth century, in his book “History of the Kings of Britain” that the stones were brought in by Merlin from Ireland to Salisbury Plain. During the 5th Century, there was an annihilation of three hundred British noblemen by Hengest (deceitful Saxon leader). According to Geoffrey, king Aurelius Ambrosius wished to make a fitting memorial for the slain men. Merlin came up with a journey to Ireland for the aim of relocating the huge ring stone circle to England.

Now Geoffrey says that these stones were brought by giants from Africa as they were so enormous to be a work of human beings. These stones were then situated on “Mount Killaraus” and were then used as a place for doing rituals and for the purpose of healing. The