DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6910#0061
TEMPLES AND ROUND CHURCHES.
37
sequently, the most awful, figure. According to many writers, this denoted eternity,
infinity, &c. and by the Hindoos it was formed by a coiled snake, which, with the
addition of wings, was regarded with profound veneration. The Egyptians also
used a globe with wings, and a snake attached, as a symbol of the Deity; and on
Chinese gates are found the figures of coiled snakes, applied to similar purposes*
Among the most ancient (if not really the very first) species of circular temples,
were those rude piles of stones, which are usually denominated druidical.f These
are almost uniformly disposed in a circle, and consist of one, two, or four concentric
rows of upright unwrought stones. J Several of these, of various dimensions and
figures, are still remaining in Wales, Cornwall, Cumberland, Scotland, Ireland, and
other parts of the British Islands; also in Brittany, Denmark, &c. but the most
considerable in size, and popular in estimation, are those of Stonehenge, and
Avebury, in Wiltshire. The former has obtained extraordinary celebrity; but the
temple at the latter place, though upon a much more stupendous scale, and sur-
prising phm, is seldom alluded to by antiquaries, and scarcely known even to
Englishmen.§ Its centre consisted of a circular range of immense stones, one
hundred in number, with four other circles within the area. The whole was en-
vironed with a deep ditch and high bank. Diverging from this were two avenues,
or double rows of upright stones, which extended a mile each way from the centre,
and at the extremity of one of these avenues, were two oval ranges of upright stones.
It was, and still is, the custom of many nations to worship the sun, the moon, fire, or
some other visible object, in the open air; either on the summit of a mountain,|| or
within the area of a raised bank,^ &c. for, with more sublime than rational ideas,
they deemed it improper to confine their devotions within stone walls. The roof of
* See Stukcley's Description, &c. of "Abury," fol.
t " Moses rose early in the morning, and huilded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars " Exodus, chap
«iv. v. 4. See also the first volume of King's Munimenta Antiqua, where the author has described, and referred
to* numerous stone circles, or temples.
t Stonehenge, I believe, is the only example in Britain, where the stones have been squared, or shaped w.th
t0°ls; whence the Welsh antiquaries infer that it is not a purely druidical structure.
§ Stukeley wrote a dissertation on it, which he published in a folio volume, with numerous plates, in 1743 ■
b«t as this work is scarce and dear, it is only to be found in the libraries of the curious, and consequently .. only
read b)' a few persons.
II In Homer, among other instances, the piety of Hector is commended by Jupiter, for the many sacrifices
made by him on the top of Mount Ida.
IT From the remaining examples of druidical temples, we infer that all were encircled with a mound of earth ,
°r vallum, and a ditch.
37
sequently, the most awful, figure. According to many writers, this denoted eternity,
infinity, &c. and by the Hindoos it was formed by a coiled snake, which, with the
addition of wings, was regarded with profound veneration. The Egyptians also
used a globe with wings, and a snake attached, as a symbol of the Deity; and on
Chinese gates are found the figures of coiled snakes, applied to similar purposes*
Among the most ancient (if not really the very first) species of circular temples,
were those rude piles of stones, which are usually denominated druidical.f These
are almost uniformly disposed in a circle, and consist of one, two, or four concentric
rows of upright unwrought stones. J Several of these, of various dimensions and
figures, are still remaining in Wales, Cornwall, Cumberland, Scotland, Ireland, and
other parts of the British Islands; also in Brittany, Denmark, &c. but the most
considerable in size, and popular in estimation, are those of Stonehenge, and
Avebury, in Wiltshire. The former has obtained extraordinary celebrity; but the
temple at the latter place, though upon a much more stupendous scale, and sur-
prising phm, is seldom alluded to by antiquaries, and scarcely known even to
Englishmen.§ Its centre consisted of a circular range of immense stones, one
hundred in number, with four other circles within the area. The whole was en-
vironed with a deep ditch and high bank. Diverging from this were two avenues,
or double rows of upright stones, which extended a mile each way from the centre,
and at the extremity of one of these avenues, were two oval ranges of upright stones.
It was, and still is, the custom of many nations to worship the sun, the moon, fire, or
some other visible object, in the open air; either on the summit of a mountain,|| or
within the area of a raised bank,^ &c. for, with more sublime than rational ideas,
they deemed it improper to confine their devotions within stone walls. The roof of
* See Stukcley's Description, &c. of "Abury," fol.
t " Moses rose early in the morning, and huilded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars " Exodus, chap
«iv. v. 4. See also the first volume of King's Munimenta Antiqua, where the author has described, and referred
to* numerous stone circles, or temples.
t Stonehenge, I believe, is the only example in Britain, where the stones have been squared, or shaped w.th
t0°ls; whence the Welsh antiquaries infer that it is not a purely druidical structure.
§ Stukeley wrote a dissertation on it, which he published in a folio volume, with numerous plates, in 1743 ■
b«t as this work is scarce and dear, it is only to be found in the libraries of the curious, and consequently .. only
read b)' a few persons.
II In Homer, among other instances, the piety of Hector is commended by Jupiter, for the many sacrifices
made by him on the top of Mount Ida.
IT From the remaining examples of druidical temples, we infer that all were encircled with a mound of earth ,
°r vallum, and a ditch.