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Stonehenge
Midwinter, or midsummer?
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On the Stonehenge programme, John Suchet kept harping on about how the Stonehenge of uprights and lintels was built for worship at midsummer sunrise, as if it was fact.

I can believe that the midsummer sunrise was recognised in the building of the site, but feel that the most important time was midwinter sunset. A monument built for ceremonies to bring the life-giving sun back from his winter sleep.

The evidence? For me it's simply the fact that the Avenue leads you to the circle in the direction of the midwinter sunset. One of the experts summed it up nicely when he compared it to entering a church - you enter and face the altar, you don't enter and turn round to face it.

Any thoughts / opinions / rants / swearing greatfully received.


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The Eternal
Posted by The Eternal
22nd June 2005ce
21:59

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