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Stone Circle
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The name
Pre-20th century descriptions of Cornish stone circles frequently refer to them as 'Dans Men' or 'Dawns Meyn', usually interpreted at as ritual places where ceremonies including dancing mayhave taken place. However, 'Dans Men' may be a mispronunciation of 'Zans Meyn' the Cornish phrase meaning 'stone circle'.
So, 'maiden' may be a simple misinterpretation of the Cornish word for stone: men, maen or meyn.
The word 'merry' may be a corruption of the word Mary, the name of an ancient goddess and nothing to do with Christianity. She was Ma-Ri, her name signifiying a fruitful or fertile mother.
From Ian Cooke's 'Antiquities of West Cornwall', 1990
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Posted by Jane
15th December 2003ce
Edited 15th December 2003ce
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