94 





^!!l[|^N all countries, in the earliest times, the stone or earthen circle 

 ^H ^ appears to have been the mode of expressing the intention 

 to set apart a particular spot as a " locus consecratus," either for 

 worship, or sepulture. The circle was the form of the sun and moon 

 in their completeness, and it was suggestive of infinity. The im- 

 pressiveness of the stone circle would of course depend upon 

 the size of the stones which the district produced, but where these 

 were large, they would naturally be made use of in preference to 

 smaller ones. It is not necessary to suppose that the constructors of 

 Abury, Stanton Drew, Rollrich, and the numerous stone circles of 

 Devonshire, and Cornwall, required to be taught this art by foreigners. 

 Just as their daily wants would impel them, in common with all 

 other early races, to shape flints into weapons and instruments, so 

 would their religious instincts suggest to them, as to others, the 

 particular form in which they might best give expression to them. 

 We may safely assume that the indigente of all countries would 

 spontaneously set up the rude stone circle, without any suggestion 

 from external sources. 



In the case of Stonehenge, however, there is a considerable artistic 

 advance, which is suggestive to many of a later period of construction, 

 and of foreign influence ; and accordingly its erection has been ascribed 

 to the Phoenicians, to theBelg8e,to theRomans,to the Romano-British, 

 to the Saxons, and to the Danes. ^ 



'Jacob Bryant in the 3rd vol. of his " Analysis of Antient Mythology," p. 

 532 — 3 (1776), claims for Stonehenge a very high antiquity : " We have many 

 instances of this nature [poised stones] in our own country, and they are to be 

 found in other parts of the world ; and wherever they occur we may esteem 

 them of the highest antiquity. All such works we generally refer to the Celts, 



