410 
JOUKNAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
MAXIMAJOR STONE. 
Maximaj or is an upright Stone, a rudely-hewn piece of granite, 
about six feet high and one foot six inches at the base, gradually 
tapering to a round pointed apex, which is much weathered. It 
stands near a cross roadway on Marsden Common, about three miles 
from Moretonhampstead, and a quarter of a mile from the ancient 
barrow called the Giant's Grave. 
"Whether it was ever an inscribed stone or not it is difficult to 
determine; but the lad who directed me to it said he thought 
that it was placed there because some one had been murdered, 
or committed suicide, and was buried there. 
The solitary stone pillar, or Maen Hir, appears to have been an 
object or emblem of worship in many nations, inclusive of the Irish. 
The Elgabal, which Heliogabalus adored, was a cone-shaped stone. 
Eusebius, from the Phoenician annals, relates that Usous conse- 
crated two columns — one to fire, the other to air. 
The Eomans used to swear "per Jovem lapidum" The original 
Mercury and Bacchus of Greece were unhewn stones, and the 
Paphian Yenus was a pyramidal white-stone. These upright stones 
were set up for several purposes. 
Jacob and other holy men set up pillars of unhewn stone to 
commemorate especial events. In Ireland the Pillar-stone is called 
the Dalian : it is sometimes single and sometimes set in groups. It 
is generally put up for worship, a Phallus; at others, as a monument 
to commemorate the site of a battle, or the grave of a hero or chief. 
