Through the many forms of art in our history, I will focus on the architecture of the Stonehenge and the Pantheon. Both buildings exert multiple similarities towards each other such as their circular structure, yet due to being built in different eras they served different purposes and underwent their rightful technological differences. I will observe these two art forms in countless ways through the means of compare and contrast to build a greater understanding of their historical ties.
Stonehenge is one of the words greatest mysteries as we have limited definite knowledge of its origins, its meaning or how the mighty stones were lifted. The only thing we can ever be entirely sure about is the location of Stonehenge. This is because radiocarbon dating on the stones shows us that Stonehenge came from around 5000 years ago - a time period before writing and recording information. There are many different theories behind the creation of Stonehenge and its significance – still today; historians do not have evidence to show who built it. Stonehenge has always been one of the words biggest questions, therefore leading to large amounts of speculations from different scientists, historians and archaeologists. But first we must know what a henge is, according to Dictionary.com a henge is “a Neolithic monument of the British Isles, consisting of a circular area enclosed by a bank and ditch and often containing additional features including one or more circles of upright stone or wood pillars: probably used for ritual purposes or for marking astronomical events, as solstices and equinoxes.”
Stonehenge catches my attention because of the mystery that it has to it. All the theories about how it was built, why it was built, and for who it was built have not been proven to this day. And that’s what catches my attention the most, the mystery of how this primitive people were able to move this big stones from such far distance, and how they were able to aligned them almost perfectly for an unknown purpose.
Stonehenge, a prehistoric stone circle, remains one of the world’s utmost mysterious and archaic structures. Built over 4,000 years ago in Salisbury Plain, scientists and theorists alike are still in the dark as to why Stonehenge was built. Popular belief is that it was used for religious purposes and that it was constructed by the Druids or even the Romans, but the theory was disproved when it was confirmed that the beginning of Stonehenge construction started at least 2000 years before the Celts came. I, on the other hand, believe that Stonehenge operated for scientific or astronomical reasons such as being used as an astronomical calendar and two centuries after being built it was utilized for its healing abilities.
Overall, when considering the effects religion, a powerful psychological tool, had on perceptions of Stonehenge for centuries it must be conceded that psychology, of later humans or Neolithic man, and Stonehenge are intrinsically linked. Later, with the change in attitude regarding space, possession, and the power having them created in the Enlightenment and Romanticism era, these cognitive constructs also help link Stonehenge and psychology. These all were printed onto the Stonehenge landscape historically and in modern day, influencing creation, development, and modern attitudes towards Stonehenge. Simply put, a complete history of Stonehenge and how it has been perceived historically and today, later influencing development and modern attitudes,
Stonehenge is without a doubt the most interesting monument in Europe. The ring of stones standing in the open vastness of Salisbury Plain is an evocative image of wonder and mystery. (Scarre, 130) Stonehenge is both traditional and unique in Britain colorful history. It is traditional in that it falls within a whole class of monuments characterized by circular banks and ditches, or by rings of standing stones. Its uniqueness is engulfed within the size of the stones, the complexity of their arrangement, and the balancing of the lintels atop the uprights. There are three other major monuments in Britain, and while they don't receive the same consideration as Stonehenge, they too entice much scrutiny. While the unique characteristics of Stonehenge only help to intensify its marvel, the ambiguities of its intention pose questions that today are still not answered. This essay will discuss monumentality as it compares to the four major henge enclosures in Britain. The monuments, namely Stonehenge, Avebury, Marden, and Durrington Walls, will be used in conjunction with discussing what purposes monuments can serve, as well as what the remains of a site can tell us about the culture of a society.
When you think of Stonehenge, you think of the Ancient Druid Civilization that supposedly built it, this is in fact not true. In this essay, I will show you the building of one of the most amazing art forms in history, as well as give some insight on legend.
Stonehenge, entwined in social interests such as tourism and with economic, political and religious conflict behind its meaning, it is dependent on human activity to support its sacred quality. David Chidester and Edward T. Linenthal state that sacredness is never found from any divine involvement; it exists from the ‘product of human efforts’. (Harvey, 2008, p. 40) Places only become sacred through human interaction, such as performing rituals in buildings or on landscapes. These places were not initially holy, unless built for spiritual practice. However...
There are many controversial debates about Stonehenge. Particulary on it’s origins and use. Some of these controversies include Aliens, Glaciers, Merlin the Wizard, the Devil, and sheer man-power.
(Source: flint) Soon, three large wooden posts were erected possibly to mark the uniqueness of the area or to mark the migration patterns of the animals they hunted. Stonehenge was continually occupied through the Mesolithic era and into the Neolithic. At this point the earth had warmed up significantly and England became an island, leaving those living there isolated. With the rise of the Neolithic came different customs. Long barrows were built to bury the dead. Within the Stonehenge landscape many long barrows were built and the area slowly became more open. Peoples moved into the area and began to farm and settle down. They began to alter the landscape as more people came to settle there. At this time, around 5500 years ago, the Greater Cursus was created. The Greater Cursus is a 2-mile-long piece of land surrounded by a trench. 500 years later, Stonehenge was built. The first aspect was the surrounding trench and the pits just within. 500 years later the inner horseshoe and circle were erected. In the next 300 years the horseshoe would be rearranged multiple times and the Avenue, a 2-mile path to the River Avon, was
Marble sculptures adorn the entrances and facades of some of the most extraordinary buildings over time. I will compare and contrast two of these sculptures. First, is the Three Goddesses, c. 438-432 B.C.E., 233 cm long, from the Parthenon’s east pediment built at the Acropolis, Athens, Greece. Second, is the Old Testament Queens and Kings, Royal Portals jamb statues, Chartres Cathedral, c. 1150, Chartres, France. These grand architectural buildings were built during prosperous times later becoming famous landmarks. There are similarities in Three Goddesses and Old Testament Queens and Kings; however, there are certain distinctions that set them apart.
Although evidence from the second phase of Stonehenge construction is no longer visible, the abundant amount of post holes that date to the early 3rd millennium BC would suggest that the enclosure housed a timber structure within this period (Morner and Lind 2015). The postholes are comparatively smaller than Aubrey holes (measuring only 16inch in diameter and are not spaced as regularly). If recreated, it is evident that posts were placed in the northeast entrance with a parallel alignment of posts following from the southern entrance (Lawson 1997). During this process, the bank was reduced in height by the builders and the ditch continued to deposit upwards. Eventually it was made clear that the purpose of the holes, initially, changed into a funerary function sometime during this period (Morner and Lind 2015). As it was discovered afterwards, more than 25 Aubrey holes at the time of its commencement housed cremation burials after. Stonehenge’s eastern half houses more than thirty other cremations within the sites ditch and throughout other areas within the monument (Lawson 1997). It has been widely concluded based on this phase
Stonehenge, one of the major historical sites of the world, was bought 100 years ago, on September 21st, 1915. British barrister Cecil Chubb attended an auction as demanded by his wife, with the intention of getting new chairs for their dining room. In the end, Chubb purchased what was described to him as a “place of sanctity dedicated to the observation or adoration of the sun”, and a few acres of “downland’ in Wiltshire with some massive stones scattered around the terrain.
In my opinion, based on my understanding from the Stonehenge article and the video in class, the meaning behind the Stonehenge monument was used to perform sacred rituals. People somehow wanted to know where the deity is so they created an idea of a place to connect with the deity and honor the lives that were lost by doing a burial in the monument. These sacred rituals were used to connect with each other out of respect and remembrance of the lives that were lost during those times. Stonehenge was constructed around 3100-2300 BCE and I suppose that people during those times were more connected to a deity. People must have perform these sacred rituals because it was to believe that the deity could honor the lives that were lost. Overall, Stonehenge