London, England -- (SBWire) -- 03/23/2012 --Is Stonehenge worth visiting? It cannot be denied that some have tried to detract from the experience of visiting Stonehenge, claiming ‘it is just a pile of stones’ and using similar such arguments. Banish such negative thoughts from your mind; when you go to visit Stonehenge, ensure you go with an open mind, and you will then be able to make the most of this extraordinary landmark in all its spirituality. Also learn of the intriguing origins of the word ‘henge’.
So is Stonehenge just a ‘pile of stones’? Saying such a thing is extremely reductive. This does not do justice to the spiritual history of Stonehenge and its extraordinary otherworldly atmosphere. After all, there is so much symbolism associated with Stonehenge. It is believed that Stonehenge positioning was very carefully chosen by the Ancients as it was meant to be at the center of their world; the landmark around which time and the seasons revolved.
In approximately 3500 BC the semi-nomadic peoples that inhabited Salisbury Plain started to construct the landmark now known as Stonehenge. The initial construction was a circular ditch and mound with 56 holes forming a ring around its edge. The building of Stonehenge encompassed no less than three different cultures and its point of orientation to the rising and setting sun has always been one of most remarkable aspects.
Why was Stonehenge constructed to be so in sync with the movements of the sun? There are a range of possible reasons as to why. Possibly because those who built Stonehenge came from a sun worshiping culture, or perhaps due to the fact that - as some scholars believe - the circle was an element of a vast astronomical calendar. There are no concrete reasons as to why, however; Stonehenge positioning remains something of an unanswered mystery to this day.
Take a Stonehenge tour from London but ensure you arrive at the monument free from skepticism and cynicism; to truly appreciate the mystic aura of this numinous structure you have to arrive with a free and open mind. You may wonder what ‘henge’ actually means, and the origins behind this word. Simply enough, ‘henge’ is Old English for ‘hang.’ Mores specifically, a henge is the term given to a great prehistoric earthwork, often but not necessarily circular, whether of stones, earth, or wood. Henges started to be constructed by the Neolithic people after around 3,000 BC. They were built all over the British Isles, and in the modern day there are approximately 1,000 known henges. New ones are constantly being discovered.
Stonehenge itself was a project that was made by the Neolithic people over the course of decades. The organization of stones was drastically altered, from an original simple circle encircled by a ditch with wooden posts to the far more complex display you can see in the present age. Unsurpassed by any other megalithic landmarks in Britain, Stonehenge nonetheless holds similarities with a more ancient and indeed, vaster monument at Avebury. It may therefore be worth visiting Avebury as well as Stonehenge on a London tour.
Experiencing Stonehenge Beyond the Henge
Come to Stonehenge with a sense of expectancy and with an understanding of the unique and intriguing history behind the landmark.