At one time people thought that Stonehenge was a Druid temple. The Druids were a Celtic religious group who were suppressed in Great Britain soon after the Roman Conquest. Some people believe that they were a group of priests while others regard them as medicine-men who practised human sacrifice and cannibalism. It is also thought that the circle of stones was an immense temple in which to honour the sun god and perhaps even to offer human sacrifice.

More commercially, as our own advancement in technology progresses rapidly on a social standard, it has also given way to newer technologies in excavation and relatable data processing. Specifically, archeologists have unearthed even more astonishing and intriguing discoveries in regards to the prehistoric stone monument and its history. Evidence that could not necessarily have been extracted without today’s tools.

Once believed to have been erected in 2500 BC by experts; offering only additional theories of its even later origins, the ditch and foundational diggings have been dated to approximately 3100 BC. This places the birth of Stonehenge in the late-Neolithic and early Bronze Age era. However, further markings indicate the possibility of landscape construction 6500 years ago.

3000 BC also marks the age of several cremated remains at the site along with remains of many cremated bodies dating back to each period of ownership and development of the site. Digging out the foundation marked the first phase. Fragments and post-holes indicate a second phase roughly 100 years later identifying timber being used for support and construction.

THE EARLY DRUIDS

Archeological excavations proved that in 2600 BC the builders converted from timber to stone. The stone they favoured – Bluestone – has a wide array of potential origins in which theories suggest Ireland, Scandinavia, Wales and Northern England but only their weight of 2 tons could be agreed upon.

The estimate of the last use of Stonehenge for ritualistic means is said to be about 1600 BC, around the Iron Age period. Even though every other owner and phase of the monument during its 1500 year development has recordings and references to Stonehenge in their history, the creators during the late-Neolithic period recorded absolutely nothing.

Only through skeletal remains, pottery, and fragments of weapons and wood have we been able to date each period and what may have transpired there. History and archeological findings have at least proven that the site was either a crematorium and cemetery or some form of sacrificial temple. Though, whichever happened to be the more likely, Stonehenge always remained a very important and sacred place where many other forms of rituals and cult meetings may well have been hosted there.

STONEHENGE 2 AND 3

But if Stonehenge wasn’t confusing enough as to which theory is most likely, then consider Stonehenge 2 and 3…or more appropriately named “Bluehenge” and “Woodhenge”. Two miles north-east of Stonehenge is a second equally-classed henge arranged in a similar circle made of timber also of the Neolithic period.

An aerial survey by Alexander Keiller and OGS Crawford in 1925 discovered the incredible find. The analysis of the post-holes at Woodhenge proved they once supported 5 ton posts and fragments of bluestone suggesting the use of them at one time or an experiment with them there.

About 1 mile south-east of Stonehenge resides a third stone circle monument discovered by the Stonehenge Riverside Project who date the site also to a prehistoric time.

Archeologist Mike Pearson suggests that any bluestone that was once apparent at Bluehenge was removed and incorporated into Stonehenge when it converted from timber as Bluehenge reportedly underwent a major rebuild around 2500 BC.

Organic material once found at the true Stonehenge indicates that the site it was built on was potentially inhabited during at least 7200 BC (which argues that 6000 BC was not necessarily the earliest recording of mankind) and therefore there is still a large number of things we do not know about the site and our history, provoking us to try only that much harder.

Though even being able to move and position (on top of each other no less!) 50 ton sarsen rocks thousands of years ago, not a single one of them thought to jot it down!

To start let us first accept that in the old Julian Calender, the Winter Solstice, the 24 hour period with the least day light in the Northern hemisphere, was December 25, in our current calender it falls on or around December 21. Most cultures had some sort of celebration on this day, sometimes the festivities started a week earlier and ended on this day.

The Christmas Tree

Probably one of the most recognized symbols of Christmas, right? Wrong. Decorated trees were around long before Christmas. Because winter is typically a time of death, the evergreen was thought by ancient Druids to be magical, and brought protection if a part of it were brought inside during this time of year. Often it was just branches brought indoors, but trees outside were decorated with apples, additional pine cones, and lit candles. Roman pagans also noted that it was a special plant and would cut one down and offer it to Saturn, the God of agriculture, frequently adorning it first.

Photo from Wikimedia

Ball Ornaments

These round orbs, are representational of the Sun, and were symbols of worship to the Roman Sun God, Mithras, of course they were not made of plastic back then.

Gifts

Gifts have been exchanged at this time of year for many centuries, even predating the time of Christ.

The Nativity Scene

There have been numerous deities assigned the birth date of December 25 (which if you recall was the shortest time of light according to the older Julian Calendar). From Sol, to Apollo, to Mithras, and in Roman times nativity scenes were made to honor each.

Photo from Wikimedia

Stars

In ancient times the Romans celebrated Saturnalia, a day to honor the God Saturn, the god of Agriculture, seeds and planting. They did not know Saturn was a planet not a star. They also represented Saturn with yellow discs, we now refer to these as halos.

Wreaths

Wreaths, to the ancient Romans, were a symbol of eternal life, as winters were a time of hardships and death (yes, even in Rome), wreaths of evergreens were passed around as gifts at this time of the year.

Mistletoe

Mistletoe was known as a sacred plant, it lived in trees with no roots to the ground, quite unlike any other plant. Due to its’ special nature it was also considered a fertility symbol, hence the tradition of kissing under the Mistletoe. On the other hand, though it is poisonous and possibly used to poison a sacrificial victim. Early Christians tried to not include Mistletoe in any celebrations (mostly because of it being a fertility symbol), but it is still very common in people’s houses today at this time of year.

Red and Green

Red and Green are the colors of Holly, a plant that also comes into play in what people consider Christmas Traditions, however Holly was brought into decorate homes long before Christmas was celebrated as such. As another of those plants who mysteriously lived and retained its beauty into the winter it was considered magical. Green, of course was also associated with evergreens (life), and red with apples (food), both of which were important at this time of year.

Candles and Lights

Of course in ancient times lights did not exist, but candles did! In different regions the use of candles represented different functions the strongest being to honor, or welcome back, the Roman sun God, Mithras. It must be remembered that in the northern hemisphere December 21 is now the day with the least sunlight of all, but that in the Julian Calender, the date of the solstice was December 25.

Bells

In the dark times surrounding this time of year evil spirits were held to blame for death, so in Northern areas, bells were used to frighten the spirits away. The meaning of bells were later said to be happy rather than for protection.

Gingerbread Men

Back to ancient Rome again, the week long festivities often involved eating of cookies made in human form.

Santa Claus

The jolly fat man comes from a more recent time, and a man named Sinter Klaas, or Saint Nicholas. He became known later as the Patron Saint of Children because he reportedly saved many from lives of crime or prostitution. He frequently fed poor children and kept them from death. His death, December 6, was later marked by the giving of gifts in honor of him. This later was moved to December 25. Saint Nicholas was not fat, nor dressed in red and white, this image was created by the Coca Cola company for an advertising campaign, as a skinny Santa just didn’t have the same appeal as a jolly fat one.

Caroling

This is an ancient tradition that started it Rome, a group of people called “mummers” would dress up, or be totally naked, and stroll from house to house singing and dancing to entertain their neighbours. Over time only singing became the tradition, the name as changed to “Caroling”,and clothing was not optional.

The Feast and Parties

Different ancient groups feasted on this day, as a way to celebrate the return of the sun, the coming back of more daylight, and to welcome in good fortune for the future, it was also a way of demonstrating ones wealth, having more than enough food to eat. The feast often was of gluttonous levels. In Rome especially this carried onto ridiculous levels as the feasting and partying started one week earlier, and included orgies. It was a time when laws could be broken with no fear of prosecution, and drunkenness was common.

Kindness to the Poor

Again in ancient Rome, and the holiday celebrated as Saturnalia, Romans exhibited a bit of a role reversal, a time where slaves were treated well and included in the feast, occasionally even being fed by their masters.

Garland

Romans use to keep the statue of Saturn tied up, wrapped, in ropes, these ropes could very well be represented by garlands of today. The statue was only “untied” for the Saturnalia celebrations.

You might have been shocked to learn that so many of the Christmas traditions you thought were “Christian” were in fact around long Christ, and that many of these are indeed Pagan traditions. In fact in Massachusetts from 1659 to 1681, it was illegal to celebrate “Christmas”, due to its’ Pagan origins. As our openness to learn the truth about the past increases we will grow as people.

Merlin made his initial appearance in the “Prophecies of Merlin” under the name of Merlinus. Geoffrey is also the one who later gives details about Merlin’s origin, as a fatherless child born from a nun impregnated by a succubus, in his following work – “Historia Regum Britanniae”. Ambrosius is introduced when a British king tries to solve his problems with raising a tower by using a fatherless child’s blood. However things turn round when the child uncovers the truth behind the tower’s collapse – two dragons fighting beneath it. He then proceeds to prophesize how the red and white dragons are symbols of Britons and Saxons respectively.

The druidic and Welsh background of Marlin can be attributed to the Myrddin part of Merlin’s character. Many Welsh prophecies have been attributed to him, especially relating to how the English, and later the Normans would be conquered and driven away.

One of the early connections between Merlin and Stonehenge is also due to his Welsh origin. The magician is supposed to have transported Stonehenge to its current location as a worthy burial monument. Interestingly magic is not mentioned explicitly in this tale, rather how this feat was accomplished is left up to the readers imagination.

Many of the tales also relate Merlin’s involvement in Arthur’s birth. He is said to have helped Uther Pendragon to seduce his enemy’s wife whom he had fallen in love with. All this in exchange for the right to teach and mentor the young boy who would be the outcome of this encounter. This marks the beginning of Merlin as a father like figure, later to become Arthur’s advisor.

This early Merlin was not quite what we see today upon mention of the magician’s name. The pointed hat, and long white beard, as well as the robes are the characteristics that came with later, more modern tales. So did his good character. In the beginning Merlin used to be a more neutral or even slightly sinister persona.