Looking across from Stonehenge towards Luxenborough plantation, the block of trees on the right, I was reminded that on the Downs of southern England, and maybe elsewhere, such blocks of woodland on the edges and slopes are known as "Hangers" or "Hangings" from the Anglo-Saxon "Hangra": A wood on a hill-side.
In my opinion Stonehenge gets its name from being a Stone "Hanger" as it sits on the edge of a slope, It is as simple as that. And from "Hanger" we get "Henge" and a whole pottage of word derivations.
From the Google Street view car one can rotate the camera and see the similarity in outline between the wood and stone "Hangers".
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Nice Idea Tim.. but I would go for Stone from the material it's built from and Henge from the ditch and bank inside!
ReplyDeleteWhat is of greater interest is its 'original name' not this recent adaptation - Stukeley clearly informs us in 'Stonehenge a Temple Restored' 1740, that the latin is 'chorea gigantum' - the Giants Dance! Further back into the Celtic Druid period we have 'Choir Gaur' meaning 'Choir of Giants'.
Is it possible that Celtic mythology is telling us who built Stonehenge and what they used it for?
A conference entitled 'ARCHAEOACOUSTICS: The Archaeology of Sound' will take place from 19 to 22 February 2014 in Balzan, Malta - Lets hope that the speakers understand the true connection?
As for the Giants... see my next book!
RJL
I agree Robert. Call it what you want - the name given to anything does not imply use unless assigned by the original builders.That's the problem with the Great Pyramid of Giza where a bunch of romantic, ill-informed "toffs" decided the purpose of each chamber and connecting corridor. Names such as the "Queen's chamber" and "King's chamber" have not only stuck, they have literally set in stone the purpose of the pyramid as a tomb even though no remains have ever been found.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.gizawavemachine.com