The outer circle of Abury town100
The outer circle of the northern temple030
The inner circle012
The cove003
The outer circle of the southern temple030
The inner circle012
The ambre or central obelisc001
The ring stone001
The avenue of Kennet200
The outer circle of Hakpen040
The inner018
The avenue of Bekamton200
Longstone cove jambs002
The inclosing stone of the serpent’s tail001
——
650

The square of Solomon’s temple was 700 cubits; the diameter of Abury is 800. But Abury, in square content, is to Solomon’s temple as 50 to 49. If we take into the account the vallum of Abury, we find this would hold incomparably more people than the other, as spectators or assistants. An hundred oxen in sacrifice was an hecatomb. Twenty two thousand were offered by Solomon at the dedication, beside other animals. Three times in the year the whole nation of Israel assembled there, to pay their devotions and sacrifices, the aboriginal covenant made between God and man, in order to obtain favour and pardon. For ought we know, there might be as many here, and on the same account. I believe their most common times of these extraordinary religious meetings were on the four quarters of the year, the equinoxes and solstices.

We may well wonder how these people could bring together so many of these great stones, and set them up so exactly. The stones they had not far to fetch, only from the other side of the Hakpen, from the gray weathers. Their vicinity, their lying on the surface of the ground, the soil here being solid chalk, was the great inducement for the Druids, in these most early ages, to build this temple. The manner of their mechanics, which undoubtedly was very simple, must be equally surprizing. I apprehend, they brought the stones upon strong carriages, and drew them by men. For even in Cæsar’s time, there was an infinite multitude of people. Their manner of raising the stones seems to have been with tall trees, us’d for leavers, and no doubt very artfully apply’d. The method of fixing these enormous blocks of stone was, to dig a hole in the solid chalk, and ram the foundation of it in, with lesser stones, flints, and coggles, very artfully. They are not let in above two feet and a half deep. And the country being all a solid bed of chalk, was another reason why here, as at Stonehenge, they chose it for this extraordinary building. The conducting and rightly managing an immense number of hands, the providing for their maintenance, was a matter of wisdom and great authority. The marvellous effect produced, might well establish the glory of the Druids of Britain, which echoed across the ocean, and very much favour’d the opinion mankind had conceiv’d of their practising magick. For magick is nothing else but the science that teaches us to perform wonderful and surprizing things, in the later acceptation of the word. And in very many ages after the Druid times, mankind had the same notion, and the vulgar have to this day, concerning these works. And most probably from them sprung the character, which Pliny gives of our british Druids practising magic, and being so great proficients therein, as to equal the persian and chaldean magi, “so that one would even think,” says he, “the Druids had taught it them.”

I judge it much more probable, the Druids learn’d it from them, at least they both derive it from the same original fountain. And whatever they might practise of real magic, the notion of mankind concerning them, receiv’d strength from the name magi, which they might bring with them from the east. Magus there originally signifies no more than a priest, or person who officiates in sacreds. The word comes from maaghim meditabundi, people of a contemplative, retir’d life; whom more commonly in the west, they call’d Druids. I am not dubious in thinking the times we are talking of, when this temple of Abury was built, are of the extremest antiquity, near that of Abraham. I was very often on the spot, furnish’d with what I thought a convincing argument, from considering the wear of the weather, what effect it had upon these stones of a very firm texture, a kind of gray marble. And thus my reasoning was founded.

I had sufficient opportunity of comparing the effect of the weather upon the stones here, and upon those at Stonehenge. For some years together, I went from one to the other directly, staying a fortnight or more at each place to make my observations. Nothing is more manifest, than that the stones of Stonehenge have been chizel’d, some quite round, some on three sides, easily to be distinguish’d. The stones of Abury are absolutely untouch’d of tool. No doubt, at that time of day, the aboriginal patriarchal method from the foundation of the world was observ’d, not to admit a tool upon them. Even when Solomon’s temple was built, tho’ the stones were all carv’d with great art, yet that was done before they were brought to the building; for no ax or hammer was heard thereon. The like, probably, may be said of Stonehenge.

TAB. XX.
P. 38.

The HAKPEN or snakes head temple on Overton hill, calld the Sanctuary.

It seems likely, that when Stonehenge was built, the Druids had some notice from phœnician traders, of the nature of Solomon’s temple; therefore they made their impost work, as some kind of advance, toward a cover’d temple, and likewise chizel’d their stones in compliance thereto. By using the best of my judgment, in comparing the effect of the weather upon Stonehenge and Abury, I could easily induce myself to think that Abury was as old again. For in some places there were cavities a yard long, corroded by time, and on those sides that originally lay on the ground, which, if they had not been expos’d to the weather, by being set upright, would have been smooth. Several other persons of good judgment have been of the same sentiment.