Like many people I'm intrigued by how structures like Stonehenge and The Pyramids of Giza (and everyone else) were built.Was it a virtually unlimited supply of slaves + ancient ingenuity + religious fervor?
I'm not sure how historically accurate this book is. I read with awe how the source for Stonehenge's blocks was chosen from Wales, by Druid priests presumably bored with the notion of choosing a place closer to the required site in modern day Wiltshire, about 70 miles west of London.
The story spends a lot of time fantasizing about the characters that might have been involved in the planning, selecting, retrieving, manhandling over 100 miles of hills and rivers, and finally erecting the temple.
Hard to believe, Cornwell's story is likely closer to the truth than this folk tale from the 16th Century states: The Devil bought the stones from a woman in Ireland, wrapped them up, and brought them to Salisbury plain. One of the stones fell into the Avon, the rest were carried to the plain. The Devil then cried out, "No-one will ever find out how these stones came here!" A friar replied, "That’s what you think!," whereupon the Devil threw one of the stones at him and struck him on the heel. The stone stuck in the ground and is still there.
Of course, this was just one of the many structures built on this site since 8,000 BC. Earlier structures were made of sticks and antlers, or with fewer stones.
Nevertheless, whoever quarried the stones and brought them here, for its most recent makeover 4,000 years ago, this book is an interesting take on the project.
Nevertheless, whoever quarried the stones and brought them here, for its most recent makeover 4,000 years ago, this book is an interesting take on the project.
No comments:
Post a Comment