stately marble bore the lying record that this savage was of "blessed memory." The Druidical system of worship immediately preceded Christianity in North Britain, and the Druids were not only priests of the mysteries and sacrifices of that religion, but were judges in all cases civil and criminal. We might therefore reasonably have presumed that the circular fane, or its contiguous mound, the Mod, Mot, or Moat, would be employed for the administration of justice. The cases just quoted, with many others that might be brought forward, show that holding courts in such places was common in the fourteenth century; and in the more remote districts of Scotland, and the adjacent islands, the practice lingered until a much later period. 3 4 When the Celtic councils deliberated on affairs of great importance human sacrifices were offered, and from the contortions of the victims the Druids augured of the failure or success of proposed undertakings. As no sacrifice could take place unless in presence of the Druids, and sacrifice was practised when they deliberated on all momentous questions, it must be inferred that the circular fanes, as the places of sacrifice, were also the places where the senates or councils of the Keltai assembled, and except in such assemblies it was not lawful to discuss any public affairs. Such monuments in Persia were pointed out as places where councils had as 1 See chapter on "Heathen Religion-Druids," etc. 2 Described in a separate section of "Mod or Moat." 3 Diodorus Siculus, b. v., and Mon. Hist. Brit. p. 104. Diodorus Siculus, b. v. c. ii. 4 5 Cæsar, Mon. Hist. Brit. p. 34. TEMPLE OF AVEBURY. 231 sembled, and Homer alludes in the Iliad and Odyssey to circles of stones where persons were seated for judgment or council. It is evident to all that the megalithic temples and monuments of primitive ages have defied time, and it is equally clear that in all countries their origin and, except in Palestine, their erection preceded history. Although ignored by architecture, they are not only interesting as objects of mysterious antiquity, but in some cases are impressive from their situation, and imposing from the number and magnitude of the rude columns or masses of rock that define the areas, or the huge dolmens which are amongst the distinguishing characteristics of Celtic-Cyclopean remains. Had the temple of Avebury been spared to us in its entirety Britain would have possessed in it one of the greatest wonders of early human art and combined exertion. Reasons have already been given for believing that as early as the fourth century B.C. the fame of the temple of Avebury had extended to the eastern extremity of Europe, and was recorded by Hecatæus of Abdera. From existing remains, aided by descriptions, one of them (a manuscript) written two hundred years ago, it may with confidence be said that in unity of design this primitive fane surpassed all others that have yet been discovered. It was also beyond comparison the greatest in point of extent, in the amount of labour expended, and in the size of the monoliths of which it was constructed, of any circular primitive temple as yet noticed in Asia, Africa, or Europe. This observation is purposely limited to the design and form of Avebury; for the remains of the stone avenues of Carnac in the Morbihan, which was the country of the Celtic Veneti, far exceed any other primitive monuments in the number of rude columns and the great extent of country over which they can be traced. Twelve hundred rough columnar stones, varying in height from five to twenty feet, still remain on the plain of Carnac : fifty years ago four thousand were reckoned;1 and the number of monoliths, when the whole was complete, has been variously estimated at from twelve to twenty thousand. They are arranged in eleven lines, thus forming ten avenues between the columns, the average distance between the lines being thirteen or fourteen paces, and between the stones in the lines six or seven paces. Now, these avenues only occur in detached groups, in a rugged and undulating country, which may account, if ever they were continuous, for their lines not having been quite straight. The size of the monoliths, and the extent of the monuments of various kinds on the heights, plains, and promontories that lie between the estuary of Intel and the Morbihan sea are beyond comparison greater than the remains in any other Celtic district-not only as the most extensive, but also as comprising the finest examples of the menhir, the dolmen, the galgal, the barrow, and other varieties, excepting 1 In the Monumens Celtique of Cambray four thousand stones, the highest being 22 feet above ground, 12 feet wide, and 6 thick, are noticed at Carnac. Cambray's Monumens Celtique, p. 172. If the groups at Carnac never were connected, it is unaccountable how, for several miles, they should consist of eleven lines, forming ten avenues, and the same direction should be so nearly preserved; for the groups at Carnac do not diverge farther from a straight line than the two stone avenues of approach to Avebury. |