Cerne Abbas Giant
The Cerne Abbas giant is a hill figure of a giant naked man on a hillside near the village of Cerne Abbas to the north of Dorchester in Dorset, England. The 55 metre (180 foot) high, 51 metre (167 foot) wide figure is carved into the side of a steep hill and is best viewed from the opposite side of the valley or from the air. The carving is formed by a trench 30cm (1 foot) wide and about the same depth which has been cut through the grass and earth into the underlying chalk. In his right hand the giant holds a knobbed club 36.5 metres (120 feet) long.
History
Like several other chalk figures carved into the English countryside, the Cerne Abbas giant is often thought of as an ancient creation. Like many of the other figures, its history cannot be traced back further than the late 17th century, making an origin during the Celtic or Roman periods unlikely. Above and to the right of the Giant's head is an earthwork known as the "Trendle" or "Frying Pan"; medieval writings refer to this location as 'Trendle Hill' but make no mention of the giant, leading to the conclusion that it was probably only carved about 400 years ago. It is interesting to note in this regard that the Uffington White Horse (an unquestionably prehistoric hill figure on the Berkshire Downs) was noticed and recorded by medieval authors.
The earliest written reference to the Giant was made in 1694 in a record for payment in the Cerne Abbas churchwarden's accounts of 3 shillings toward the re-cutting of the giant. This was followed by references in 1742, and in 1751, John Hutchins wrote in his Guide to Dorset that the carving had only been done the previous century. It is now believed that it was probably made by servants of the Lord of the Manor Denzil Holles during the English Civil War. There has been speculation that the figure is a parody of Oliver Cromwell, who was sometimes mockingly referred to as "England's Hercules" by his enemies; the Hercules connection is strengthened by the recent discovery of an obliterated line perhaps representing an animal skin (see below). A local legend says that a real giant was killed on the hill and that the people from Cerne Abbas drew round the figure and marked him out on the hillside.
Appearance
Very much a phallic symbol because of the distinct erect penis and testicles, for hundreds of years it was local custom to erect a maypole within the earthwork about which childless couples would dance to promote fertility and even today childless couples are known to visit the site in order to copulate in the hope that they might have a child.[1]
Recently, a group of archaeologists using special equipment found that part of the carving had been allowed to be obliterated. According to these findings, the free arm should have held a depiction of an animal's skin, giving credence to the theory that the giant was a depiction of a hunter or, alternatively, Heracles with the skin of the Nemean Lion over his arm. It has also been suggested that his large erection is in fact a result of merging a circle representing his navel with a smaller penis during a Victorian re-cut.[2] Because the erect penis is 15% the length of the drawing (excluding the club), the penis length would equal roughly 26cm (10.5 inches) on the average male frame.
Publicity stunt
As a publicity stunt for the opening of The Simpsons Movie on the 16th July 2007, a giant Homer Simpson brandishing a doughnut was outlined in water-based biodegradable paint to the left of the Cerne Abbas giant. This act angered local pagans, who in retaliation have pledged to perform rain magic to wash the figure away,[3] [4] despite it being the wettest summer in Britain on record. [5]
References
- ^ "England pictures - Cerne Giant photos, information and links to maps and travel guides". Bugbog Travel Guide. Retrieved 2007-07-18.
- ^ Grinsel, Leslie "The Cern Abbas Giant 1764-1980" Antiquity Vol 54 No 210 March 1980 p 29-33 2001 ed, p73
- ^ "Pagans have a cow over Homer". The Sun
Online. 2007-07-16.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); line feed character in|publisher=at position 8 (help) - ^ "Wish for rain to wash away Homer". BBC
News. 2007-07-16.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); line feed character in|publisher=at position 4 (help) - ^ "June wettest since records began". BBC News. 2007-07-05.
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See also
External links
- Template:Mmuk phoetc
- Pictures of Cerne Abbas Giant
- Cerne Abbas giant photos, history and visitor info
- Sky News video of Homer Simpson next to Cerne Abbas giant
