History of the Ancient World - #10

[abe-no-seimei.livejournal.com]

History of the Ancient World
Tuesday 12:30-3:30 pm

Seimei rolled his scroll out for discussion, while Mitsumushi pinned up a picture to go along with the question.

Stonehenge. Religious artifact or scientific tool? Discuss.

Comments

[persian-eunuch.livejournal.com]

Both. It a calendar, probably also used as temple.

[leeadama.livejournal.com]

I think it's just a piece of art with no scientific or astronomical purpose at all.

[abe-no-seimei.livejournal.com]

Seimei's eyebrow rose and he canted his head. "No thought, no reflection, no analysis, no cultivation, no intention; let it settle itself...." he said. "Tons of stone moved to form circles is art? Intriguing. But considering the era from which this monument was erected, is that practical?"

[leeadama.livejournal.com]

"What other purpose could it have?" Lee asks blankly.

[abe-no-seimei.livejournal.com]

"As Bagoas suggested it was believed to be sacred ground for religious reasons and in 1740, Dr. William Stuckly, was the first to suggest that it was astronomically aligned."



ooc: *is huge BSG fan* I know! I was on the edge of my seat. That whole arc has just been...*fanboys*

[pure-blooddraco.livejournal.com]

I personally think it was used as a calendar. Perhaps some cultures years later used it as a religious temple because they didn't know who made it.

[leeadama.livejournal.com]

What kind of religious reasons would back building something that ridiculous?

[other-logan.livejournal.com]

"Both. Unless you believe it's a symbolic vulva (http://vaginamonolithstonehenge.homestead.com/vulvasolsticealignment1.html)," Logan manages to say with a serious look on his face.

[littleluck.livejournal.com]

Couldn't it be both, in a way? I mean... *pauses* If it was constructed as a sort of astronomical calendar, and their worship generally centered around the seasons they were using it to predict, it would be both.

[wraithbaitjohn.livejournal.com]

Exactly what I was thinking. If they were using it as a kind of giant astrolabe to get a read on where they were in the year, so that they could plan their rituals and whatnot on time...

[threeweapons.livejournal.com]

"Both, I think. And it looks interesting too."

[medusae-x.livejournal.com]

Duce mutters, almost under her breath, "Temple of the moon."