Earlier today, the Stonehenge Giant made a return to Stonehenge itself, assisted by engineers from 32 Regiment Workshops, in time for the Solstice celebrations of 2012. The photos above and below were taken earlier this afternoon from the Larkhill area and I’d like to thank Helene Foxglovefae Shipman for her generous permission to reproduce these photos, for the benefit of all.
Earlier in the day, the “Stonehengineers” of 32 Regiment had helped to dismantle the Stonehenge Giant, or the Ancestor, from his temporary home further east beside the A303.
As you can see from the photo above, he’s been kept company in recent times by a handsome crow perched on his shoulder, a creature that was designed by Amy Lancaster.
There will doubtless be hundreds more photos and videos of the Stonehenge Giant in circulation over the next few days, after he’s once again taken his place among the thousands of celebrants “Waiting for the Sun” at Stonehenge tonight.
On this occasion, I understand that he’ll be wearing a specially-designed crown incorporating various elements from the ancient Stonehenge landscape, but just as he thrilled everyone present back in the summer of 2010, I’m sure he’ll do the same thing again this year.
For more information on the Stonehenge Giant, contact the Forge Gallery.
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And here’s The Ancestor again on this BBC link dealing with the run-up to what looks like a very wet Solstice.
And here’s a major news item on the Solstice at Stonehenge that I’d somehow missed, so I’d like to thank Christine English for bringing it to my attention.
Having lived on the Plain for a decade, I think I could handle the rain as well as the next person, but I’ve personally heard enough drumming to last me for several lifetimes.
Looking at these photos, I think it is time to finish with the summer solstice piss-up at Stonehenge. Probably I am in a minority on this board, but nevertheless this is what I think.
I enjoyed visiting SH in the days before fences – even around summer solstice we were the only people there. It was a rare privilege and likely never to be repeated. Now the solstice has become a circus.
SH is a valuable archaeological site for us all and largely unexplored. I think people can show respect better by staying away at solstice times. There are plenty of other places for people to go.
The idea of erecting several tons of statue on the site is crazy. I don’t suppose things will be damaged when people are careful, but what is the point? Getting drunk or drugged and hugging the stones – yuk!
I wish EH would get serious about OUR monument and stop indulging the freaks.
Here’s a slideshow of the Ancestor with accompanying music, with a lingering shot of the inscribed plaque at his feet on or around 6.16, part of which reads:
“We have forgotten to be grateful”.
How very true, and long may it remain on public view.
Very impressive Dennis, inspiring.
http://www.megalithic.co.uk/modules.php?op=modload&name=a312&file=index&do=showpic&pid=90551
The above is a link to my photo of The Ancestor at Solstice Eve, put up on Megalithic Portal today. There were four others, but not the quality of previous years due to poor light, and leaving early (midnight) to avoid the downpour! (We had a room locally for 5 nights, so missed a drenching.)
As we left Amesbury for Devon on Friday morning I caught sight of what must be the shop owned by The Ancestor’s creators; we’d been to the village most days and missed it. Next time I’ll go and take a look at their other art work. There was an excellent hare at the feet of the statue, too!
If anyone thinks I’ve been quiet lately, I’ve been absent about 6 weeks now.. mainly due to unexpected appendix op while in Lancs and the wound* becoming infected, meaning more time in hospital in Blackpool at end of May in that lovely spell of weather. (My brother lives a few miles from there, so stayed with them til I was allowed to drive again.)
From the BBC – a slideshow or album showing the Summer Solstice at Stonehenge throughout the years, with a particularly impressive photo at the start. I recognise one of the bearded Druids there from a 1960s documentary on Atkinson and I seem to recall he had something very impressive to say, so this is something else I’ll look into as and when time allows.