Avebury Geometry Pt. 1. - finding the practical centre of the Avebury mechanism & the cross-quarter day lozenge
The lunar/solar alignments mentioned are decimal or general and do not take global location or local skyline alterations into account,
but from what I have learned, I strongly suspect that the two inner circles
(regular) act as a device for calculating the decimal or general directions while the outer circle
(irregular) acts as an adapter for the location & local skyline. The
Hurlers stone circles (Bodmin Moor, Cornwall) seems to work similarly again consisting of two regular
circles & one irregular circle.
Fig. 1. the geometric Sun & Moon limit directions
Fig. 1. the geometric Sun & Moon limit directions
Diagram 1. Inner Circles Crossed Edge Alignments
Ignoring the obvious alignment axis through
the Obelisk & the Cove (more later), the next clearest lines that Avebury Henge
offers us is the crossed edge alignments between the two inner circles.
Whenever there are multiple circles at a site there are usually significant
edge alignments between the circles, crossed or parallel, -Stanton Drew (Avon),
Hurlers (Cornwall), Grey Weathers (Dartmoor) etc. A cross edge alignment between
circles is a straight line that touches opposite sides of each circle, a parallel
edge alignment is a straight line touching the same sides of each circle. The
crossed edge alignments are two crossed cross edge alignments.
The inner circle edge alignment lines at
Avebury consist of a 90 deg. Equinox sunrise – 270deg. Equinox sunset line (Equinox
line) & a 40 deg. maximum North full moon rise – 220 deg. maximum South full moon set line (see pic.
Avebury 1). These lines cross at the mid spot between the circles, this is a
very significant spot and is the practical centre for the whole Avebury
mechanism.
Diagram 2. Cross -Quarter Day Lozenge
In Diagram. 2. I have
drawn in corresponding lines through the centres & edges of the circles for
both original lines. Note that the features at the centre of each circle (the
Obelisk & the Cove) are not central within the circles they are at a 5
degree clockwise rotation from the actual circle centre (more later) at present
we are dealing with the actual circle centres rather than the features, with
this axis line the centre features nestle either side.
The resulting grid forms a rhomboid quadruped
or diamond. The acute angles of the lozenge or diamond shape indicate a new line from 65 deg.
Beltaine / Lughnasadh rise – 245 deg. Samhain / Imbolc set.
The perpendicular or
right–angle cross line to this new
line (indicated by the obtuse angles of the lozenge) runs from 335 deg. The top left quarter of
the cross ( red lines in pic.) both hit the lips of the gaps in the henge bank.
The dimensions &
positioning of the two circles suggest the formation of a quadrangle or lozenge which
itself indicates a new orientation - 65 deg. - 245 deg. the general directions for the Beltaine/Lughnasadh sunrise & the Samhain & Imbolc sunset.
The inner circles central features: The Cove & Obelisk
Pic. 2. The Cove, central feature of the NW inner circle
Today the Cove consists of two huge stones, one flat (female) & one post (male) once a third stone accompanied forming a cup or receiver shape. This stone reportedly fell in 1713 and was then destroyed. William Stuckley, at the time reported it to be; "Full seven yards long, of the same shape as its' opposite, tall and narrow". so it sounds like the cove consisted of two tall, slender, "male" stones framing a large flat, "female" stone.
This was not the only cove in the Avebury complex, there is evidence that another lay within the (now lost) Beckhampton Avenue & a third possibly in the (still partially intact) West Kennet Avenue. The Coves were the very first phase of the Avebury complex predating the stone circles & henge.
The orientation of the Cove's receiving is said to have been from the Summer solstice sunrise to the northern full moon maximum rise, The receiving shape is synonymous with female characteristics (possibly more attuned to lunar activity) whereas the southern circle centre feature (the Obelisk) was a huge post stone and so male (perhapse solar orientated). Such associations with male/female unity can also be recognized in the ancient sacred symbology of the chalice & dagger, also the lock & key, the probe & receiver, the yoni & lingham etc.
The Obelisk was said to be the tallest stone in the Avebury complex measuring 21 feet (just over 6.4 metres) perhaps so large as to be seen from Windmill Hill (see next post "Avebury geometry 2") & possibly Silbury Hill, also maybe so it's shadow could interact with other surrounding large stones on specific sun/moon rises and sets.
Pic. 4. a concrete marker today marks the spot where the Obelisk once stood.
The inner circles central features: The Cove & Obelisk
Today the Cove consists of two huge stones, one flat (female) & one post (male) once a third stone accompanied forming a cup or receiver shape. This stone reportedly fell in 1713 and was then destroyed. William Stuckley, at the time reported it to be; "Full seven yards long, of the same shape as its' opposite, tall and narrow". so it sounds like the cove consisted of two tall, slender, "male" stones framing a large flat, "female" stone.
This was not the only cove in the Avebury complex, there is evidence that another lay within the (now lost) Beckhampton Avenue & a third possibly in the (still partially intact) West Kennet Avenue. The Coves were the very first phase of the Avebury complex predating the stone circles & henge.
The orientation of the Cove's receiving is said to have been from the Summer solstice sunrise to the northern full moon maximum rise, The receiving shape is synonymous with female characteristics (possibly more attuned to lunar activity) whereas the southern circle centre feature (the Obelisk) was a huge post stone and so male (perhapse solar orientated). Such associations with male/female unity can also be recognized in the ancient sacred symbology of the chalice & dagger, also the lock & key, the probe & receiver, the yoni & lingham etc.
Pic. 3. The Obelisk (now gone) recumbunt, the largest stone in Avebury, central feature of the SE inner circle - as drawn & recorded by William Stuckley in 1723
The Obelisk was said to be the tallest stone in the Avebury complex measuring 21 feet (just over 6.4 metres) perhaps so large as to be seen from Windmill Hill (see next post "Avebury geometry 2") & possibly Silbury Hill, also maybe so it's shadow could interact with other surrounding large stones on specific sun/moon rises and sets.
Pic. 6. A reconstruction of how the obelisk might have looked upright.
The second part;
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