AVEBURY, or ABURY, in Wiltshire, is remarkable as the site of what appears to have been one of the largest Celtic or Druidical temples in Europe. In forming this temple, no less than 65U blocks seem to have been' brought together and placed in circles and rows. These stones were of various dimen sions, measuring from five to twenty feet in height above the ground, and from three to twelve feet in width and thickness. One hun dred Were raised On end, and placed in a cir cular form, within a flat and nearly circular area of about 1400 feet in diameter ; and these stones were bounded by a deep ditch and lofty bank, which inclosed the whole work, except at two places, where openings were left for entrances. The bank or mound at present is broken down in four places, but there seem to have been originally only two openings corre sponding to the two great avenues which formed the approaches. The inner slope of the bank measured 80 feet, and its whole circum ference atthe top was 1.112feet : the areawithin I the bank or mound is somewhat more than thirty-five acres. There were two other small circles within the periphery of the great circle. One was a double circle of upright stones, with a single stone raised near the centre, and consisted of forty-three stones. Another circle, of forty-five stones, some of which are still standing and of immense size, was placed a little mirth of the former, and consisted also of two concentric circles, inclosing a group of three tall stones. These were the
component parts and general design and arrangement of the triple temple, as it may be called ; but there were two connecting parts which gave a peculiarity to this work distinguishing it from all other Celtic temples. These were avenues of approach, consisting of double rows or lines of upright stones, which branched off from the central work, each to the extent of more than a mile. One of them branched off from the outer circle to the south, turning, near its extremity, to the south-east, where it terminated in two circular or rather elliptical ranges of upright stones. According to Stukeley, this avenue was formed by two hundred stones, being finished at its eastern extremity with fifty-eight stones, which were arranged in a double circle on an emi nence called Overton Hill, or the Hakpen Hill, and measured about 116 feet in diameter from outside to outside. The width of the avenue varied from fifty-six to thirty-five feet between the atones, which were on an average eighty-six feet apart from each other in their linear direction. The western avenue extended about one mile and a half, and consisted of 203 stones ; its extremity ended in a point or with a single stone. These avenues or grand approaches to the temple were not arranged in straight lines, but in flowing or curved lines.
Only a few stones now remain of this re markable specimen of DruidiCal Art.
[Oars.]