Ever wanted to visit the ancient stone circle of Stonehenge, but just couldn't afford the hefty price tag?
Don't worry, there's no need to fly to Britain to experience the spiritual power of these megalithic giants. Simply head to Glen Innes, the Celtic capital of Australia, located just a short hour's drive from Armidale in the New England tablelands of New South Wales.
In Glen Innes, they take their Celtic roots seriously. And if you think they're kidding you'll find plenty of monoliths, obelisks, columns, pillars and slabs to prove it.
To honour of their Celtic heritage, the townsfolk built the southern hemisphere's first and only solar-aligned stone circle. Known as the Australian Standing Stones, the site comprises of 40 giant granite rocks, some of which weigh over 30 tonnes. Of these, a circle of 24, representing the 24 hours of the day, act as a clock, calendar and compass all in one — pretty impressive for a bunch of stones.
Modelled on the Ring of Brodgar in the Orkneys, the megalithic stones were superimposed with the Southern Cross, symbolising old and new worlds meeting. Since completion in 1992, the site has served as a cultural gathering place for all Celtic communities — Irish, Welsh, Cornish, Manx and Bretons.
Story by Kim Wildman http://travelaustralia.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=118282&site=265
1 comment:
Aren't they amazing and one day perhaps people in a distant future may wonder why were they erected and by whom just like a Stonehenge... Good story.:-)
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