Menhirs, Dolmen and Circles of Stone: The Folklore and Mythology of Sacred Stone

by Gary R. Varner

From the Stone Age to today, humans have erected stones, shaped stones, and attributed special powers to stones large and small. Gary Varner presents a sweeping historical and cultural overview of the symbolic significance of stones over the ages in an excellent reference for anyone interested in folklore, history, and the development of religion.Why are some rocks simply tossed out of the way while others, regardless of their size, are held as sacred, mysterious and imbued with power? Humans since the dawn of civilization have used stone to represent the holy, both by fashioning sacred symbols for themselves and by granting recognition to certain sites occurring naturally. Varner shares his love of nature lore, oral traditions, folklore and ancient religious structures that are still so abundant in the world, and offers insights on the history and the technology of these artifacts, while touching on the importance of preserving a sense of reverence in

234 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004