Cultural depictions of Stonehenge

Short description: none

In the oldest known depiction of Stonehenge, a giant helps Merlin build Stonehenge. From a manuscript of the Brut by Wace in the British Library (Egerton MS 3028), 2nd quarter of the 14th Century AD. Belief in, and depiction of, Arthurian legend was common in this period.

The prehistoric landmark of Stonehenge is distinctive and famous enough to have been frequently referenced in popular culture. The landmark has become a symbol of British culture and history, owing to its distinctiveness and its long history of being portrayed in art, literature, and advertising campaigns; and in more recent media formats such as television, film, and computer games. This is in part because the arrangement of standing stones topped with lintels is unique—not just in the British Isles but in the world.

## Contents

* 1 Art and mythology
* 2 Comedic, commemorative, cultural and depictions in fiction
* 3 See also
* 4 References
* 4.1 Bibliography

## Art and mythology

"Druids sacrificing to the Sun in their temple called Stonehenge", a 1722 engraving of the site as imagined by William Stukeley

The interest in 'ancient' Britain can be traced back to the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, following the pioneering work of the likes of William Camden, John Aubrey and John Evelyn. The rediscovery of Britain's past was also tied up in the nation's emerging sense of importance as an international power. Antiquarians and archaeologists, notably William Stukeley, were conducting excavations of megalithic sites, including Stonehenge and the nearby Avebury. Their findings caused considerable debate on the history and meaning of such sites and the earliest depictions reflected a search for a mystical explanation.

Earlier explanations, including the view proposed by Inigo Jones in 1630, that Stonehenge was built by the Romans such was its sophistication and beauty, were disproved in the late seventeenth century, when it was proven that Stonehenge was the work of indigenous neolithic peoples. From this period onwards, artists made images of barrows, standing stones, and excavated objects which increasingly drew on highly imaginative ideas about the prehistoric people who created them. These helped to create the image of Britain that a broadening audience was becoming aware of through illustrated books, maps and prints. Poets and other writers deepened the impact of this visual material by imagining ancient pasts and mythologising the distant roots of the growing British Empire. Debates about British ancestry and national identity saw a growing conviction that the British were an ancient people and that the newly named 'United Kingdom' might find greater harmony through searching for a common past. For the English, this past was to be found in the West, starting around Stonehenge and stretching into the ancient Celtic regions of Wales and Cornwall.

John Constable's portrayal of Stonehenge The Arcadian or Pastoral State, second painting in The Course of Empire by the Anglo-American artist Thomas Cole (1836), depicts a Stonehenge-like structure in the middle distance.

During the early nineteenth century it was artists such as John Constable and J. M. W. Turner who helped to make the megalithic sites a part of the popular imagination and understanding of Britain's past. The philosopher Edmund Burke proposed the idea of the 'sublime' sense as being evoked by 'feelings of danger and terror, obscurity and power, in art as well as life'. This was already a feature of artistic and literary works of the period and provided the theoretical basis for a growing appreciation of desolate landscapes and ancient ruins. For these reasons, Stonehenge became of particular interest for artists. Burke himself wrote

> "Stonehenge, neither for disposition nor ornament, has anything admirable; but those huge rude masses of stone, set end on end, and piled high on each other, turn the mind on the immense force necessary for such a work."

J. M. W. Turner's depiction of the monument (1825–1828)

The very nature of the barren Wiltshire landscape and Salisbury Plain became particularly notable for the apparently miraculous powers that created Stonehenge. William Wordsworth wrote

> Pile of Stone-henge! So proud to hint yet keep
> Thy secrets, thou lov'st to stand and hear
> The plain resounding to the whirlwind's sweep
> Inmate of lonesome Nature's endless year.

The S-class submarine HMS Stonehenge

Turner's and Constable's paintings were arranged for a romantic effect and deviated from the actual state of the stones. Turner particularly added stones that were not there in reality and those that were, were incorrect in their dimensions. Throughout the nineteenth century, a new motive emerged in the depictions of Stonehenge, that of an anti-pagan approach, with paintings by the likes of William Overend Geller, with his painting The Druid's Sacrifice in 1832. In the novel Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy, the main character, Tess, is captured by the police at Stonehenge, the 'heathen' nature of the setting being used to highlight the character's temperament.

The image of Stonehenge became adapted in the twentieth century by those wishing to advertise using a monument viewed as a symbol of Britain. The Royal Navy exploited this sense of identification by naming an S-class destroyer and one of their S-class submarines HMS Stonehenge.[1] The Shell Oil Company commissioned the artist Edward McKnight Kauffer to paint a series of posters during the interwar period, to be used to encourage tourism by car owners. Stonehenge was one of those depicted. Vivienne Westwood, the British fashion designer, uses the Stonehenge image in the Men's fashion line label.[2]

## Comedic, commemorative, cultural and depictions in fiction

Stonehenge has also been depicted in less solemn contexts. In May 1970 the dance troupe Pan's People performed an opening dance on BBC's Top of the Pops to the music of Fleetwood Mac's "Green Manalishi". The single reached number 10 in the UK singles chart. At the start of the show the dancers perform the first fifty seconds of the sequence in the centre of Stonehenge.[3] At the end of Series 3, Episode 6[4] of the Dave Allen at Large TV comedy series (first broadcast on 26 March 1973)[5] a large polystyrene mockup of Stonehenge is depicted with a group of visitors listening to a rather boring custodian talking about its history. Dave Allen plays a rather unimpressed visitor smoking a cigarette who then leans against one of the uprights. As a result, this causes the whole circle to topple like dominoes as the other visitors run for safety.

The 1984 American mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap features a comically undersized model of the landmark as a prop for the rock group's performances.

In the 1985 American comedy film National Lampoon's European Vacation, the Griswold family win a vacation across Europe, the Griswold's visit Stonehenge during the UK part of their trip. After viewing the site Clark Griswold accidentally backs the car into an ancient stone monolith before driving off, toppling all but one of the stones like dominoes (in a very similar way to the 1973 Dave Allen sketch) whilst other tourists viewing the monument are left horrified Clark continues to drive away unaware that he had accidentally destroyed Stonehenge.

In 1997 Season 5, Episode 2 ("The Gift Horse") of the sitcom Frasier, the titular son (Kelsey Grammer) begrudgingly purchases his father, Martin (John Mahoney), a deluxe big-screen TV set with four surround sound speakers as a birthday gift—in a futile effort to one-up his brother, Niles (David Hyde Pierce). Upon arriving home and seeing the four tall, vertical speakers enveloping his living room, Frasier sardonically remarks, "Oh, dear God...it's Stonehenge!" in a dramatic timbre.[6][7] In 1998, Wrigleys produced a 30-second advert for the confectionary product Skittles featuring a young princess escaping from some captors. She then rides a white horse to a Stonehenge inspired monument. Upon arrival she dismounts and places her hands upon a sacred stone which releases a rainbow of Skittles.[8]

An episode of Dr Who (first broadcast on 19 June 2010) was partly filmed at Stonehenge. "The Pandorica Opens" features Matt Smith as the doctor and Karen Gillan as his assistant. Norwegian comedy duo Ylvis released their song "Stonehenge" in 2011, in which they ponder Stonehenge's mysterious origins.[9]

As part of the 2012 Summer Olympics supporting arts festival Stonehenge was transformed into a fire garden by the French Company 'Compagnie Carabosse' for three nights 10 to 12 July. This included fire sculptures, illuminated paths and music.[10]

On 13 June 2018 DJs Paul Oakenfold and Carl Cox played a set of Trance music to a small crowd of 50 people. Although Stonehenge was lit up with multicoloured lighting the music was partly silent with attendees listening via headphones. English Heritage said of the event, 'Stonehenge was used as a backdrop to this special event, and the music was not amplified at the monument. Instead silent disco technology was used and the recording was carefully planned with the Stonehenge curator to ensure there was no impact on the site.[11]

In Pokémon Sword and Shield released in 2019, a Pokémon resembling Stonehenge called Stonjourner was released in Gen VIII. Also, within Sword & Shield in the Wild Area there are many areas that look similar and appear to be based on Stonehenge, this is due to the game being set in the Galar region which is inspired by the United Kingdom. Additionally, Stonjourner is only found in the United Kingdom in Pokémon Go.[12]

In 2022, Stonehenge was illuminated to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II on the occasion of her Platinum Jubilee.[13][14] English Heritage stated they "wanted to show different aspects of the Queen, of her personality, of her interests and just really show what a special lady she is." The display is just one of many ways in which the UK came together to mark 70 years of the Queen sitting on the throne.[15]

In May 2023, a replica of Stonehenge was created with over 400,000 Lego bricks.[16]

## See also

* Stonehenge replicas and derivatives

## References

1. ↑ "Uboat.net". https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3449.html.
2. ↑ "Vivienne Westwood first London men's store | Modem Mag | modemonline.com". https://www.modemonline.com/modem-mag/article/573-vivienne-westwood-first-london-mens-store.
3. ↑ "Pan's People dance to "The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown)" by Fleetwood Mac 1970". 16 May 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjPsun0sfn4.
4. ↑ "Dave Allen at Large S03E06". 19 June 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnmzuWbdy-w.
5. ↑ "Dave Allen at Large (TV Series 1971–1979) - Episode list - IMDb". https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0131163/episodes/?season=3.
6. ↑ Hartley, Nicholas; Lee, Mike (2002-11-28). "'The Gift Horse' — Frasier Transcripts Season 5 Episode 2 — The Frasier Archives". p. S05E02. https://www.kacl780.net/frasier/transcripts/season_5/episode_2/the_gift_horse.html. "[Scene Three - Frasier's Apartment. The lights are off as the brothers enter later that night. As they switch on the lights, the television and speakers are revealed. The speakers are arranged, circumferencing Martin's chair.] Frasier: 'Oh dear God! It's Stonehenge!'"
7. ↑ ParaFrasier (2022-03-03). Frasier: Every 'Oh, Dear God!' (Montage compilation video). Cast: Kelsey Grammer as Frasier. Event occurs at 1:40. Retrieved 2024-10-11 - via YouTube. "Every single time Frasier exclaims 'Oh, Dear God!' plus a few minor variations, just for completeness. Wow, this compilation took a while. I really hope you all enjoy it!"
8. ↑ "Skittles Stonehenge (1998)". 15 April 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUyKQMLzmmU.
9. ↑ TV Norge (2013-09-06). Ylvis - Stonehenge [Official music video HD] [Explicit lyrics]. Retrieved 2024-09-09 - via YouTube.
10. ↑ "Stonehenge lit up for Olympics". BBC News. 11 July 2012. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-18793142.
11. ↑ "DJ Paul Oakenfold to Play Stonehenge". https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/about/search-news/dj-paul-oakenfold-plays-stonehenge/.
12. ↑ "Stonjourner (Pokémon)" (in en-GB), Bulbapedia, 2025-04-29, https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Stonjourner_(Pokémon), retrieved 2025-04-29
13. ↑ Palumbo, Jacqui (2022-06-01). "'Completely unhenged': Stonehenge lights up with portraits of the Queen" (in en). https://www.cnn.com/style/article/stonehenge-queen-elizabeth-platinum-jubilee-2022/index.html.
14. ↑ Hassan, Jennifer (2022-05-31). "Queen Elizabeth II's image was projected onto Stonehenge. Cue the controversy." (in en-US). Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/05/31/stonehenge-queen-elizabeth-jubilee-controversy/.
15. ↑ "Stonehenge 'brings two British icons together' to celebrate Jubilee" (in en). 2022-05-30. https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2022-05-30/stonehenge-brings-two-british-icons-together-to-celebrate-jubilee.
16. ↑ "Stonehenge Lego replica being made out of 400,000 bricks" (in en-GB). BBC News. 2023-06-03. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-wiltshire-65787415.

### Bibliography

* David Dimbleby (2005), A Picture of Britain, Tate Publishing, ISBN 1-85437-566-0
* James McClintock (2006), The Stonehenge Companion, English Heritage ISBN 1-905624-08-5
* Evan Hadingham (1976), Circles and Standing Stones, William Heinemann Ltd.
* Julian Richards (2004), Stonehenge: A History in Photographs, English Heritage ISBN 1-85074-895-0
* Aubrey Burl (1979), Prehistoric Avebury, Yale University Press ISBN 0-300-02368-5

* v
* t
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Stonehenge

Structure and
surroundings|

* Altar Stone
* Aubrey holes
* Bluestone
* Excavations at Stonehenge
* Heel Stone
* Heelstone Ditch
* Laser scanning at Stonehenge
* Q and R Holes
* Sarsen
* Station Stones
* Stonehenge Landscape
* Stonehenge road tunnel
* Trilithon
* Y and Z Holes

Replicas
and derivatives|

* Achill-henge
* America's Stonehenge
* Carhenge
* Foamhenge
* Maryhill Stonehenge
* Mystical Horizons
* Phonehenge West
* Stonehenge Aotearoa
* Stonehenge II
* Stonehenge replica (Odessa, Texas)
* Wally Wallington

Studies|

* Archaeoastronomy and Stonehenge
* Stonehenge in its landscape
* Stonehenge Riverside Project
* Theories about Stonehenge
* The Salisbury Museum
* Wiltshire Museum

In culture|

* Battle of the Beanfield
* Bringing Back the Bluestones
* Polytantric Circle
* Stonehenge Free Festival

Concepts|

* Earth mysteries
* Megalithic architectural elements
* Mount Killaraus

* Category

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