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Welcome to John Michell, a best-selling author and world authority on the mysteries of existence. John writes regular weekly articles for my page in the Daily Mirror newspaper. Now those articles can be read on this site. It is a thrill to have John writing for us about unexplained phenomena. I have been an admirer of his work since I was a teenager. I hope you enjoy his thought-provoking work. Jonathan Cainer
Archive for Thursday
6th March 2003 - The 10 World's greatest mysteries...
No. 7 Stonehenge, the wonder of ancient Britain
The most famous of ancient
mysteries in Britain is Stonehenge. There are many other ruined temples
around the world, but nothing like this. Stonehenge is far older than
any known civilisation in Europe. Yet it is a civilised structure. Early
archaeologists thought it must be Roman, but it is now dated to over
2,000 years before the Roman era.
It was not just a temple for ritual, but was used for astronomy and
time-keeping. At dawn on the longest day of the year, people have always
gathered there to see the first ray of the sun, passing down the avenue
and penetrating the inner sanctum. At midwinter, the light of the setting
sunset enters from the opposite direction. Other stone settings point
to the moon at extreme positions in its cycle. Also indicated is the
cycle of lunar eclipses.
My own particular interest is in the measurements of Stonehenge. Its
main feature is the circle of 30 lintel stones, jointed into 30 upright
pillars. The width of this ring is the ‘sacred rod’. That unit is a
six-millionth part of the earth’s polar radius (3.4757486 feet, by ancient
reckoning). The inner radius of the circle is 14 and the outer 15 rods.
Every part of the temple is in fractions of the earth’s dimensions.
Still greater mysteries arise from the position of Stonehenge in relation
to other ancient sites. It is a centre point in a sacred pattern that
covers the whole of Britain. It is a treasure we are only just beginning
to appreciate.
John Michell
If you have a favourite mystery
subject - from spontaneous human combustion to ancient Celtic ritual
sites, write to John, suggesting a theme. And if you have any answers
or theories about the mysteries John will be highlighting, he would
particularly like to hear from you.
Email jon@bubble.com
with subject heading: John Michell
Please note, we regret that due to time restrictions personal replies
may not be available.
John
Michell is a prolific author. Below are just two of John's books which
might interest you. We have arranged with our friends at The Daily
Mirror for website visitors to order books mentioned on this site.
This service is
for UK orders only.
Unexplained Phenomena,
A Rough Guide Special
(co-author Bob Rickard, rrp £12.99) at the special Mirror Direct price
of £9.99 + p&p.
Who Wrote Shakespeare?
(Thames & Hudson, rrp £8.95) for the Mirror Direct special price
of £6.95 + p&p.
Call 0870 165 8587
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