grinner
06-24-2004, 01:33 PM
Put Stonehenge back in Wales, says Archdruid
Jun 23 2004
By Emyr Williams Daily Post
STONEHENGE should return home, says the Archdruid of Wales.
Dr Robyn Léwis wants England's most famous landmark to be moved hundreds of miles nor th, to Machynlleth.
It follows the revelation this weekend the Neolithic and Bronze Age monument's builders were probably from Wales. The stones themselves are believed to have been quarried in Pembrokeshire, although how they were carried to Wiltshire remains a mystery.
Last night, nobody at English Heritage, owner of Stonehenge, was available to comment on Dr Léwis's suggestion.
The Archdruid, from Nefyn, claims bringing the stones back to Wales would prevent them from being abused.
He said: "Since the Stone of Destiny was returned to Scotland a few years since, and it is clearly only a matter of time until the Elgin Marbles are returned to Greece, I would request Stonehenge be returned to Wales, and what better place than Machynlleth.
"It is a well known fact the stones in Stonehenge are being regularly misused, particularly by people who call themselves The Druid Order, many of them under the influence of drugs.
"I first mooted the idea of bringing the stones back to Wales when the National Eisteddfod was to be held at St David's, the area from where they were originally quarried.
"There had been an attempt to take a new stone from the Pembrokeshire quarry and ferry it to Stonehenge, but despite a massive Lottery grant this failed and that stone is now in the bottom of a Pembrokeshire river.
"In any event, this would have been moving in the wrong direction, as it is the removal of the stones back to Wales that is required, and not the addition of a further stone from the Preselau Mountain.
"Probably the most ideal site would be somewhere in the region of Machynlleth, where Owain Glyndwr's Parliament was held, and it would no doubt add status to the revival of Machynlleth as a centre of administration for Wales.
"It would make a wonderful centre-piece, putting Cardiff Bay in the shade.
"The old Celts used muscle power to erect this formidable monument. Modern machinery could reverse the process in a fraction of the time."
Dr Léwis, who ends his three year term of office as Archdruid in August, is a retired solicitor and barrister who has written law books in Welsh.
Disputed relics
THE rightful home of the Elgin Marbles is one of Europe's longest-running disputes.
Hacked from Athens' ancient Acropolis by Lord Elgin in 1801, the panels are now at the British Museum in London.
However, the Greek government has requested the loan of the marbles as a gesture of goodwill.
The Stone of Destiny, traditional coronation stone of Scottish kings and queens, was stolen 700 years ago by English king Edward I, and is still a powerful symbol of Scottish independence.
On St Andrews Day, November 30, 1996, the Stone of Destiny went home, and was installed in Edinburgh Castle.link (http://icnorthwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/regionalnews/tm_objectid=14358394&method=full&siteid=50142&headline=put-stonehenge-back-in-wales--says-archdruid-name_page.html)
Jun 23 2004
By Emyr Williams Daily Post
STONEHENGE should return home, says the Archdruid of Wales.
Dr Robyn Léwis wants England's most famous landmark to be moved hundreds of miles nor th, to Machynlleth.
It follows the revelation this weekend the Neolithic and Bronze Age monument's builders were probably from Wales. The stones themselves are believed to have been quarried in Pembrokeshire, although how they were carried to Wiltshire remains a mystery.
Last night, nobody at English Heritage, owner of Stonehenge, was available to comment on Dr Léwis's suggestion.
The Archdruid, from Nefyn, claims bringing the stones back to Wales would prevent them from being abused.
He said: "Since the Stone of Destiny was returned to Scotland a few years since, and it is clearly only a matter of time until the Elgin Marbles are returned to Greece, I would request Stonehenge be returned to Wales, and what better place than Machynlleth.
"It is a well known fact the stones in Stonehenge are being regularly misused, particularly by people who call themselves The Druid Order, many of them under the influence of drugs.
"I first mooted the idea of bringing the stones back to Wales when the National Eisteddfod was to be held at St David's, the area from where they were originally quarried.
"There had been an attempt to take a new stone from the Pembrokeshire quarry and ferry it to Stonehenge, but despite a massive Lottery grant this failed and that stone is now in the bottom of a Pembrokeshire river.
"In any event, this would have been moving in the wrong direction, as it is the removal of the stones back to Wales that is required, and not the addition of a further stone from the Preselau Mountain.
"Probably the most ideal site would be somewhere in the region of Machynlleth, where Owain Glyndwr's Parliament was held, and it would no doubt add status to the revival of Machynlleth as a centre of administration for Wales.
"It would make a wonderful centre-piece, putting Cardiff Bay in the shade.
"The old Celts used muscle power to erect this formidable monument. Modern machinery could reverse the process in a fraction of the time."
Dr Léwis, who ends his three year term of office as Archdruid in August, is a retired solicitor and barrister who has written law books in Welsh.
Disputed relics
THE rightful home of the Elgin Marbles is one of Europe's longest-running disputes.
Hacked from Athens' ancient Acropolis by Lord Elgin in 1801, the panels are now at the British Museum in London.
However, the Greek government has requested the loan of the marbles as a gesture of goodwill.
The Stone of Destiny, traditional coronation stone of Scottish kings and queens, was stolen 700 years ago by English king Edward I, and is still a powerful symbol of Scottish independence.
On St Andrews Day, November 30, 1996, the Stone of Destiny went home, and was installed in Edinburgh Castle.link (http://icnorthwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/regionalnews/tm_objectid=14358394&method=full&siteid=50142&headline=put-stonehenge-back-in-wales--says-archdruid-name_page.html)