Re: Why is it that every TV special on Stonehenge mentions Druids?

Tom McDonald wrote:02/10/2008 14:53:
Digger wrote:
As ever, the media will not allow the facts to get in the way of a good story... and, at the end of the day, what harm does it do? Many people choose to be ignorant and don't really care too much for facts. Those who *do* care will take the time to find out the facts and will know the whole Druid thing is a red herring.



"Scotius" <yodasbud@xxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:MPG.234e18a9947516a2989a54@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I read years ago that Stonehenge was far older than the Druid
religion, and that the ancient Phoenecians had referred to Stonehenge as
"The winged temple of the people of the Western isles". The Phoenecians!
Then I read that it was an astronomical calendar. If that's true,
why are there dorks running around saying that "...we really don't know
what purpose it served...", etc? And why do they even bother mentioning
the Druids if it's been proven to be thousands of years older than the
"Oak knowers"?

Several of the TV programs I've seen on Stonehenge and environs mention Druids as a hook, a way in to educating folks about the actual history of that particular henge and landscape. In that history, Druids *do* play a part; but far, far later (perhaps not until the last couple-few centuries, and Neo-druids at that).

Most folks who know about Stonehenge have heard the Druid business. Any program about Stonehenge aimed at a general audience that didn't address the Druid thingie would not be doing its job of education. Failure to address it would leave a fair few viewers wondering why Druids weren't mentioned; and perhaps suggest to many that 'silence means assent' to an ancient, fanciful, interesting and quite false Druid connection.


In the recent BBC Timewatch program, the 'druids' were mentioned.
The dig was even officially blessed by some of them :-).
But it was told that they almost certainly gather at Stonehenge
in the wrong time of year, and facing the wrong way.


.

Relevant Pages

  • Why is it that every TV special on Stonehenge mentions Druids?
    ... I read years ago that Stonehenge was far older than the Druid ... and that the ancient Phoenecians had referred to Stonehenge as ... "The winged temple of the people of the Western isles". ...
    (sci.archaeology)
  • Re: Why is it that every TV special on Stonehenge mentions Druids?
    ... Those who *do* care will take the time to find out the facts and will know the whole Druid thing is a red herring. ... Several of the TV programs I've seen on Stonehenge and environs mention Druids as a hook, a way in to educating folks about the actual history of that particular henge and landscape. ...
    (sci.archaeology)
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    ... I don't recall being told at the site or in TV ... documentaries that it ever was a "Druid" site. ... Stonehenge and about the Elgin Marbles that were chopped off their historic ...
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