Constructed by cutting away the turf and leaving underlying white chalk exposed, the figure measures 180 feet (55 m) in height. The nude (anatomically correct) man holds a 121 foot (37 m) club in one hand; his other arm is outstretched. It is possible that at one point the giant was depicted holding something in his other hand.
Giant Carving
One legend surrounding this mysterious figure is that he represents a real giant who caused a great uproar by killing and eating several sheep in the area. After consuming yet another sheep, the giant lay down on this spot and fell asleep. Local residents killed the giant and then carved the outline of the body in the chalk.
The Cerne Abbas Giant is not the only such figure in the English countryside. No one knows exactly who carved the Giant for for what purpose. The first written record about the Giant is from a letter dating back to 1751.
Some scholars have suggested that since the Giant resembles other images of ancient gods, then the Cerne Abbas Giant is himself an ancient figure. Unfortunately, there is no way to accurately determine when the carving was made.
A Fertility Symbol?
Another mystery associated with the Giant is its purpose: Was the Giant carved as some sort of a fertility symbol?
British folklore contains a number of references to fertility rituals. Childless women who wished to conceive would visit certain locations and sit or or rub themselves against special stones thought to have magical properties.
It has been suggested that barren women would go to the hillside and sit on the figure of the Giant in an effort to facilitate pregnancy. Another theory is that young couples who wished to ensure that a pregnancy would take place would spend the night together at the site. The sacred site may have also been used by young girls who wished to find a husband and eventually give birth to a number of children.
With no written records available, there is no way to know for certain who carved the Giant into the hillside near Cerne Abbas, or why. All we are left with are a number of theories, but no definitive answers.
To see photographs of the Cerne Abbas Giant, please click here www.catnip.co.uk/cerne/
