THE SCENE: Whether it is true or not, this 12th century description of how Merlin founded Stonehenge (with African rocks stolen from the Irish) provides us with a lively portrayal of him as a character and a human being.
THE TEXT: “If you want to grace the burial-place of these men with some lasting monument,” replied Merlin, “send for the Giant’s Ring which is on Mount Killaraus in Ireland. In that place there is a stone construction which no man of this period could ever erect, unless he combined great skill and artistry. The stones are enormous and there is no one alive strong enough to move them. If they are placed in position round this site, in the way in which they are erected over there, they will stand for ever.” At these words of Merlin’s Aurelius burst out laughing. “How can such large stones be moved from so far-distant a country?” he asked, “It is hardly as if Britain itself is lacking in stones big enough for the job!”
“Try not to laugh in a foolish way, your Majesty,” answered Merlin, “What I am suggesting has nothing ludicrous about it. These stones are connected with certain secret religious rites and they have various properties which are medicinally important. Many years ago the Giants transported them from the remotest confines of Africa and set them up in Ireland at a time when they inhabited that country. When the Britons heard all this, they made up their minds to send for the stones and to make war on the people of Ireland if they tried to hold them back. In the end the King’s brother, Utherpendragon, and fifteen thousand men, were chosen to carry out the task. Merlin, too, was co-opted, so that all the problems which had to be met could have the benefit of his knowledge and advice. They made ready their ships and they put to sea.
The winds were favourable and they arrived in Ireland. At that time there reigned in Ireland a young man of remarkable valour called Gillomanius. As soon as he heard that the Britons had landed in the country he collected a huge army together and hurried to meet them. When he learned the reason of their coming, Gillomanius laughed out loud at those standing round him. “Whoever heard of such folly? Surely the stones of Ireland aren’t so much better than those of Britain that our realm has to be invaded for their sake! Arm yourselves, men, and defend your fatherland, for as long as life remains in my body they shall not steal from us the minutest fragment of the Ring.” When he saw that the Irish were spoiling for a fight, Uther hurriedly drew up his own line of battle and charged at them. The Britons were successful almost immediately. The Irish were either mangled or killed outright, and Gillomanius was forced to flee. Having won the day, the Britons made their way to Mount Killaraus. When they came to the stone structure, they were filled with joy and wonder. Merlin came up to them as they stood round in a group. “Try your strength, young men,” said he, “and see whether skill can do more than brute strength, or strength more than skill, when it comes to dismantling these stones!”
At his bidding they all set to with every conceivable kind of mechanism and strove their hardest to take the Ring down. They rigged up hawser and ropes and they propped up scaling-ladders, each preparing what he thought most useful, but none of these things advanced them an inch. When he saw what a mess they were making of it, Merlin burst out laughing. He placed in position all the gear which he considered necessary and dismantled the stones more easily than you could ever believe. Once he had pulled them down, he had them carried to the ships and stored on boar, and they all set sail once more for Britain with joy in their hearts. Aurelius ordered Merlin to erect round the burial-place the stones which he had brought from Ireland. Merlin obeyed the King’s orders and put the stones up in a circle round the sepulcher, in exactly the same way as they had been arranged on Mount Killaraus in Ireland, thus proving that his artistry was worth more than brute strength.
– Geoffrey of Monmouth, The History of the Kings of Britain, 12th Century AD
[Image Credit: Stonehenge in Wiltshire from The Antiquities of England and Wales by Henry Boswell]
