Mysterious stone circles, also in Egypt

CAIRO - 25 June 2017: In the beginning, there was the stone. Well, maybe not quite... But when the humble stone is gathered into majestic stone circle formations, it really gets you to start thinking. At least it always has that effect on me. I am hoping with this short piece I will get you thinking also about how these mysterious formations from the past intersect with the present and maybe even the future. Who knows?

I used to read the Asterix cartoon as a child and maybe that is why I started thinking about stones. I loved reading about how the character Obelix from the cartoon shaped menhirs and delivered them - it seemed very exotic to me as a young girl growing up in Poland.

Of course, Obelix's stones were a figment of the fertile imagination of Rene Goscinny. As I grew up and started to travel, I came across the most wondrous and puzzling stone formations in different locations. I want to share a few of them with you.


The stones of Avebury, the largest stone circle in the world. The monument consists of three stone circles spread around the village of Avebury, England – Egypt Today/Monika Sleszynska

Before I moved to Egypt, I lived in Great Britain, home to the world famous Stonehenge situated in Salisbury, England and which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The stone formations at Stonehenge amazed me and I was intrigued by the different color formations - most patriotically, the stones are colored red, white and blue - who would have thought? Some of the blue stones originally came from Wales. How did they end up in Stonehenge? Who brought them there? How did they get there?

I am not the only one to ask such questions. On the summer solstice (June 21), thousands of people come together to watch the sunrise at Stonehenge. A fair few also come for the winter solstice, although not quite so many; it is pretty cold after all.


Avebury in Wiltshire, South West England – Egypt Today/Monika Sleszynska

I also was well impressed by Avebury in Wiltshire, which is the largest megalithic stone circle in the world. I felt awed as I walked around the three stone circles that had been there for literally thousands of years. I wondered if the sheep I met while wandering along had the same thoughts as me. Probably not, you say...

I have found there is an incredible stone formation right here in Egypt - Nabta Playa! This formation situated in the Southern desert was discovered to be capable of facilitating solar and stellar alignment. Not bad for a stone circle! Further, it is likely older than Stonehenge, the most iconic stone site. While in England several thousand visitors gather just in one solstice day, Nabta Playa seems like an untapped jewel.


Nabta Playa stone circle reconstructed at the Museum in Aswan – CC via Wikimedia Commons/Raymbetz

The site could be perfect for a secluded sunrise watching worth the 800km travel from Cairo. For an adventure traveler the remote location could be a perfect treat and get the heart beating fast at the thought of being one of the few to witness the phenomenon.

I could go on and on about Landau Island in Hong Kong and many others. All of these are truly incredible natural wonders to behold. What is even more incredible are the unanswered questions. These stones are massively heavy - how on earth were they assembled together? Where did the materials come from, and how were they transported?

In many cases, the patterns form very precise circles and sometimes even alignments with the sun and moon. It seems to me the architects of the past were advanced; what is most impressive is that you find these formations all over the world. Close to Egypt, there are twelve Big Circles in Jordan extending up to 400 meters.

How is this possible? I hear you asking. Well, why don't you check some of these phenomena out for yourself. Go travelling and let me know what you find!

Have you traveled to a mysterious stone circle and have pictures? Whether it is a famous one or a new discovery we are looking forward to see yours at: editor@egypttoday.com