| Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary 1,756,817,510 visitors served. |
|
Dictionary/ thesaurus | Medical dictionary | Legal dictionary | Financial dictionary | Acronyms | Idioms | Encyclopedia | Wikipedia encyclopedia | ? |
menhir |
Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Wikipedia, Hutchinson | 0.01 sec. |
|
menhir (mĕn`hēr') [Breton,=long stone], in archaeology, name given to the single standing stones of Western Europe, and by extension to those of other lands. Their size varies and their shape is rough and squared, tapering toward the top. See megalithic monuments megalithic monument (mĕgəlĭth`ĭk) [Gr. ..... Click the link for more information. . menhirType of ancient megalithic stone monument (see megalith). Menhirs were simple upright stones, sometimes of great size, erected chiefly in Western Europe. Arrangements of menhirs often form vast circles, semicircles, or ellipses. Many were built in Britain, the best-known sites being Stonehenge and Avebury in Wiltshire. Menhirs were also placed in parallel rows, called alignments, the most famous being the Carnac alignments in northwestern France, with 2,935 menhirs. These were probably used for ritual processions. menhir a single standing stone, often carved, dating from the middle Bronze Age in the British Isles and from the late Neolithic Age in W Europe How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
|
| ? Mentioned in | ? References in periodicals archive | |
|---|---|---|
The simplest are rough menhirs, some are polished, but the finest, the ones particular to Aksum, are intricately carved. He was seeking some primal stratum of shape and structure suggesting planets and atomic orbits, archaic tombs and menhirs, internal organs and Freudian protrusions. Instead, the Newcastle team took inspiration from the standing stones known as menhirs that dot the landscape of western Europe. |
| Encyclopedia |
| Free Tools: |
For surfers:
Free toolbar & extensions |
Word of the Day |
Help
For webmasters: Free content | Linking | Lookup box | Double-click lookup | Partner with us |
|---|