s work in
Abury, though great in itself, is but a part of the whole (the avenues
stretching above a mile from it each way), the situation of the whole
design is projected with great judgment, in a kind of large, separate
plain, four or five miles in diameter. Into this you descend on all
sides from higher ground. The whole Temple of Abury may be considered as
a picture, and it really is so. Therefore the founders wisely contrived
that a spectator have an advantageous prospect of it as he appeared
within view. When I frequented this place, which I did for some years
together, to take an exact account of it, staying a fortnight at a time,
I found out the entire work by degrees. The second time I was here, an
avenue was a new amusement; the third year another. So that at length
I discovered the mystery of it, properly speaking, which was, that the
whole figure represented a snake transmitted through a circle. This is
an hieroglyphic or symbol of highest note and antiquity.

"In order to put this design in execution, the founders well studied
their ground; and to make their representation more natural, they
artfully carried it over a variety of elevations and depressions, which,
with the curvature of the avenues, produces sufficiently the desired
effect. To make it still more elegant and picture-like, the head of the
snake is carried up the southern promontory of Hackpen Hill, toward the
village of West Kennet; nay, the very name of the hill is derived from
the circumstance.... Thus our antiquity divides itself into three great
parts, which will be our rule in describing this work. The circle at
Abury, the forepart of the snake leading toward Kennet, which I call
Kennet Avenue; the hinder part of the snake leading toward Beckhampton,
which I call Beckhampton Avenue; for they may be well looked on as
avenues to the great temple at Abury, which part must be most eminently
called the Temple.

"The plan on which Abury was built, is that sacred hierogram of the
Egyptians and other ancient nations, the circle and snake. The whole
figure is the circle, snake, and wings. By this they meant to picture
out, as well as they could, the nature of the Divinity."

The temple which represents the body of the snake is formed by a
circular agger of earth having its ditch withinside. As this is contrary
to the mode adopted in works of defence, it is thought to prove the
religious character of Abury. In a description given of this shrine by