The Long Man Of Wilmington

[poliphilo]

He's first recorded in 1710. How much further back he goes is anybody's guess. He could be prehistoric- or Roman- or medieval or- most probably- 16th-17th century. 

Comments

[splodgenoodles.livejournal.com]

So a 1710 attempt at encouraging tourism?

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Well, could be....

Your guess is as good as any.

[resonant.livejournal.com]

Viral ad for the Wilmington Ski Resort?

[artkouros.livejournal.com]

That sort of thing is fascinating. We have nothing comparable.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

How about the Serpent Mound in Ohio?

[artkouros.livejournal.com]

Yes, you're right.

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

I very much like that shot through the branches.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[nineweaving.livejournal.com]

Not as saucy as Cerne Abbas!

Nine

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

A rumour went the rounds that he'd been emasculated by the Victorians, but it's almost certainly not true.

[puddleshark.livejournal.com]

Very enigmatic.

Our local chalk figure, the Cerne Abbas giant, isn't nearly as subtle. Traditionally he was thought to be a prehistoric fertility symbol, but recent research points more towards him being a pointed insult created during the Civil War. So maybe there was a fashion for chalk figures in the 17th century?

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Could be.

The likelihood is the two figures were created around the same time.

But Wilmington seems far too tame to be a political insult.