Windover Hill 2

[poliphilo]

Most English hill figures are of fairly recent origin. There was something of a vogue for cutting them in the 18th and 19th centuries. Only three are older: the Cerne Abbas Giant- which is probably late medieval to 17th century, the Uffington White Horse which is almost certainly prehistoric and the Long Man- who is 17th century at the latest and might be prehistoric too. The Horse and the Giant are best seen from the air- like the Nazca Lines (make of that what you will)- but the Long Man is clearly meant to be seen from below Windover Hill and at a certain distance- as in this picture, which I took in March, 2015.

Comments

[cmcmck]

I've seen all three and there may be others equally old, but there's uncertainly.

'Before the gods that made the gods
Had drunk at dawn their fill,
The White Horse of the White Horse Vale
Was hoary on the hill.'

[poliphilo]

And there may also be many that have been lost.