The Cerne Giant, Cerne Abbas, Dorset

The 'Cerne Giant' just outside the village of Cerne Abbas in Dorset is one of many giant hill figures cut into the underlying chalk of southern England. The Cerne giant is believed to date from the second century AD and is generally considered to represent the God Helith. Many legends surround the 60 m high figure. Local legend says that a real giant was killed on the hill and that local people drew around the figure and marked him out on the hillside. For obvious reasons many legends concern the Cerne giant's fertility powers. One such legend has it that childless couples who made love on a certain part of the figure would soon be blessed with children. While young women wishing to keep their lovers faithful would walk around the hill figure three times. In recent years a fence has been erected around the figure in an attempt to lessen the number of people indulging in these practices!