Stonehenge
Stonehenge
One of the most amazing feats that Merlin receives credit for in Arthurian legend is the transportation
of stonehenge, or the Giants' Ring, from Mount Killaraus in Ireland to its current resting place on Salisbury Plain.
One version of the tale is told by Wace in Roman De Brut. In it, Merlin is called before Aurelius,
Arthur's uncle. Aurelius wishes to build a monument in honor of his men who fell in the battle for the kingship
against Hengist, the Saxon leader. Merlin suggests obtaining Stonehenge from Ireland, but after hearing
Merlin's description of the monument, Aurelius becomes skeptical that the gigantic stones can be moved.
Merlin tells Aurelius that brains are better than brawn and sets out with 15,000 armed men to Ireland. After
a battle with the defending Irish, the Britons reach the monument. Merlin tells the soldiers to try to move the
stones, at which they fail. Merlin then approaches the stones, and after speaking several word to himself, asks
the soldiers to again attempt to move the stones. This time the soldiers are successful and they transport
the stones back to there ships.