In the village of Cerne Abbas, nestled on a rolling hillside, is a 180ft tall giant holding a club and presenting a large phallus.
It is not something you see every day. However, it has been an important part of Dorset’s culture and folklore for a long time.
It is unknown how old the giant is, although there has been recent evidence to suggest it has been around since the Saxon times and was made around 700-1100AD.
The giant has left archaeologists and historians puzzled, and it is still being studied today.
Other evidence suggests that once upon a time, the giant wore a cloak and was possibly carrying a severed head.
It is an interesting piece of folk art that has had many people wondering who the giant represents; one theory is that he could be a caricature of the historical figure Oliver Cromwell, whilst others believe he was a representation of the Roman hero Hercules.
Known as ‘Britains most famous phallus,’ the Cerne Abbas Giant is now owned by the National Trust and is a popular tourist attraction with lots of walks, lookouts and picnic areas for visitors to admire the giant on the hill.
There is a lot of folklore that surrounds the giant which adds to the magic and mystery of the area.
Many people believe that the giant is a sign of fertility, and if you partake in intercourse on the giant, infertility will be cured; another is if a woman sleeps in the area, they will be blessed with the ability to produce an abundance of offspring or become more fertile.
Other tales describe the giant as a villain who terrorised the land, eating the local sheep. One night, when he had a full belly, he lay down on the hill to sleep, whilst he was doing so the local farmers decided to slay the giant and cut out his chalk outline as a remembrance of their deed.
The giant can be seen whilst out driving or walking; however, visitors are restricted on how far up they can go due to possible damage and erosion.
He can be admired from afar and is a celebrated landmark in Dorset, popular with photographers and artists and featured on many souvenirs throughout the county.
In 1921, a local man, Walter Long, petitioned to have the giant converted to cover up his manhood with a leaf. This, however, fell through, and his penis stayed.
It’s important to keep as close to his original form as possible as he is part of Dorset history and will possibly live on forever!
If you’d like to walk the Cerne Abbas Giant route, check it out on Alltrails here.
