Journal of Geomancy vol. 2 no. 2, January 1978

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THE ALTON ZODIAC

By Michael Behrend

Robert Lord writes; “No amount of evidence can ‘prove’ the existence of a terrestrial zodiac.  One is in fact not concerned with proof but with evidence” (1).  While not claiming to prove the existence of the Alton zodiac, I believe there is enough evidence to justify this provisional report in the Journal.  The pattern is there, but whether due to chance or design readers can only decide for themselves. 

The zodiac lies in the eastern corner of Hampshire, with a small portion in Surrey.  Eight of the eleven signs (Cancer being absent) have been identified so far, arranged in a rough circle some 20 km across, anticlockwise in the usual order.  Leo here is in the north, as in the Holderness, Ongar and Chiltern zodiacs, whereas Glastonbury, Nuthampstead and Kingston have Leo in the south: this distinction is due to Kimmis (2).  The effigies are for the most part outlined by roads and paths.  Near the centre is the town of Alton, with the hamlets of Holybourne and Anstey, the latter name recurring at the centre of the Nuthampstead zodiac.  The church at Holybourne, as at Holywell (Hunts.) and elsewhere, is built near to a sacred spring.  Passing through the zodiac via Alton High Street is the prehistoric road that came to be known as the Pilgrims’ Way, along which pilgrims travelled from Winchester to the shrine of St Thomas Becket at Canterbury (3).  Another Pilgrims’ Way to the same shrine passes through the centre of the Ongar zodiac.  As for landscape geometry, the zodiac lies in the same “zodiac zone” as the one at Glastonbury, and is bisected by a radius of the heptagon discovered by the author (4).  Work on local alinements is in progress. 

ARIES is as usual a ram lying down with his head turned backwards.  In size, shape and orientation he is much like the Glastonbury Aries, but is situated in the east of the zodiac rather than the west.  His hindquarters are formed by the southern branch of the River Wey. 

TAURUS is the head and forequarters of a bull, with his face turned towards the observer.  His chest is delineated either by the River Wey or by the road alongside the river.  A high spot (390 feet) marks the middle of his forehead. 

GEMINI is a warrior or hunter in a helmet, looking rather more impressive on the OS maps than in the sketch shown here.  In the Nuthampstead zodiac Gemini is also a warrior, plausibly identified by Pennick (5) with the giant Wandil, who was thrown into the sky and whose eyes became the stars Castor and Pollux.  The right arm of the effigy seems to be lost, but the large-scale map suggests that his left hand is raised to his chin as if shooting an arrow; the object at his waist may be the quiver.  The figure of Orvandill (=Wandil) the Archer, as carved on the seventh-century Franks casket, is also left-handed (6). 

CANCER is absent, as in most other terrestrial zodiacs. 

LEO is not a lion, but a dog.  The front legs are not clear, but the head and ear are well delineated by roads and paths.  Several zodiacs have a “guardian” dog outside the circle, but as far as I know this is the only instance of a dog replacing one of the usual signs.  In the Accadian language however the name of the sign Leo means “the great dog” (7).  These Gemini and Leo figures admit a dual interpretation, as zodiacal signs or as Orion the hunter and his dog (Canis Major). 

VIRGO is the usual hooded and cloaked figure.  Her head is bowed, and she seems to be wearing a mask or veil, as in the Pendle zodiac (l).  She carries a sheaf of corn which touches the hind paw of the dog near Long Sutton church.  As in the Glastonbury, Nuthampstead and Ongar zodiacs, {22} Virgo is traversed by a Roman road, which in this case forms the axis of the head and neck.  This road is alined on a tumulus at Oakhanger, and the corresponding road (Beards Lane) in the Nuthampstead zodiac is alined on the same tumulus, though perhaps by chance as the separation is about 120 km. 

LIBRA is a bird, as in other zodiacs.  The usual identification with the dove seems reasonable. 

SCORPIO is a large scorpion.  Its sting and claws are visible, but not the legs.  Bentworth church lies on the figure’s head. 

SAGITTARIUS is a fine figure of a prancing horse.  He has a crest and a mane which is made up of a row of small fields.  On the 1:50 000 map his head is very clear, with Medstead church near the tip of the nose.  There is no trace of a rider: presumably it was thought unnecessary to duplicate the archer already present in the opposite sign of Gemini.  There is a close resemblance between the Sagittarius effigy and the sacred horse Areion, depicted on a coin of Thelpousa in southern Greece (8). 

The three final figures are unsatisfactory at the moment.  CAPRICORN is perhaps a leaping goat, facing west, with its body formed by the hill called Bush Down.  AQUARIUS may be a spread eagle (or phoenix?) with Temple Manor at the corner of its tail and Priory Farm where the wing joins the body; a C-shaped wood seems to form the head and neck, but the boundaries are presumably fairly modern.  I have no suggestion for PISCES as yet.  A location in the watery region round Oakhanger ponds would be appropriate, but the effigy may have been destroyed by the buildings at Bordon Camp. 

The whole zodiac is contained on OS 1-inch Sheet 169, or 1:50 000 Sheet 186. 

Notes