Megalith

Early concept art of a Stone Circle

A megalith is a large, prehistoric structure or monument made up of either a single stone or a group of stones stacked together, sometimes called a stone circle or standing stones.

History

During the mid-1st century BCE, the Medjay Bayek of Siwa frequented the stone circle outside of Siwa with his son, Khemu. During their stays at the circle, they discussed the stars, the gods, and whatever was troubling Khemu's mind. Following Khemu's murder in 49 BCE, Bayek sought out and visited numerous stone circles throughout Egypt, as well as the Great Sphinx in Giza, as Khemu had wanted to do.

Years later in 38 BCE, Bayek found two more stone circles in Sinai, and reminisced about Khemu there as well.

In the late 5th and early 6th centuries Irish saint Brendan of Clonfert traveled the British Isles and even to Vinland drawn to many standing stones due to his connection to the Isu Aita trying to find his "beloved" and leaving his musing at each. Centuries later 9th century viking shieldmaiden Eivor Varinsdottir of the Raven Clan would also find these locations and the notes Brendan left there.

Examples of megaliths

Ancient Egypt and Sinai

• Amun
• Ankh
• Apis
• Divine Lion
• Goat Fish
• The Great Twins
• Hathor
• Horus
• Osiris
• Pisces
• The Scales
• Serqet
• Sobek
• Taweret

British Isle

• Aeseforda Stones
• Aveberie Megaliths
• Cosintun
• Devil's Quoits
• Eorthburg Hlaw
• Fairy Glen

TBA

Vinland

• Tionontaté:ken

Behind the scenes

The Stone Circles in Assassin's Creed: Origins seem to be based on archaeo-astronomical structures found at Nabta Playa in the Nubian Desert.

The Hathor Stone Circle and the Serqet Stone Circle in the game seem to have been accidentally switched, as the Prayer of Serqet used by her cult states, "Serqet, Selqet, Selkit we perform these rites in the shadow of your stone circle. In the caves beneath your stars." However, the cave near the House of Serqet is actually under the Hathor Stone Circle.

Each constellation in the game lines up with one of the 88 modern constellations found in the night sky.

Gallery

• 
  Early concept art of the Stone Circles
• 
  Early concept art of the Stone Circles

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Origins (first appearance)
  • The Hidden Ones
• Assassin's Creed: Valhalla
  • Wrath of the Druids
  • The Siege of Paris