Stonehenge (1740) - Page 2

A circular emblem centered on a small white rectangular insert. The emblem depicts a white pelican "in her piety," feeding her young with blood from her breast. Above the bird, a golden orb radiates light. Below the nest is a coat of arms featuring a red cross with a red rose in each of the four quadrants. The entire scene is encircled by a border containing the text: Hermetic Philosophy.

Hermetic Philosophy

original: "Philosophia Hermetica." This refers to an esoteric system of belief and alchemy based on the supposed writings of Hermes Trismegistus.

The image of the "pelican in her piety" is a traditional symbol of self-sacrifice, representing a parent or creator who sustains their offspring with their own life essence. The red cross and roses are the central symbols of the Rosicrucians, a secret mystical society. These images indicate that the author, William Stukeley, associates the history of Stonehenge with ancient, hidden traditions of wisdom.