Giants and Horses- The Hill Figures of England

In southern England, large white forms crisscross steep green hills. Massive hill figures lie in the green turf, mostly giants and horses, often more than 100 feet long. Artists, ancient and modern, drew these geoglyghs by removing topsoil, revealing the bright bedrock beneath or by digging trenches and filling it with white stones, often chalk. These bright lines, a foot wide or more, can be seen from far away, making vivid stylized outlines.

Although modern studies suggest many of the most famous figures may only be as old as the 16th or 17^th centuries, many Victorians believed the figures were ancient artworks left by the Romans, Celts or earlier peoples. Some Victorians even continued in their footsteps by constructing hill figures of their own.

The most famous hill figures are the giants. Only two geoglyphs of giants still exist in England: the Cern Abbas giant (also known as “the Rude Man” because of his obvious genitalia) and the Long Man of Wilmington (also called “The Green Man”). Local legends and county records suggest others existed, now lost to time and nature.

Speculation abounds about the origin and meaning of the giants. The Cern Abbas giant could be a Saxon god, a roman figure of Hercules, the outline of a Danish giant, or even a caricature of Oliver Cromwell.

Older illustrations of the Long man of Wilmington show the him holding what may be farming tools and wearing something on his head, instead of the bare head and bare staves he has now. The Long Man is also rumored to be aligned with the constellation Orion, a holy pilgrim, or a soldier holding spears.

Some legends even say the hill figures mark the graves of ancient feuding giants.

Hill figures cut in the shape of white horses outnumber the giants. Like the giants, many horses are missing with only descriptions of their locations remaining.  The horses may only be white from the chalk used in their construction, but there are many strange legends and symbols involving white steeds giving these figures deeper mythic connections. Sleipnir, Tishtrya, the pale horse in Revelation, Uchaishravas, and Pegasus all exemplify white horses in myth and religion.

Grasses constantly reclaim the chalk covered ground, and rain water flows down the steep hills washing away chalk. Hill figures must be periodically recut every seven to ten year to preserve their shape. Local villages often held festivals marking the occasion. Historians usually take great care to preserve the geoglyphs as they are, but this is not always the case. Some hill figures are lost under regrown turf, altered over time, or “improved” by well meaning preservationists.

Adventure ideas

It’s time to recut the Man on the Hill, and the village prepares for its festival. Some of the important people in town want to censor an indecent part of the geoglyph.

An ancient and celebrated hill figure vanished under grass overnight. Who would hide a cherished landmark so close to its festival? Or does the earth hide darker secrets?

A high ranking member of the Guild is pushing a plan to alter a hill figure for a hermetic operation. Local conjurers protest and old folk with strange stories warn of what’s to come.

Victoriana has the artisan folk magic of Sigil engraving. Might these massive figures be ancient Sigils? And what would it take to activate them? What would happen when they activate?