Stones and the Summer Solstice

Stone monuments across time and culture were often more than just pleasing architecture. They were built, with extraordinary effort, according to ancient astronomical knowledge and used as places for sacred rituals. Three such places are Stonehenge in England, Machu Picchu in Peru, and the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. All three are known for their alignment with the sun’s trajectory and their displays on the summer solstice. Stonehenge aligns with the solstice sunrise. The sun rises over what is known as the Heel Stone. Stonehenge is credited with its role as an ancient calendar. Machu Picchu, built by the Incas, reveals their masterful understanding of solar cycles. The sunrise on the summer solstice is illumined on specific and perfectly positioned stones in The Temple of the Sun. The pyramids of Giza were built in alignment with the cardinal directions, creating optical phenomena of shadow and illumination during celestial events. During the summer solstice, the sun casts light on the pyramids' north and east sides, leaving the south and west faces in shadow and creating a splintered illusion. To this day, these sites draw thousands of people to engage with their mysteries and connections to the cosmos and the light.