Description The Cerne Abbas giant, also referred to as the Rude Man or the Rude Giant, is a hill figure of a giant naked man on a hillside near the village of Cerne Abbas, to the north of Dorchester, in Dorset, England. The 180 ft (55 m) high, 167 ft (51 m) wide figure is carved into the side of a steep hill, and is best viewed from the opposite side of the valley or from the air. The carving is formed by a trench 12 in (30 cm) wide, and about the same depth, which has been cut through grass and earth into the underlying chalk. In his right hand the giant holds a knobbed club 120 ft (37 m) in length.Like several other chalk figures carved into the English countryside, the Cerne Abbas giant is often thought of as an ancient creation. However, like many of the other figures, its history cannot be traced back further than the late 17th century.Some believe that the giant was carved during the English Civil War by servants of the Lord of the Manor, Denzil Holles, and was intended as a parody of Oliver Cromwell. Cromwell was sometimes mockingly referred to as 'England's Hercules' by his enemies.
Andy Watts Member Since August 2008 Artist Statement I have been interested in photography since I was fairly young, but having purchased a Sony Alpha digital camera in 2007, I have been attempting to get out and about more to do more photography when time and funds allow it. I am interested in photographing varied subjects but in the main tend towards vehicles (mainly Military), Landscape or Wildlife.