PILLARS, in antiquarian topography, are large
single stones set up perpendicularly. Those of them
which are found in this country have been the work of
the Druids; but as they are the most simple of all mo-
numents, they are unquestionably more ancient than
druidism itself. They were placed as memorials record-
ing different events; such as remarkable instances of
God's mercies, contracts, singular victories, boundaries,
and sometimes sepulchres. Various instances of these
monuments erected by the patriarchs occur in the Old
Testament: such was that raised by Jacob at Luz, af-
terwards by him named Bethel; such also was the pillar
placed by him over the grave of Rachel. They were
likewise marks of execrations and magical talismans.
These stones, from having long been considered as
objects of veneration, at length were by the ignorant
and superstitious idolatrously worshipped; wherefore, af-
ter the introduction of Christianity, some had crosses cut
on them, which was considered as snatching them from
the service of the devil. Vulgar superstition of a later
date has led the common people to consider them as per-
sons transformed into stone for the punishment of some
crime, generally that of sabbath-breaking; but this tale
is not confined to single stones, but is told also of whole
circles: witness the monuments called the hurters in
Cornwall, and Rollorick stones in Warwickshire. The
first are by the vulgar supposed to have been once men,
and thus transformed as a punishment for playing on the
Lord's day at a game called hurting; the latter, a pa-
gan king and his army.
At Wilton, where the earl of Pembroke has a very
magnificent house, there is a pillar of one piece of white
Egyptian granite, which was brought from the temple
of Venus Genetrix at Rome, near 14 feet high and 22
inches diameter, with an inscription to Astarte or Ve-
nus.