Mysteries come in all shapes and sizes, and so do their solutions. Here is a centuries-old mystery whose solution might be much larger than anyone has ever imagined.
One hundred miles southwest of London, at the easternmost point of the peninsula known as The Isle of Purbeck, is a small group of tall, steep-sided, island-like geological formations known as Old Harry’s Rocks. These rocks, the largest being about two hundred feet across at its widest, were formed by the erosion of land near the coastline (Fig. 1 and 2).
(Topographical map of Dorset, ❁Blue Green Atlas, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, Image has been cropped, converted to monochrome, and labeling added. Modifications are not endorsed by bluegreenatlas.com.)
Although this group of rocks is relatively well-known, there is much disagreement as to who or what Old Harry’s Rocks are named after. Some think the name Old Harry comes from a pirate named Harry Paye, while others think the name Old Harry refers to The Devil, who is claimed to have slept on or near the rocks. There is even a story that tells of a Viking named Harold (or Harry) who was somehow transformed into one of the rocks.
After recently learning about Old Harry’s Rocks and some of the many theories concerning the name, I started to have my own thoughts on the matter. Although I learned that for many years one of the rocks has been referred to as “Old Harry,” to me the name “Old Harry’s Rocks” seemed to indicate Old Harry was someone or something larger than, and outside of, the group of rocks.
Given my prior success at discovering several large, human-shaped geographical images that I believe had been used long ago to create gods and myths (giotg.org), I thought I would take a quick look at the geography surrounding Old Harry’s Rocks. Within seconds I found what I believe could be a large and forgotten Old Harry.
Note how when we view The Isle of Purbeck from a northwesterly direction, a human-like head might be imagined (Fig. 3).
(Topographical map of Dorset, ❁Blue Green Atlas, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, Image has been cropped, converted to monochrome, labeling added, rotated, highlighting added, and animated. Modifications are not endorsed by bluegreenatlas.com.)
I suspect that long ago, after this image was first noticed on a map, some people associated it with The Devil and gave it the name Old Harry, which was a nickname for The Devil. Worth noting is the fact that a place on the mainland near the rocks is known as Old Nick’s Ground, with Old Nick being another nickname for the devil. I have also seen mention of there being other euphemisms for The Devil at other places in the area. Then there is that legend claiming The Devil had slept on or near the rocks. If not The Devil himself, perhaps this geographical image was thought to be that of a solidified imprint made by the side of The Devil’s head and face while he slept. Perhaps he was seen as wearing a sleeping bonnet covering the top and back of his head. I also suspect this imagined view of The Devil was suppressed for religious reasons, and eventually forgotten, except for a few remaining remembrances of it like the legend just mentioned, and the names “Old Harry’s Rocks” and “Old Nick’s Ground.”
And so, do we finally know who Old Harry of “Old Harry’s Rocks” really was? Has The Mystery of Old Harry’s Rocks finally been solved? Hopefully, time will tell.
Learn how geographical images like this one were used to create gods, myths, symbols, and more by exploring Geographical Images of the Gods at giotg.org.