{"id":44351,"title":"Long Man. Cerne Giant. Which is Which?","description":"Two colossal chalk hill figures - the Long Man of Wilmington and the Cerne Abbas Giant. But which is which? Our handy guide explains the differences.","content":"

When it comes to large, enigmatic hill figures etched into the rolling green of England\u2019s countryside, few are as famous as the Long Man of Wilmington<\/strong> and the Cerne Abbas Giant<\/strong>. These two titanic figures have captivated the imaginations of scholars and tourists alike for centuries. But how do we tell the difference? While they may seem similar at first glance \u2014 being, after all, both colossal and chalky - they can be easily confused. But there are some important ways to tell them apart, and not just because one of them lacks a crucial anatomical feature.<\/p>

\"LongThe first and perhaps most obvious way to distinguish these two giants is by location. The Long Man of Wilmington resides on the South Downs in East Sussex, while the Cerne Abbas Giant is located near the village of Cerne Abbas in Dorset.<\/p>

\"MapSo, if you find yourself standing on the South Downs, basking in the gentle sunshine, and you notice a large figure stretching across the hillside, there\u2019s a high probability you\u2019ve encountered the Long Man. Should you be in Dorset, surrounded by the rolling hills of the West Country and a completely different set of village pubs, you\u2019ll likely be facing the Cerne Abbas Giant.<\/p>

The posture of the two figures provides another helpful hint. The Long Man of Wilmington is famously depicted with his arms raised slightly as he holds two staves, one in each hand. The Cerne Giant wields a large knotted club with his right hand, and keeps his left hand free for other business.<\/p>

Next, we come to actual size. The Long Man of Wilmington is 235 feet tall, while the Cerne Abbas Giant is 180 feet tall, so the Long Man is indeed slightly \u2018longer\u2019.<\/p>

Finally, and possibly the easiest way to tell them apart is to take a quick browse around their nether regions. The Long Man is completely smooth down there, rather like an old Action Man without his trousers on. However, as the more keen-eyed viewer will notice almost immediately, the Cerne Abbas Giant has got his Johnson on show.<\/p>

The Long Man did have a phallus added (briefly) when he was vandalised in 2010, but generally speaking it's the Cerne Abbas Giant<\/strong> that is standing to attention.<\/p>

\"Cerne<\/u>Cerne Abbas Giant T-Shirt<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/p>","urlTitle":"long-man-cerne-giant-which-is-which","url":"\/blog\/long-man-cerne-giant-which-is-which\/","editListUrl":"\/my-blogs","editUrl":"\/my-blogs\/edit\/long-man-cerne-giant-which-is-which\/","fullUrl":"https:\/\/eldonthreads.com\/blog\/long-man-cerne-giant-which-is-which\/","featured":false,"published":true,"showOnSitemap":true,"hidden":false,"visibility":null,"createdAt":1732278645,"updatedAt":1774448170,"publishedAt":1774448169,"lastReadAt":null,"division":{"id":353639,"name":"Eldon Threads"},"tags":[],"metaImage":{"original":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/1ly1hvky5s3lejslrct9kzfl0ynw4ja2yansphqdjzu0g9lm.jpeg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/1ly1hvky5s3lejslrct9kzfl0ynw4ja2yansphqdjzu0g9lm.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/1ly1hvky5s3lejslrct9kzfl0ynw4ja2yansphqdjzu0g9lm.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"metaTitle":"Long Man. Cerne Giant. Which is Which?","metaDescription":"Two colossal chalk hill figures - the Long Man of Wilmington and the Cerne Abbas Giant. But which is which? Our handy guide explains the differences.","keyPhraseCampaignId":null,"series":[],"similarReads":[{"id":47007,"title":"Beltane Blossoms and Fairy Trees: The Sacred Symbolism of the Hawthorn","url":"\/blog\/beltane-blossoms-and-fairy-trees-the-sacred-symbolism-of-the-hawthorn\/","urlTitle":"beltane-blossoms-and-fairy-trees-the-sacred-symbolism-of-the-hawthorn","division":353639,"description":"The hawthorn, or May tree, is deeply linked to Beltane (May Day) and fertility traditions. When the hawthorn flowers, it\u2019s a sign that the year is turning towards warmth, light, and new beginnings.\n\nRevered in folklore, lone hawthorns are seen as fairy dwellings, marking the boundary between this world and the Otherworld.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/jdx0funesl1595ebgfix4pfrjbhdmoqdcahagkpclvylniqi.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855&z=1.5&fx=0.57464176988899&fy=0.66666666666667","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/jdx0funesl1595ebgfix4pfrjbhdmoqdcahagkpclvylniqi.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440&z=1.5&fx=0.57464176988899&fy=0.66666666666667"},"hidden":0},{"id":52992,"title":"Old Father Christmas vs the Puritans: A True Story of Festive Vindication","url":"\/blog\/old-father-christmas-vs-the-puritans-a-true-story-of-festive-vindication\/","urlTitle":"old-father-christmas-vs-the-puritans-a-true-story-of-festive-vindication","division":353639,"description":"When the Puritans banned Christmas in 1647, the people rebelled - and Father Christmas was born. Discover the fascinating story behind our Vindication of Christmas T-Shirt.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/ptsui0ngk5zq6wkanao19sac0sohz8rfsxxgtjmyx1mjfzau.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855&z=1.3&fx=0.47822177822178&fy=0.41818181818182","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/ptsui0ngk5zq6wkanao19sac0sohz8rfsxxgtjmyx1mjfzau.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440&z=1.3&fx=0.47822177822178&fy=0.41818181818182"},"hidden":0},{"id":55612,"title":"The Black Horse of Bush Howe: An Elusive Hill Figure in Cumbria","url":"\/blog\/the-black-horse-of-bush-howe-an-elusive-hill-figure-in-cumbria\/","urlTitle":"the-black-horse-of-bush-howe-an-elusive-hill-figure-in-cumbria","division":353639,"description":"Discover the elusive Black Horse of Bush Howe, a mysterious hill figure hidden in the Howgill Fells of Cumbria, surrounded by folklore, uncertainty, and legend.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/b2cisgtqtsdel5ndxeusuqrevb5cptijluffr45hss6ffcjk.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855&z=1.2&fx=0.49561892556277&fy=0.42598256742137","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/b2cisgtqtsdel5ndxeusuqrevb5cptijluffr45hss6ffcjk.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440&z=1.2&fx=0.49561892556277&fy=0.42598256742137"},"hidden":0}],"labels":[]}