"Historians Claim Cerne Abbas Giant Represents Hercules and Served as Military Rallying Site"

New research from the University of Oxford suggests that the Cerne Abbas giant, a large hill figure in Dorset, England, represents Hercules and may have served as a muster station for West Saxon armies during Viking invasions in the 10th century. Historians Helen Gittos and Tom Morcom argue that the figure's location and characteristics align with those of a "hanging promontory" site, ideal for army gatherings. This recontextualizes the giant from a mysterious figure to a significant cultural and historical symbol in the local landscape.