|
'My name is Vrael. I am the masterbuilder of my tribe.
I have chosen to build on top of one of our existing forts, which is built on a hill with good views all around ... I propose now to build a new earth mound temple, 10 paces high and 5 paces wide. This will be built on the flat space at the top of the existing hill fort. It will be a temple to the glory of the tribe, and the glory of future generations. Because it is a temple, it will have the reverse order of banks and ditches, with the banks on the outside, showing that it is more peaceful than warlike ... The first gateway will face the rising midsummer sun, and the second the setting of it on the same day.
To create the mound, we will bring stones on sledges from the quarry, and then shape them with hammers made of wood or antler and stone. We will then cover the stones with the earth which is left over from the quarry and ditch excavation, of the earlier fort. On top of this mound, there will be a large obelisk from the quarry ... This obelisk will have grooves in it hammered out by slaves, and in these grooves will be put beaten sheets of bronze, tin and silver in the patterns of the sun, moon and the great belt of the hunter in the sky. All round the sides of the top of the obelisk will be embellished with beaten gold sheets that will reflect the rising and setting sun.
On the top of the obelisk, there will be hammered grooves to serve as foundations for a watchtower. This will be made of wood, and will be manned at all times. At times of attack, the watchtower will be converted to a beacon and a fire lit to warn the tribesmen.
This temple will take longer than my life and the life of my apprentice.'
| 
