This ancient monument of the megalithic era consists of concentric stone circles and a hill in the center. The Wheel of Spirits Rujm el-Hiri can be seen primarily from the air and barely visible from the ground. The walls are about two meters high and only the central embankment slightly rises above the general plan. This mysterious landmark is located in a bare field in the middle of the Golan Heights. The stone monument went unnoticed for centuries until it was discovered by Israeli archaeologists. This happened only after the territory was seized from Syria in 1967.
The Syrians called the Wheel of Spirits Rujm el-Hiri, which is translated from Arabic as "the stone hill of the wild cat." In Hebrew, it is called the "wheel of the Rephaim" - the ancient giants mentioned in the Bible. The word "rephaim" in modern Hebrew also means "ghosts" or "spirits." The mention of these giants is associated with the gigantic dimensions of the Wheel of Spirits - the stone circle is 160 meters in diameter. It still remains a mystery who built Rujm el-Hiri and for what purpose.
The structure consists of a large number of basalt blocks including four small concentric circles. The walls of the circles are connected by smaller perpendicular stone walls. In the center is a pyramid of a block of stones about 5 meters high - the highest part of the entire structure. The Rujm el-Hiri Wheel of Spirits is believed to contain over 40,000 tons of basalt. According to rough estimates of scientists, this monument was created around 3000 BC, which makes it a contemporary of the more famous Stonehenge in England. That is why it is often called the Israeli Stonehenge.
As with most other monuments from the time of the megalith, there is no information about the possible builders of Rujm el-Hiri, as well as about the purpose of this place. One theory is that the Wheel of Spirits was an ancient astronomical calendar. According to approximate calculations, in 3000 BC on the days of the summer solstice, the sun's rays passed through the northeastern exit of the complex. But this theory was not confirmed by astronomers, since the position of the monument is not ideal. This may indicate a lack of accurate astronomical knowledge, or the lack of suitable tools among the ancient builders. Another theory states that Rujm el-Hiri was a tomb, although no human remains have been found here. The Wheel of Spirits is located next to Israeli military installations and is therefore only accessible on weekends and holidays.
Without a doubt, this is one of the most mysterious places on Earth, about which we still have a lot to learn.
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