Aberlemno - Symbol Stones/Cross Slabs (Class II)

All pictures copyright © 1998 Martin McCarthy

There are two excellent Class II Pictish Symbol Stones (cross-slabs with Pictish symbols in relief) at Aberlemno. One (Ablerlemno 3) at the roadside with the two Class I stones, and one (Aberlemno 2) in the nearby kirkyard.

Aberlemno 2

The symbol side of Aberlemno 2 Large image(37k) The cross side of Aberlemno 2 Large image(56k) Detail of the symbols Large image(45k) Detail of the battle scene Large image(74k) Detail of the interlaced creatures at the centre-right of the cross side Large image(49k) Detail of the interlaced creatures at the bottom-right of the cross side. Could these sea-horses be a more sophisticated version of the Pictish beast? Large image(53k) Detail of the interlaced creatures at the left of the cross side Large image(21k)

Aberlemno 2 Aberlemno 2 is one of the most beautiful Class II Pictish stones. The hole drilled through it is a later "enhancement". Note that the apparant shape of the stone in the photographs--a wide base and tapering towards the top--is the actual shape of the stone and not the result of a low camera angle nor a wide-angle lens! The Cross Side The cross itself is very precisely decorated with complex and neat interlacing at top and (especially) bottom, angular key-patterns on the arms and spiral designs in the centre. Interlaced animals decorate the slab to either side of the cross and there is a perfectly executed triquetra knot above the tails of the fish-tailed horses to the bottom-right. Scottish folklore has stories of the kelpie or eich uisge (a water-horse) and tarve uisge (a water bull). It has been suggested that the "Pictish beast", one of the most common symbols on Class I stones, is a representation of this mythical creature. In which case these intertwined creatures would seem to be a more sophisticated sculpture of the Pictish beast. The Symbol Side At the top of the reverse of the slab are a notched rectangle-with-Z-rod symbol and a triple disc. Charles Thomas suggests that this translates as To a dead war leader remembered by a member of the magician clan. Below the symbols are four scenes from a battle--it is widely accepted that this is the Battle of Nechtansmere fought in 685i, which took place less that ten miles from Aberlemno. The Northumbrian King Ecgfrid and his warriors invaded northwards, but were defeated by the Pictish leader Brude mac Bili. The top scene shows two horsemen: a Pictish swordsman chases his helmeted foe who has thrown away his weapon and shield. (The shield is clearly visible behind the fleeing warrior. His sword can just be made out to the right of the shield--it is vertical with the hand-guard down.) The long nose-guard on the helmet identifies the fleeing warrior (and the other warriors on the right-hand side of the stone) as an Anglian. Similar helmets were found in the Coppergate excavations in York and has been dated to the 8th century. The undocked tail of the fleeing horse and the large saddle blanket suggest a warrior of some importance--possibly King Ecgfrid himself. The middle scene shows three Pictish foot-soldiers standing against an Anglian horseman, and is suggestive of Pictish battle tactics: the right-most Pict protects himself with his shield and has his sword ready to slash; behind him stands a spearsman uses his lance to protect the swordsman. A second spearsman stands at the ready to the rear. Bottom-left, an Anglian horseman is at the point of throwing his spear at a Pict who directs his own horse with his knees (the reigns can be seen hanging loose). Bottom-right, a dead Anglian is prey for the symbolic raven.

Aberlemno 3

The cross side of Aberlemno 3 Large image(30k) Detail of the mourning angels on Aberlemno 3 Large image(27k) Detail of the Evangelist-creatures at the base of the cross side of Aberlemno 3 Large image(61k) The symbols at the top of the symbol side of Aberlemno 3 Large image(36k) The hunting scene at the bottom of the symbol side of Aberlemno 3 Large image(37k) Detail of the double-disc-and-Z-rod on Ablerlemno 3 Large image(105k) Detail of the crescent-and-V-rod on Aberlemno 3 Large image(83k) Detail of the hunting scene on Aberlemno 3 Large image(49k) Detail of the centaur on the symbol side of Aberlemno 3 Large image(51k) Detail of David grasping the jaws of the lion Large image(62k) Decoration down the slab edges of Aberlemno 3

Aberlemno 3 The Cross Side The cross side of the stone has, at the base, four indistinct creatures (or creatures and people). Elizabeth Sutherland suggests that these are the symbols of the four Gospel writers as they appear in The Book of Kells. Higher up, just below the arms of the cross, are two mourning angels holding books. The Symbol Side The symbol side of the stone has, at the top, the crescent-and-V-rod and double-disc-and-Z-rod symbols. At the bottom-left of the stone is an image of a centaur. At the bottom-right is the biblical David grasping the jaws of a lion. Beside him are a harp and a sheep, symbolising his musicianship and origins as a shepherd. The rest of this side is taken up with a hunting scene including: three stags; four horsemen; two men on foot blowing horns; three hounds. At the left a man on foot is facing the opposite direction (possibly David again with a square shield symbolising his attributes as a warrior), and in the centre of the scene is a smaller creature--a dog perhaps?