Picts

Meigle was probably the site of an important early medieval Pictish monastery, the centre of which was the present church and churchyard. There was a holy site here even before the Picts were Christianised in the 6th and 7th centuries. Picts (picti ‘the painted ones’) is the name used by the Romans in late antiquity for peoples in Scotland. The name is attributed to the widespread custom of tattooing. The peoples referred to by the Romans as the Picts were probably not one ethnic group, but different peoples with different cultural traditions, who nevertheless formed political and military alliances in the face of common enemies. The origin of the Picts is unclear. Their language and culture disappeared when the kingdoms of the Picts and the Celtic Scots were united under Kenneth MacAlpin in 843 AD. The Meigle Sculptured Stone Museum has an exceptional collection of carved Pictish stones According to the information this stone (Meigle 2) depicts Daniel in the lion's den and is interpreted in local folklore as Vanora, the wife of King Arthur, being thrown to the wild animals as punishment for her forced infidelity.

Abernethy is a village and former burgh about 13 km south-east Perth. Formerly the site of a number of Roman encampments, Abernethy became an important Pictish religious and political centre. The parish church, which sits on land given by Nechtan, a king of the Picts, is dedicated to Saint Brigid of Kildare, and the church is said to have been founded by Dairlugdach, second abbess of Kildare, one of early Christian Ireland's major monasteries. In 1072 the village was the setting for the Treaty of Abernethy, where Malcolm Canmore gave allegiance to William the Conqueror and its mediaeval round tower marks the site of a former abbey and, later, collegiate church. The Round Tower is a stone-built Irish-style round tower which stands at the edge of the cemetery. Dating from the 11th century, the tower is one of only two such towers surviving in Scotland. The roofless ower is 22.5 m high and has a diameter of 4.57 m at ground level, tapering upwards to 3.96 m. Fixed to the outside base of the tower is a Pictish stone.

Meigle was probably the site of an important early medieval Pictish monastery, the centre of which was the present church and churchyard. There was a holy site here even before the Picts were Christianised in the 6th and 7th centuries. Picts (picti ‘the painted ones’) is the name used by the Romans in late antiquity for peoples in Scotland. The name is attributed to the widespread custom of tattooing. The peoples referred to by the Romans as the Picts were probably not one ethnic group, but different peoples with different cultural traditions, who nevertheless formed political and military alliances in the face of common enemies. The origin of the Picts is unclear. Their language and culture disappeared when the kingdoms of the Picts and the Celtic Scots were united under Kenneth MacAlpin in 843 AD. The Meigle Sculptured Stone Museum has an exceptional collection of carved Pictish stones The Pictish cross-slab (Meigle 1) has a height of 2,25m. The stone was originally used as a standing stone two millennia before it was sculpted by the Picts, it has cup and ring marks low down on the back of the stone. The cross is Greek in style. The inside of the cross is decorated with interlace patterns, the cross-point being decorated with spirals. This may be the oldest stone at Meigle, possibly carved in the late 8th century.

Meigle was probably the site of an important early medieval Pictish monastery, the centre of which was the present church and churchyard. There was a holy site here even before the Picts were Christianised in the 6th and 7th centuries. Picts (picti ‘the painted ones’) is the name used by the Romans in late antiquity for peoples in Scotland. The name is attributed to the widespread custom of tattooing. The peoples referred to by the Romans as the Picts were probably not one ethnic group, but different peoples with different cultural traditions, who nevertheless formed political and military alliances in the face of common enemies. The origin of the Picts is unclear. Their language and culture disappeared when the kingdoms of the Picts and the Celtic Scots were united under Kenneth MacAlpin in 843 AD. The Meigle Sculptured Stone Museum has an exceptional collection of carved Pictish stones The rear face of Meigle 1. Fish, snake, mytical beasts and riders

Meigle was probably the site of an important early medieval Pictish monastery, the centre of which was the present church and churchyard. There was a holy site here even before the Picts were Christianised in the 6th and 7th centuries. Picts (picti ‘the painted ones’) is the name used by the Romans in late antiquity for peoples in Scotland. The name is attributed to the widespread custom of tattooing. The peoples referred to by the Romans as the Picts were probably not one ethnic group, but different peoples with different cultural traditions, who nevertheless formed political and military alliances in the face of common enemies. The origin of the Picts is unclear. Their language and culture disappeared when the kingdoms of the Picts and the Celtic Scots were united under Kenneth MacAlpin in 843 AD. The Meigle Sculptured Stone Museum has an exceptional collection of carved Pictish stones A Mounted Warrior

Meigle was probably the site of an important early medieval Pictish monastery, the centre of which was the present church and churchyard. There was a holy site here even before the Picts were Christianised in the 6th and 7th centuries. Picts (picti ‘the painted ones’) is the name used by the Romans in late antiquity for peoples in Scotland. The name is attributed to the widespread custom of tattooing. The peoples referred to by the Romans as the Picts were probably not one ethnic group, but different peoples with different cultural traditions, who nevertheless formed political and military alliances in the face of common enemies. The origin of the Picts is unclear. Their language and culture disappeared when the kingdoms of the Picts and the Celtic Scots were united under Kenneth MacAlpin in 843 AD. The Meigle Sculptured Stone Museum has an exceptional collection of carved Pictish stones Meigle 26 is an exceptionally recumbent gravestone. This end of the slab is depicting a man and a manticore.

Meigle was probably the site of an important early medieval Pictish monastery, the centre of which was the present church and churchyard. There was a holy site here even before the Picts were Christianised in the 6th and 7th centuries. Picts (picti ‘the painted ones’) is the name used by the Romans in late antiquity for peoples in Scotland. The name is attributed to the widespread custom of tattooing. The peoples referred to by the Romans as the Picts were probably not one ethnic group, but different peoples with different cultural traditions, who nevertheless formed political and military alliances in the face of common enemies. The origin of the Picts is unclear. Their language and culture disappeared when the kingdoms of the Picts and the Celtic Scots were united under Kenneth MacAlpin in 843 AD. The Meigle Sculptured Stone Museum has an exceptional collection of carved Pictish stones Meigle 7 is the top portion of a rounded cross-slab. The back of the monument has a double disc and Z-rod and a comb. The Z-rod is often found on Pictish carvings

Meigle was probably the site of an important early medieval Pictish monastery, the centre of which was the present church and churchyard. There was a holy site here even before the Picts were Christianised in the 6th and 7th centuries. Picts (picti ‘the painted ones’) is the name used by the Romans in late antiquity for peoples in Scotland. The name is attributed to the widespread custom of tattooing. The peoples referred to by the Romans as the Picts were probably not one ethnic group, but different peoples with different cultural traditions, who nevertheless formed political and military alliances in the face of common enemies. The origin of the Picts is unclear. Their language and culture disappeared when the kingdoms of the Picts and the Celtic Scots were united under Kenneth MacAlpin in 843 AD. The Meigle Sculptured Stone Museum has an exceptional collection of carved Pictish stones Meigle 2 stands nearly 2.5 metres high. It has a cross on one side and depicts Daniel in the lions' den on the other (see prev uploads) . The form of the head of the cross is possibly based on that of a jewelled metal cross and is unique. The projecting boss at the centre of the cross has eight smaller bosses around it. The shaft of the cross contains three pairs of sculpted animals facing each other, with interlaced tails and tongues, while other beasts fill the space between the cross and the outer border of the monument.

Meigle was probably the site of an important early medieval Pictish monastery, the centre of which was the present church and churchyard. There was a holy site here even before the Picts were Christianised in the 6th and 7th centuries. Picts (picti ‘the painted ones’) is the name used by the Romans in late antiquity for peoples in Scotland. The name is attributed to the widespread custom of tattooing. The peoples referred to by the Romans as the Picts were probably not one ethnic group, but different peoples with different cultural traditions, who nevertheless formed political and military alliances in the face of common enemies. The origin of the Picts is unclear. Their language and culture disappeared when the kingdoms of the Picts and the Celtic Scots were united under Kenneth MacAlpin in 843 AD. The Meigle Sculptured Stone Museum has an exceptional collection of carved Pictish stones Meigle 4 is a fragmented cross-slab with the central portion missing. This is the back. It has tightly packed figures and symbols. A mounted horseman occupies the top of the stone, with two interlaced serpents behind. Under the horse's hooves is another entwined serpent, a Pictish Beast and another animal, with another horseman behind. A crescent with V rod symbol occupies the lowest portion of the stone.

Meigle was probably the site of an important early medieval Pictish monastery, the centre of which was the present church and churchyard. There was a holy site here even before the Picts were Christianised in the 6th and 7th centuries. Picts (picti ‘the painted ones’) is the name used by the Romans in late antiquity for peoples in Scotland. The name is attributed to the widespread custom of tattooing. The peoples referred to by the Romans as the Picts were probably not one ethnic group, but different peoples with different cultural traditions, who nevertheless formed political and military alliances in the face of common enemies. The origin of the Picts is unclear. Their language and culture disappeared when the kingdoms of the Picts and the Celtic Scots were united under Kenneth MacAlpin in 843 AD. The Meigle Sculptured Stone Museum has an exceptional collection of carved Pictish stones Meigle 5 has a cross carved in high relief on one side. The base of the Greek-style cross the unusual decoration of two animal heads. Each quarter of the background contains a single beast.Meigle 5 is a small monument and was carved as an upright headstone for a grave.

Meigle was probably the site of an important early medieval Pictish monastery, the centre of which was the present church and churchyard. There was a holy site here even before the Picts were Christianised in the 6th and 7th centuries. Picts (picti ‘the painted ones’) is the name used by the Romans in late antiquity for peoples in Scotland. The name is attributed to the widespread custom of tattooing. The peoples referred to by the Romans as the Picts were probably not one ethnic group, but different peoples with different cultural traditions, who nevertheless formed political and military alliances in the face of common enemies. The origin of the Picts is unclear. Their language and culture disappeared when the kingdoms of the Picts and the Celtic Scots were united under Kenneth MacAlpin in 843 AD. The Meigle Sculptured Stone Museum has an exceptional collection of carved Pictish stones Meigle 6 is the central fragment of a cross-slab. The back of the stone has, from top to bottom, a horse and rider, a double disc symbol, a crescent and a dog wearing a collar

Meigle was probably the site of an important early medieval Pictish monastery, the centre of which was the present church and churchyard. There was a holy site here even before the Picts were Christianised in the 6th and 7th centuries. Picts (picti ‘the painted ones’) is the name used by the Romans in late antiquity for peoples in Scotland. The name is attributed to the widespread custom of tattooing. The peoples referred to by the Romans as the Picts were probably not one ethnic group, but different peoples with different cultural traditions, who nevertheless formed political and military alliances in the face of common enemies. The origin of the Picts is unclear. Their language and culture disappeared when the kingdoms of the Picts and the Celtic Scots were united under Kenneth MacAlpin in 843 AD. The Meigle Sculptured Stone Museum has an exceptional collection of carved Pictish stones Meigle 26 is an exceptionally recumbent gravestone. This side has depictions of a corpse being consumed by two beasts, four interlaced naked human figures and a further two beasts.

Meigle was probably the site of an important early medieval Pictish monastery, the centre of which was the present church and churchyard. There was a holy site here even before the Picts were Christianised in the 6th and 7th centuries. Picts (picti ‘the painted ones’) is the name used by the Romans in late antiquity for peoples in Scotland. The name is attributed to the widespread custom of tattooing. The peoples referred to by the Romans as the Picts were probably not one ethnic group, but different peoples with different cultural traditions, who nevertheless formed political and military alliances in the face of common enemies. The origin of the Picts is unclear. Their language and culture disappeared when the kingdoms of the Picts and the Celtic Scots were united under Kenneth MacAlpin in 843 AD. The Meigle Sculptured Stone Museum has an exceptional collection of carved Pictish stones. Meigle 5 has a cross carved in high relief on one side and on one edge of the monument the so-called "Pictish Beast"

Meigle was probably the site of an important early medieval Pictish monastery, the centre of which was the present church and churchyard. There was a holy site here even before the Picts were Christianised in the 6th and 7th centuries. Picts (picti ‘the painted ones’) is the name used by the Romans in late antiquity for peoples in Scotland. The name is attributed to the widespread custom of tattooing. The peoples referred to by the Romans as the Picts were probably not one ethnic group, but different peoples with different cultural traditions, who nevertheless formed political and military alliances in the face of common enemies. The origin of the Picts is unclear. Their language and culture disappeared when the kingdoms of the Picts and the Celtic Scots were united under Kenneth MacAlpin in 843 AD. The Meigle Sculptured Stone Museum has an exceptional collection of carved Pictish stones. Meigle 11 is another recumbent monument. The long sides of the stone have deeply recessed panels with wide borders that once were decorated but are badly worn. The top of the monument is undecorated and has a wide slot at one end. One side of the stone has the sculpted images of three mounted riders accompanied by a dog, behind them is a humanoid figure with an animal's head and gripping two entwined serpents.[

Meigle was probably the site of an important early medieval Pictish monastery, the centre of which was the present church and churchyard. There was a holy site here even before the Picts were Christianised in the 6th and 7th centuries. Picts (picti ‘the painted ones’) is the name used by the Romans in late antiquity for peoples in Scotland. The name is attributed to the widespread custom of tattooing. The peoples referred to by the Romans as the Picts were probably not one ethnic group, but different peoples with different cultural traditions, who nevertheless formed political and military alliances in the face of common enemies. The origin of the Picts is unclear. Their language and culture disappeared when the kingdoms of the Picts and the Celtic Scots were united under Kenneth MacAlpin in 843 AD. The Meigle Sculptured Stone Museum has an exceptional collection of carved Pictish stones. Meigle 12 is a recumbent gravestone. On the side are a dog biting a deer in the leg and two bulls charging at each other.

Meigle was probably the site of an important early medieval Pictish monastery, the centre of which was the present church and churchyard. There was a holy site here even before the Picts were Christianised in the 6th and 7th centuries. Picts (picti ‘the painted ones’) is the name used by the Romans in late antiquity for peoples in Scotland. The name is attributed to the widespread custom of tattooing. The peoples referred to by the Romans as the Picts were probably not one ethnic group, but different peoples with different cultural traditions, who nevertheless formed political and military alliances in the face of common enemies. The origin of the Picts is unclear. Their language and culture disappeared when the kingdoms of the Picts and the Celtic Scots were united under Kenneth MacAlpin in 843 AD. The Meigle Sculptured Stone Museum has an exceptional collection of carved Pictish stones.

The Aberlemno Churchyard Cross Slab (aka Aberlemno II) was produced by Pictish carvers in the 800s. The cross is very precisely decorated with complex interlacing at top and bottom. 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.

The Aberlemno Churchyard Cross Slab (aka Aberlemno II) was produced by Pictish carvers in the 800s. The cross is very precisely decorated with complex interlacing at top and bottom. The rear side has a rectangle-with-Z-rod symbol and a triple disc. Below the symbols are four scenes from a battle--it is widely accepted that this is the Battle of Nechtansmere fought in AD685, 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 long nose-guard on the helmet identifies the fleeing warrior as an Anglian. 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. 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. Bottom-right, a dead Anglian is prey for the symbolic raven.