The Aberlemno 2, class II Pictish symbol stone.
The Aberlemno 2, class II Pictish symbol stone.
A battle scene on the opposite face is believed to depict the Battle of Dunnichen, also called the Battle of Nechtansmere in 685 A.D. King Bridei III was leader of the Pictish army.
The helmeted soldiers are believed to be the Anglo Saxons from Northumbria who were defeated outright and lost their lands north of Northumbria such as Fife.
A raven is drawn feeding on a dead Anglo Saxon. The Anglo Saxon King Edwin of Deira may be depicted in this battle scene on horseback or the dead warrior on the ground. Two Anglo Saxons are shown having lost their shields.
The Picts appear to have no helmets. The Pictish horsemen appear to have stirrups so that they can hold a spear and a shield unlike the Anglo Saxons.
The Pictish stategy appears to be three ranks. The first soldier has a sword for close combat, protected with a spear carried by the soldier behind. A third spearman is in reserve.
The stone slab is believed to have been produced two to three centuries after the battle.
The Aberlemno 3, class II Pictish symbol stone, also called the Great Stone. The ornate Celtic cross is impressive with two angels either side, one reading a book.
A hunting scene and the double disc Pictish symbol is visible on the opposite face which is not visible from the roadside. Three trumpeters are also visible.
The meaning of these symbols commonly carved by the Picts is unknown.
Strangely the missionaries or scribes from the Celtic church did not record the meaning of the symbols in their texts. This was even more strange as Celtic christian crosses were engraved on one side of the class II symbol stones or cross slabs.
Links:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aberlemno
www.scribd.com/doc/2341785/The-Picts-and-Sculptured-Stones
The Aberlemno 2, class II Pictish symbol stone.
The Aberlemno 2, class II Pictish symbol stone.
A battle scene on the opposite face is believed to depict the Battle of Dunnichen, also called the Battle of Nechtansmere in 685 A.D. King Bridei III was leader of the Pictish army.
The helmeted soldiers are believed to be the Anglo Saxons from Northumbria who were defeated outright and lost their lands north of Northumbria such as Fife.
A raven is drawn feeding on a dead Anglo Saxon. The Anglo Saxon King Edwin of Deira may be depicted in this battle scene on horseback or the dead warrior on the ground. Two Anglo Saxons are shown having lost their shields.
The Picts appear to have no helmets. The Pictish horsemen appear to have stirrups so that they can hold a spear and a shield unlike the Anglo Saxons.
The Pictish stategy appears to be three ranks. The first soldier has a sword for close combat, protected with a spear carried by the soldier behind. A third spearman is in reserve.
The stone slab is believed to have been produced two to three centuries after the battle.
The Aberlemno 3, class II Pictish symbol stone, also called the Great Stone. The ornate Celtic cross is impressive with two angels either side, one reading a book.
A hunting scene and the double disc Pictish symbol is visible on the opposite face which is not visible from the roadside. Three trumpeters are also visible.
The meaning of these symbols commonly carved by the Picts is unknown.
Strangely the missionaries or scribes from the Celtic church did not record the meaning of the symbols in their texts. This was even more strange as Celtic christian crosses were engraved on one side of the class II symbol stones or cross slabs.
Links:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aberlemno
www.scribd.com/doc/2341785/The-Picts-and-Sculptured-Stones