PICTISH SYMBOL STONES DRAWN DESIGNS
Designs of 12 of the most frequent Carved Objects with Mithraic relevance have been drawn.
These drawings are © Norman J Penny.
The following pages record (by location) 387, over a third, of the total number of carvings seen on Pictish Symbol Stones. 30% of these carvings are indistinct – 70% have been drawn.
Analysis of commonality of appearance has caused patterns, discrete designs and groups of designs to emerge. For example, taking “Mirror” - from the 62 carvings identified of this object, 8 are indistinct leaving 54 that have been drawn. Of these, there are two general patterns - ring and solid - and 21 designs that have been arranged into 5 groups.
See http://www.pictish-mithraism.com/page46.php for identification and decoding of these Mithraic designs.
CARVED OBJECT Page Nos CARVED OBJECT Page Nos V-Rod & Crescent 2 to 19 Double Disc 48 to 51 Mirror 20 to 25 Horseshoe / Arch 52 to 54 Z-Rod & Double Disc 26 to 37 Decorated Rectangle 55 to 57 Comb 38 to 39 Notched Rectangle 58 to 60 Serpent / Snake 40 to 43 Triple Disc 61 to 63 Mirror Case 44 to 47 Tuning Fork 64 to 66 1 Pictish Symbol Stones - “V-rod & Crescent” Designs - Page 2
General pattern
There are 90 "V-rod & Crescent" objects that broadly follow a general pattern. 27 are indistinct. 63 designs have emerged.
Locations are on Page 3.
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “V-rod & Crescent” Designs - Page 3
Abdie Aberlemno (road 2) Abernethy Advie Balblair, Kilmorack(2) Ballintomb Bourtie Brandsbutt Broomend of Crichie Brough of Birsay Cairnton Clach Ard Clynekirkton (1) Clynekirkton (2) Clynemilton (1) Cossans Craigton Crosskirk Dalnavie Farm Daviot Deer Dingwall (x 3) Dunfallandy (x 2) Dyce Edinburgh Elgin Easterton of Roseisle Findlarig Fiscavaig Forres Fowlis Wester Fyvie Garbeg Gellyburn, Murthly Glenferness Golspie (1) Golspie (2) Greens Hilton of Cadboll Inverallan Inveravon (2) Inveravon (4) Invereen Inverurie (1) Kinblethmont Kineddar (1) Kinellar Kintore, Churchyard Kintradwell, Cinn Knockando (1) (x 2) Knowe of Burrian Latheron Trolla (2) Little Ferry Links (2) Little Ferry Links (4) Logie Elphinstone (1) Logie Elphinstone (2) Logie Elphinstone (3) Lynchurn Meigle (4) Monifieth (2) Orphir (1) Orphir (2) Pabbay, Barra Park House Poolewe Raasay Redland, Firth Rhynie, Mains Rhynie, Old Ch (2) Rosemarkie (x 3) Rossie Priory Skinnet Chapel, Halkirk South Ronaldsay (x 2) St Madoes Strathmartine Castle Tarbat Tillypronie Tillytarmont, Tillytarmont, Tobar na Maor Whitestones (1) Whitestones (2) Turriff Manse Ulbster Watenan
Not drawn - indistinct 2 of 3 not drawn Pictish Symbol Stones - “V-rod & Crescent” Designs - Page 4
Dyce (2) Bourtie
Brandsbutt Broomend
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “V-rod & Crescent” Designs - Page 5
Cairnton Daviot
Deer Inverurie (1)
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “V-rod & Crescent” Designs - Page 6
Logie Elphinstone (1) Logie Elphinstone (2)
Logie Elphinstone (3) Park House
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “V-rod & Crescent” Designs - Page 7
Kinellar Kintore, Churchyard
Rhynie, Old Church (2) Tillypronie
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “V-rod & Crescent” Designs - Page 8
Tillytarmont, Whitestones(1) Tillytarmont, Whitestones (2)
Aberlemno Roadside (2) Kinblethmont
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “V-rod & Crescent” Designs - Page 9
Strathmartine Castle Edinburgh
Abdie Ballintomb
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “V-rod & Crescent” Designs - Page 10
Inverallan Crosskirk
Latheron Skinnet Chapel
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “V-rod & Crescent” Designs - Page 11
Ulbster Balblair, Kilmorack (2)
Invereen Glenferness
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “V-rod & Crescent” Designs - Page 12
Dalnavie Farm Hilton of Cadboll
Poolewe Rosemarkie (middle)
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “V-rod & Crescent” Designs - Page 13
Clach Ard Fiscavaig
Raasay Tobar na Maor
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “V-rod & Crescent” Designs - Page 14
Clynekirkton (1) Clynekirkton (2)
Clynemilton (1) Craigton
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “V-rod & Crescent” Designs - Page 15
Golspie(1) Golspie (2)
Kintradwell, Cinn Trolla (2) Easterton of Roseisle
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “V-rod & Crescent” Designs - Page 16
Elgin Inveravon (2)
Inveravon (4) Knockando (1a)
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “V-rod & Crescent” Designs - Page 17
Knockando (1b) Greens
Knowe of Burrian Dunfallandy (a)
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “V-rod & Crescent” Designs - Page 18
Dunfallandy (b) Fowlis Wester
Gellyburn, Murthly Meigle (4)
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “V-rod & Crescent” Designs - Page 19
Rossie Priory St Madoes
Pabbay. Barra
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “Mirror” Designs - Page 20
“Ring” pattern “Solid” pattern
There are 62 “Mirror" objects. 8 are indistinct. Two broad patterns are - “ring", i.e. with an open circle, and "solid". 21 designs emerged and are arranged into 5 groups.
Locations are on Page 21.
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “Mirror” Designs - Page 21
Locations:- Abdie Ardlair Aberlemno (1) Birkle Hill Bourtie ClachArd Clatt Clynemilton (1) Clynemilton (2) Collace Cullaird Dalnavie Farm Daviot Drimmies Drumbuie (2) Dunnichen Dunrobin Castle Dunrobin Dairy Park Easterton of Roseisle Formaston Fyvie Glamis Glamis Manse Golspie (2) Greens Hilton of Cadboll Inchyra Inveravon (1) Inveravon (2) Keillor Keith Hall Kinblethmont Kineddar Kingoldrum Kintore Kintradwell (3) Kirriemuir (1) Knockando Knowe of Burrian Maiden Stone Meigle (1) Monifieth (1) Nether Corskie Newbigging Newton House Park House Picardy Rhynie, Mains Rhynie Old Church (1) Rhynie Old Church (2) St Vigeans (1) St Vigeans (2) Sandness Sands of Evie Sandside Tillytarmont (1) Tillytarmont (5) Tobar na Maor Tullich Upper Manbeam Wester Denoon Westfield (2)
Not drawn - indistinct Pictish Symbol Stones - “Mirror” Designs - Page 22
Group 1 Tillytarmont Bourtie Clatt, Daviot, Keith Hall, Tullich, Glamis Manse, Aberlemno, Park House
Easterton, Dunnichen, Abdie, Nether Corskie, St Vigeans (1), Kinblethmont, Newbigging, Cadboll, Kingoldrum, Inveravon (2), Rhynie Old Church 2, Kirriemuir (1), Knockando (2) Newton House, Drumbuie (2), Sandside, Inchyra Kineddar
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “Mirror” Designs - Page 23
Group 2 Upper Manbeam Drimmies, Rhynie Old Church 1, Kintore (Castle Hill), Dunrobin Dairy Park, Tillytarmont (1), Golspie, Kintradwell (3), Sandness Greens, Knowe of Burrian
Dunrobin Castle
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “Mirror” Designs - Page 24
Group 3 Meigle Maiden Stone Collace
Group 4 Fyvie Cullaird, Clach Ard, Dalnavie Farm Clynemilton (1)
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “Mirror” Designs - Page 25
Group 5 Clynemilton (2) Ardlair Picardy
Inveravon (1) Formaston, St Vigeans (2), Wester Denoon
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “Z-rod & Double Disc” Designs - Page 26
General pattern
There are 56 "Z-rod & Double Disc" objects. 29 are indistinct. 18 designs emerged distinguished by variants of "flame" numbers and directions.
Locations are on Page 27.
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “Z-rod & Double Disc” Designs - Page 27
Locations:- Aberlemno (road 1) Aberlemno (road 2) Alyth Bourtie Clach Ard Clatt (1) Clatt (2) Congash (2) Cossans Dunnichen Dyce (1) Dyce (2) Dingwall Eassie Edinburgh Edderton Elgin Fiscavaig Fordoun Fowlis Wester Fyvie (2) Glenferness Hilton of Cadboll Huntly, Dummuies Huntly Square Invereen Inverurie (1) Inverurie (3) Keith Hall Keillor Kintore, Castle Hill (1) Kirriemuir (2) Largo Logie Elphinstone (2) Meigle (7) Migvie Monifieth (1) Picardy Rhynie (2) Rhynie (5) Rhynie (6) Rodney Rosemarkie St Madoes St Vigeans (1) St Vigeans (3) St Vigeans (5) St Vigeans (6) Strathmartine (kirk 5) Struan Tillytarmont (2) Tillytarmont (3) Torgorm x 2 (1 stone) Tullich Wantonwells
Not drawn - indistinct Pictish Symbol Stones - “Z-rod & Double Disc” Designs - Page 28 Variants of “flame” numbers and directions:
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “Z-rod & Double Disc” Designs - Page 29
Aberlemno Roadside (2)
Monifieth (1)
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “Z-rod & Double Disc” Designs - Page 30
Dyce (1), Clatt, Keith Hall, Kintore Castle Hill (1), Logie Elphinstone (2), Picardy, Aberlemno Roadside (1), Cossans
Dunnichen
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “Z-rod & Double Disc” Designs - Page 31
Inverurie (3)
Dyce (2)
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “Z-rod & Double Disc” Designs - Page 32
Eassie
Glenferness
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “Z-rod & Double Disc” Designs - Page 33
Hilton of Cadboll, Keillor
Rosemarkie
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “Z-rod & Double Disc” Designs - Page 34
Invereen, Struan
Tillytarmont (2)
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “Z-rod & Double Disc” Designs - Page 35
Fordoun
St Vigeans (5)
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “Z-rod & Double Disc” Designs - Page 36
Congash (2)
Migvie
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “Z-rod & Double Disc” Designs - Page 37
Elgin
Tullich
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “Comb” Designs – Page 38
There are 40 "comb" objects. 6 are indistinct. 22 designs emerged and are arranged into 4 groups. "Combs" always appear with "mirrors". These "combs" are of a separate design to "decorated rectangles".
Locations:- Aberlemno Birse Bourtie Clach Ard Clynemilton Collace Cullaird Dalnavie Daviot Drimmies Drumbuie Dunnichen Dunrobin Castle Dunrobin Dairy Park Easterton Golspie (2) Hilton of Cadboll Inveravon (2 stones) Keith Hall Keillor Kinblethmont Kineddar Kingoldrum Kirriemuir Kintradwell Knockando Maiden Stone Meigle 1 Monifieth Nether Corskie Newbigging Park House Rhynie Sandside St Vigeans (2 similar) Tillytarmont Upper Manbeam Wester Denoon
Not drawn - indistinct
Note: Rhynie NJ42NE 53 - RCAHMS mentions a comb symbol - appearance is more decorated rectangle. Pictish Symbol Stones - “Comb” Designs – Page 39
Group A Keith Hall Drimmies, Drumbuie, Kintradwell Golspie Dunnichen Dunrobin Castle, Sandside Dunrobin Dairy Park
Group B Dalnavie Knockando Nether Corskie Daviot Clynemilton Aberlemno, Newbigging, Kinblethmont Rhynie
Group C Clach Ard Tillytarmont Inveravon Collace (5 teeth) (7 teeth) (Stone2 – 8 teeth) (7 teeth)
Group D Cullaird Inveravon Meigle 1 Maiden Stone – 21 teeth, Birse (Stone1 Kingoldrum (fewer teeth?), Kinnedar 7 “teeth”) (9 teeth plus ends), Kirriemuir , Monifieth (14 teeth), St Vigeans (x 2), Not to scale Wester Denoon (7 teeth plus ends) Pictish Symbol Stones - “Serpent / Snake” Designs- Page 40
There are 26 "serpent" objects of which 11 are with "Z-rods". 5 are indistinct. 17 designs emerged. The 2 instances of “intertwined serpents” are drawn but not considered to be Mithraic symbols.
Locations:- Aberlemno Balluderon Brandsbutt Craigmyle Drumbuie Dunrobin, Dairy Park Gask Glamis Hunter's Hill Glamis Manse Golspie Inverurie (1) Inchyra Knockando (2) Logierait x 2 Meigle (1) Mortlach (1) Newton House (1) Picardy St Vigeans (1 & 2) Tarbat Tealing Tillytarmont Ulbster Upper Manbeam
Not drawn - indistinct Pictish Symbol Stones - “Serpent” Designs- Page 41
Group 1
= head
= tail
Aberlemno Roadside 1 Glamis, Hunter’s Hill Glamis Manse
Ulbster Knockando Inchyra
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “Serpent” Designs- Page 42
Group 2
Brandsbutt Newton House Picardy, Balluderon, Drumbuie
Tillytarmont Meigle (1) Dunrobin (Dairy Park), Gask Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “Serpent” Designs- Page 43
Group 3
Inverurie Logierait (1) Logierait (2)
Others
St Vigeans (2) Golspie, St Vigeans (1) (intertwined serpents) Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones – “Mirror Case” Designs - Page 44
“Solid” pattern “Hollow” pattern
There are 19 "mirror case" objects plus one "notched mirror case"(Sandside NC96NE 10). 1 is more like a "tuning fork"; the remainder are distinct. Two broad patterns are - "hollow", i.e. an open circle on a base, and "solid". 17 “mirror case” designs emerged and 16 are arranged into 3 groups. 1 design ( Newton of Lewesk ) does not fit any group.
Locations:- Advie Ardnilly Broch of Gurness Brough of Birsay Drumbuie (2) Dyce (2) Fetterangus Greens Inveravon (1) Inverurie (1) Inverurie (2) Kintradwell (1) Knocknagael Meigle (5) Nether Corskie Newton of Lewesk St Peter's Church Tillytarmont (1) Westfield (1) Not to scale Not drawn - more like "tuning fork" Pictish Symbol Stones – “Mirror Case” Designs - Page 45
Group 1
Inverurie (1) Westfield Knocknagael
Greens Advie Brough of Birsay Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones – “Mirror Case” Designs - Page 46
Group 2
Ardnilly Inverurie (2) Drumbuie (2)
Newton of Lewesk Not to scale Non-concentric Design Dyce Inveravon (1) Pictish Symbol Stones – “Mirror Case” Designs - Page 47
Group 3
Fetterangus Nether Corskie Tillytarmont, South Ronaldsay
Sandside Kintradwell (1) Meigle (5) Notched Mirror Case Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “Double Disc” Designs - Page 48
General pattern
There are 18 "double disc" objects that broadly follow a general pattern. 5 are indistinct. 12 designs emerged including 3 that are decorated.
Locations:- Drumbuie (1) Dunfallandy Edzell 1 Fowlis Wester Golspie Inchrya Logie Elphinstone (1) Logierait (2) Longforgan Monifieth (1) Meigle (3) Meigle (6) Pool, Sanday St Vigeans (4) Shandwick Westfield (1) Woodwrae Ulbster
Not drawn - indistinct
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “Double Disc” Designs - Page 49
Logie Elphinstone (1) Monifieth (1)
St Vigeans (4) Woodwrae
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “Double Disc” Designs - Page 50
Westfield (Falkland) Ulbster
Drumbuie (1) Golspie
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “Double Disc” Designs - Page 51
Dunfallandy, Longforgan Inchrya
Logierait (2) Meigle (6)
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “Horseshoe / Arch” Designs - Page 52
General pattern
There are 18 "horseshoe / arch" objects. 6 are indistinct. All except Rothiebrisbane have similar arch patterns. 12 designs emerged.
Locations:- Aberlemno (Farm) Bruceton Clatt Clynemilton (1) Congash (1) Crosskirk Cullaird, Scaniport Drimmies Eassie Huntly Inverurie (2) Langdale Newton of Collessie Percylieu, Clatt Rothiebrisbane Sandness Strathpeffer Tillytarmont
Not drawn - indistinct
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “Horseshoe / Arch” Designs - Page 53 . .
Clatt Huntly Percylieu
Not to scale Rothiebrisbane Tillytarmont Aberlemno (Farm) Pictish Symbol Stones - “Horseshoe / Arch” Designs - Page 54
Congash (1) Crosskirk Strathpeffer
Clynemilton (1) Bruceton Sandness
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “Decorated Rectangle” Designs - Page 55
There are 16 "decorated rectangle" objects. 4 are indistinct.
Newton of Lewesk rectangle and crossed line are apparently a later addition to the Stone - so not drawn. 11 designs emerged.
Locations:- Ackergill (1) Arbroath Harbour Benbecula Clynekirkton (1) Clynekirkton (2) Cunningsburgh Deer Golspie Grantown Little Ferry Links (1) Newbigging, Leslie Newton of Lewesk Redland, Firth Rhynie Sandness South Ronaldsay
Not drawn - indistinct Not drawn - later addition. Pictish Symbol Stones - “Decorated Rectangle” Designs - Page 56
Deer Newbigging, Leslie
Rhynie (Old Church 4) Arbroath Harbour
Grantown Ackergill (1)
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “Decorated Rectangle” Designs - Page 57
Clynekirkton (1) Golspie
South Ronaldsay Sandness
Benbecula
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “Notched Rectangle” Designs - Page 58
There are 16 "notched rectangle" objects of which 11 are with "Z-rods". 5 are indistinct. 10 designs emerged. There are no instances of "Z-rod with notched rectangle" and "notched rectangle alone" on the same Stone.
Locations:- Aberlemno Ackergill Arndilly Ballintomb Birnie Clynemilton (2) Cargill Craigton Findlarig Inverallan Maiden Stone North Redhill Park House Tillypronie Tyrie Westfield
Not drawn - indistinct Pictish Symbol Stones - “Notched Rectangle” Designs - Page 59
Maiden Stone Tillypronie Tyrie, Birnie
Aberlemno Ballintomb Inverallan Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “Notched Rectangle” Designs - Page 60
Clynemilton Ardnilly
Westfield Cargill Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “Triple Disc” Designs - Page 61
General pattern
There are 15 "triple disc / cauldron" objects. 2 are indistinct. 12 designs emerged and 11 are arranged into 3 groups. 1 design ( Monymusk ) does not fit any group.
Locations:- Abdie Aberlemno (Church) Cairnton Clatt Dyce Fetterangus Glamis (1) Glamis Manse (1) Inveravon (2) Kincardine Kintore (Churchyard) Kintradwell (1) Monymusk Navidale Tobar na Maor
Not drawn - indistinct
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “Triple Disc” Designs - Page 62
Group 1 . . .
Cairnton Tobar na Maor Navidale
Group 2
Aberlemno (Church) & Dyce Kintradwell (1) Glamis Manse(1) Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “Triple Disc” Designs - Page 63
Group 3
Fetterangus Inveravon (2) Abdie
.
Monymusk
Clatt Kintore (Churchyard) Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “Tuning Fork” Designs - Page 64
General pattern
There are 11 "tuning fork" objects. 1 is indistinct. 9 designs emerged and are arranged into 3 groups. Although there are some similarities, these "tuning forks" are categorised as a separate design to "decorated and notched rectangles".
Locations:- Ardlair Abernethy Collace Craigmyle Dunrobin Castle Inchyra Kintore (2) Kintradwell (4) Raasay Strathmiglo Tarbat
Not drawn - indistinct
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “Tuning Fork” Designs - Page 65
Group 1
Ardlair Craigmyle, Raasay Strathmiglo
Group 2
Abernethy Tarbat Dunrobin Castle Collace (partial)
Not to scale Pictish Symbol Stones - “Tuning Fork” Designs - Page 66
Group 3
Collace - partial Inchrya - partial Kintradwell (4) - partial
Not to scale