Portmahomack sculpture fragments

The Portmahomack sculpture fragments are the slabs and stone fragments which have been discovered in or around the Easter Ross settlement of Portmahomack (Tarbat). There are around forty of these, making Portmahomack was of the major centres of recovered Pictish stones. One fragment contains a partially preserved Latin inscription,

IN NOMINE IHU XRI CRUX XRI IN COMMEMORATIONE REO... LII... DIE HAC...

The inscription is a commemoration. A number of the fragments contain detailed depictions of animals and other creatures. One is the so-called Monk Stone or Dragon Stone. On one side of the Monk Stone there are two lion-like creatures devouring a carcass, and in the panel beneath several monks are depicted. On the other side there are spiral patterns and a dragon like creature. Another notable fragment in the so-called Boar Stone, a sarcophagus lid with images of a boar and a wolf-like creature. Yet another fragment, the so-called Calf Stone, appears to depict a bull and a cow tending to their calf. Yet another fragment, probably the base of a large cross slab, appears to display part of a hunting scene. The latter fragment is the only fragment to have a Pictish symbol, the crescent and V-rod. Many of the fragments formed part of at least one extremely large but now shattered cross slab. Many of the fragments, however, are undressed and crude in decoration.

References

• Fraser, Iain, Ritchie, J.N.G., et al., Pictish Symbol Stones: An Illustrated Gazetteer, (Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, 1999)

External links

• University of York Slideshow of the Portmahomack fragments