The geographic distribution of the Pictish symbol stones
In order to better understand the potential meaning of the Pictish symbols, we need to study the location and context of the Pictish stones. I’ve attempted to map out the earlier Class I Pictish stones according to each of the symbols. This should help us understand if we can allocate the symbols to regions or geographical areas. As such, we may be able to identify the symbols with tribes, tribal confederations or kingdoms. I’ve included the main abstract symbols as well as some of the animal symbols.
Double disc and Z rod
The double disc and Z rod is one of the main Pictish symbols. It’s clearly a symbol of power and authority. There are many theories as to what the double disc and Z rod represents. It may be two shields with a lightning bolt or a spear. It may be two wheels of a chariot or two celestial bodies, such as the sun and the moon. It may be a symbol of Pictish kingship, a tribal confederation or a Pictish god of thunder. The Z rod suggests that it may have something to do with the Greek god, Zeus. The Celtic god of thunder is called Taran. Taran supposedly held a wheel and a lightning bolt. Coincidentally, a few of the Pictish kings were called Taran. The double disc and Z rod is mostly found in Strathmore and Aberdeenshire on the Class I stones. However, there are also examples in Atholl, Strathspey, the Isle of Skye and elsewhere. There’s even an example as far south as Galloway at a place called Trusty’s hill, which is close to the coast. At Trusty’s hill, there’s a Pictish hillfort. The name Trusty’s hill is probably derived from the Pictish name, Drust. One of the early Pictish kings like Drust son of Erp or Drust Gurthinmoch may have been based at Trusty’s hill. The double disc and Z rod is mostly found with another symbol as part of a ‘symbol pair’.
I would suggest that the double disc and Z rod was a symbol of the Caledonian confederation. Around 80AD, a confederation of tribes led by the Caledonii opposed the Roman invasions. In the 4th century AD, the Caledonians were being referred to as the Dicalydones. This suggests that the Caledonian confederation divided into two tribal groups, the southern and northern Picts. According to the Roman historian, Ammianus Marcellinus,
“At that time the Picts, divided into two tribes, called Dicalydones and Verturiones, as well as the Attacotti, a warlike race of men, and the Scots, were ranging widely and causing great devastation.”
The other Pictish tribe or confederation of tribes, the Verturiones, were probably based to the north or south of the Dicalydones.
A map of the double disc and Z rod symbol.
A Class I Pictish stone at Dyce in Aberdeenshire
with the double disc and Z rod and Pictish beastie symbols.
Crescent moon and V rod
The crescent moon and V rod is probably the most common Pictish symbol. The symbol is basically a crescent moon with a broken arrow. However, the broken arrow is sometimes shown as two royal sceptres. For some native American Indian tribes, the broken arrow was a symbol of peace between tribes. The crescent moon and V rod may be the symbol of a Pictish lunar goddess. Or it may be a symbol of Pictish kingship or a tribal confederation. The Picts had a system of matrilineal succession, so it may be a symbol of kingship passed down through the female line. The crescent moon and V rod is mostly found north of the mounth, the boundary between the southern and northern Picts. However, there are a few examples in southern Pictland. There’s also an example on a Pictish stone found close to Edinburgh castle.
The crescent moon and V rod may be a symbol of the Verturiones. The name Verturiones means ‘fortress people’. By the 7th century, Pictland was being referred to as Fortriu. Pictish kings were being referred to as the king of Fortriu or Fortrenn. The name Fortriu is derived from the Verturiones. The Verturiones may have been a northern confederation which rivalled the Dicalydones. There has been a lot of debate as to the location of the Verturiones or Fortriu. The traditional idea is that they were based in Strathearn and Menteith in the south. However, some historians have more recently suggested that they were based in the north.
A map of the crescent moon and V rod symbol.
Other abstract symbols
The rectangle and Z rod is mostly found in Strathspey. However, there are outlying symbols in Aberdeenshire. There’s also an example at Dunrobin in Sutherland to the north. The snake and Z rod is mostly found in an area known as the Garioch in Aberdeenshire. However, there are outlying symbols close to Inverness and at Dunrobin. Like the other symbols, they are mostly found as part of a symbol pair. The rectangle and Z rod may be a symbol of a tribe in Strathspey, whilst the snake and Z rod may be a symbol of a tribe of the Garioch. These tribes may have had links with other tribes beyond their territory. The snake and Z rod may be the symbol of a tribe called the Gadini. The Gadini are included as one of the Celtic tribes on Ptolemy’s map. On one version of Ptolemy’s map, the Gadini are placed in Strathspey. However, they are more likely to have been based in the Garioch. The Gadie burn which runs to the north of Bennachie may be derived from the name Gadini. A few of the snake and Z rod symbols are found on Pictish stones close to the Gadie burn.
A map of the other abstract symbols. The orange markers are the
rectangle and Z rod and the green markers are the snake and Z rod.
The Pictish beastie
The Pictish beastie is found in northern and southern Pictland. This may be the symbol of a tribe. However, I’ve suggested in a previous post that it may be a status symbol, a symbol of royal descent.
A map of the Pictish beastie symbol.
The animal symbols
The animal symbols are mostly found in northern Pictland on the Class I stones. The orange markers are the eagle symbols, the blue markers are the salmon symbols and the green markers are the snake symbols. The eagle may be a symbol of a tribe called the Taexali. The north eastern coast of Aberdeenshire was referred to as the Taexalon Promontory by Ptolemy. The only Pictish stone in the vicinity includes an eagle above a rectangle and Z rod. The salmon and snake symbols are more difficult to identify with tribes. However, there may have been Celtic tribes which had the salmon or snake as their tribal symbols. These may have been sacred animals for these tribes.
A map of the animal symbols.
Conclusions
This article focuses on the Class I Pictish stones. However, the symbols also appear on the Class II Christian stones. This suggests the Picts maintained some of their pagan traditions during Christian times. However, the symbols may be symbols of status and identity, representing tribes, confederations and kingship etc. On the Class II stones, the symbols often appear next to individuals, which suggests this may be the case. The Dicalydones and Verturiones are mentioned in the 4th century AD, around the time the Pictish symbols are probably being first developed. It makes sense that these two tribes or confederations are represented in the Pictish symbols. The double disc and Z rod and the crescent moon and V rod often appear together on the Pictish stones, particularly on the Class II stones. The Dicalydones and Verturiones would have been ruled by a high king during the time of the Class II stones. As such, these tribal identities and royal lines may have continued throughout the Pictish age until around the 9th century.
A Class II Pictish stone at Aberlemno in Strathmore with the
double disc and Z rod and crescent moon and V rod symbols.
Double disc and Z rod
The double disc and Z rod is one of the main Pictish symbols. It’s clearly a symbol of power and authority. There are many theories as to what the double disc and Z rod represents. It may be two shields with a lightning bolt or a spear. It may be two wheels of a chariot or two celestial bodies, such as the sun and the moon. It may be a symbol of Pictish kingship, a tribal confederation or a Pictish god of thunder. The Z rod suggests that it may have something to do with the Greek god, Zeus. The Celtic god of thunder is called Taran. Taran supposedly held a wheel and a lightning bolt. Coincidentally, a few of the Pictish kings were called Taran. The double disc and Z rod is mostly found in Strathmore and Aberdeenshire on the Class I stones. However, there are also examples in Atholl, Strathspey, the Isle of Skye and elsewhere. There’s even an example as far south as Galloway at a place called Trusty’s hill, which is close to the coast. At Trusty’s hill, there’s a Pictish hillfort. The name Trusty’s hill is probably derived from the Pictish name, Drust. One of the early Pictish kings like Drust son of Erp or Drust Gurthinmoch may have been based at Trusty’s hill. The double disc and Z rod is mostly found with another symbol as part of a ‘symbol pair’.
I would suggest that the double disc and Z rod was a symbol of the Caledonian confederation. Around 80AD, a confederation of tribes led by the Caledonii opposed the Roman invasions. In the 4th century AD, the Caledonians were being referred to as the Dicalydones. This suggests that the Caledonian confederation divided into two tribal groups, the southern and northern Picts. According to the Roman historian, Ammianus Marcellinus,
“At that time the Picts, divided into two tribes, called Dicalydones and Verturiones, as well as the Attacotti, a warlike race of men, and the Scots, were ranging widely and causing great devastation.”
The other Pictish tribe or confederation of tribes, the Verturiones, were probably based to the north or south of the Dicalydones.
A map of the double disc and Z rod symbol.
A Class I Pictish stone at Dyce in Aberdeenshire
with the double disc and Z rod and Pictish beastie symbols.
Crescent moon and V rod
The crescent moon and V rod is probably the most common Pictish symbol. The symbol is basically a crescent moon with a broken arrow. However, the broken arrow is sometimes shown as two royal sceptres. For some native American Indian tribes, the broken arrow was a symbol of peace between tribes. The crescent moon and V rod may be the symbol of a Pictish lunar goddess. Or it may be a symbol of Pictish kingship or a tribal confederation. The Picts had a system of matrilineal succession, so it may be a symbol of kingship passed down through the female line. The crescent moon and V rod is mostly found north of the mounth, the boundary between the southern and northern Picts. However, there are a few examples in southern Pictland. There’s also an example on a Pictish stone found close to Edinburgh castle.
The crescent moon and V rod may be a symbol of the Verturiones. The name Verturiones means ‘fortress people’. By the 7th century, Pictland was being referred to as Fortriu. Pictish kings were being referred to as the king of Fortriu or Fortrenn. The name Fortriu is derived from the Verturiones. The Verturiones may have been a northern confederation which rivalled the Dicalydones. There has been a lot of debate as to the location of the Verturiones or Fortriu. The traditional idea is that they were based in Strathearn and Menteith in the south. However, some historians have more recently suggested that they were based in the north.
A map of the crescent moon and V rod symbol.
Other abstract symbols
The rectangle and Z rod is mostly found in Strathspey. However, there are outlying symbols in Aberdeenshire. There’s also an example at Dunrobin in Sutherland to the north. The snake and Z rod is mostly found in an area known as the Garioch in Aberdeenshire. However, there are outlying symbols close to Inverness and at Dunrobin. Like the other symbols, they are mostly found as part of a symbol pair. The rectangle and Z rod may be a symbol of a tribe in Strathspey, whilst the snake and Z rod may be a symbol of a tribe of the Garioch. These tribes may have had links with other tribes beyond their territory. The snake and Z rod may be the symbol of a tribe called the Gadini. The Gadini are included as one of the Celtic tribes on Ptolemy’s map. On one version of Ptolemy’s map, the Gadini are placed in Strathspey. However, they are more likely to have been based in the Garioch. The Gadie burn which runs to the north of Bennachie may be derived from the name Gadini. A few of the snake and Z rod symbols are found on Pictish stones close to the Gadie burn.
A map of the other abstract symbols. The orange markers are the
rectangle and Z rod and the green markers are the snake and Z rod.
The Pictish beastie
The Pictish beastie is found in northern and southern Pictland. This may be the symbol of a tribe. However, I’ve suggested in a previous post that it may be a status symbol, a symbol of royal descent.
A map of the Pictish beastie symbol.
The animal symbols
The animal symbols are mostly found in northern Pictland on the Class I stones. The orange markers are the eagle symbols, the blue markers are the salmon symbols and the green markers are the snake symbols. The eagle may be a symbol of a tribe called the Taexali. The north eastern coast of Aberdeenshire was referred to as the Taexalon Promontory by Ptolemy. The only Pictish stone in the vicinity includes an eagle above a rectangle and Z rod. The salmon and snake symbols are more difficult to identify with tribes. However, there may have been Celtic tribes which had the salmon or snake as their tribal symbols. These may have been sacred animals for these tribes.
A map of the animal symbols.
Conclusions
This article focuses on the Class I Pictish stones. However, the symbols also appear on the Class II Christian stones. This suggests the Picts maintained some of their pagan traditions during Christian times. However, the symbols may be symbols of status and identity, representing tribes, confederations and kingship etc. On the Class II stones, the symbols often appear next to individuals, which suggests this may be the case. The Dicalydones and Verturiones are mentioned in the 4th century AD, around the time the Pictish symbols are probably being first developed. It makes sense that these two tribes or confederations are represented in the Pictish symbols. The double disc and Z rod and the crescent moon and V rod often appear together on the Pictish stones, particularly on the Class II stones. The Dicalydones and Verturiones would have been ruled by a high king during the time of the Class II stones. As such, these tribal identities and royal lines may have continued throughout the Pictish age until around the 9th century.
A Class II Pictish stone at Aberlemno in Strathmore with the
double disc and Z rod and crescent moon and V rod symbols.
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