The Picts are famous for erecting majestic standing stones that feature enigmatic symbols. While located across many regions of Scotland, we know areas like Aberdeenshire acted as one of the chief heartlands for northern Picts and this heritage is reflected even in the modern place names used today.
The Picts’ expertly carved symbol stones, according to scholars, may have served as territorial markers, represented Pictish names and ranks, or recorded marriage treaties. Pictish symbols are divided into three groups; Animal, Geometric and Everyday Object symbols, they usually occur in pairs and there are roughly 50 documented symbols.
Some historians suggest that the symbols predate their existence on stones and may have been used for tattoos as was typical with Pictish tribes. Ultimately, our knowledge of Pictish culture is limited to modern scholars’ interpretation, so here are fourteen Pictish stone symbols and their meaning according to them.
13. Pictish Shield
The recurring image of a rectangle on Pictish standing stones is seen as either a shield or possibly a book cover. It is known that Pictish warriors fought with distinctively small shields/bucklers which were square, round or H-shaped. Bucklers were hand held and used as melee weapons in close combat. They were made of oak plants covered in embossed leather. Photo: via WikiCommons and Canva Pro
14. Pictish Flower
Some Pictish symbols are difficult to categorise such as this flower as it is not an animal, a geometric design nor an everyday utensil. However, this may not be entirely accurate. Experts report that the Picts used a particular plant dye for their tattoos that also had healing properties; it may have been lathered onto battle wounds to prevent infection. Therefore, this plant could be symbolic of their use of natural resources. Photo: via WikiCommons and Canva Pro