Abernethy No. 4

Abernethy No. 4

ARCHAEOLOGY AND BUILT HERITAGE

This fragment comprises the upper part of a tenth-century cross-shaft, sculptures in relief, and was found int he jamb of a cottage doorway, about 1890. One one side, the upper half of the design shows part of the Crucifixion scene, with the crucified Christ, the sponge bearer and the spear bearer. Beneath this scene are the heads of the three hooded figures. Allen assumes that these figures are female and Butler refers to them as the 'Three Maries', who would be a part of the crucifixion scene. However, so little can be seen of the figures that it is uncertain that they are female and they may be male clerics in a separate scene. Groups of three figures facing forward often occur in Celtic pagan art, and although this is definitely a Christian stone, the motif may have been adopted for use in Christian times. The other side is very weathered but shows traces of interlace. It is very difficult to make out the decoration, but there may be a defaces cross in the centre of the deign and the figure of a man in the bottom left corner. Red sandstone, 58cm high x 38cm x 16cm thick. NMRS no: NO11NE83, Location: National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh (RMS: IB255, currently on display).

eulac3d

English

Physical Object

106

22/04/2024

24/04/2024

58cm x 38cm x 16cm

current,55.946693,-3.190982;find,56.331957,-3.314685;

TEXT

176

Cultural