Welcome to www.pictishsymbolstones.com which has four main themes:
- Pictish-Mithraism™ – which the author proposes was a belief system developed from Roman Mithraism
- Carvings decoded in the context of beliefs – in particular Symbols representing a form of Mithraism
- Surfaces of Stones used as a “shared space” with carvings reflecting different beliefs
- Transition from Mithraism to Christianity including a prospective timeframe
Across these interconnected themes connections are made with the Roman military in Scotland, where and when Pictish-Mithraism may have started, Roman indoor temples of Mithras and the concept of an Open-Air Mithraeum, “personal attributes” ascribed to Celtic animals, birds and fish plus information on the original locations of Stones and the range of objects carved on them.
The research approach started with looking elsewhere for designs similar to those on Pictish Symbol Stones – to find none. Some structure was then given to sorting and recording the researched material then analysing the data by object and category resulting in two key outputs – Mithraic Symbols being identified and decoded plus Non-Mithraic Objects being identified and recorded.
Additionally there is a section on those Artistic Techniques used in structuring and positioning Symbols on Stones.
Pictish Symbol Stones
- Pict, Pictland and Pictish
- Locations of Pictish Symbol Stones – an over-view
- Pictish Symbol Stones – Objects by Location
Carvings and Beliefs
- Beliefs – what are they?
- Mithraism and Pictish Symbols
- Christian Crosses and Biblical Stories
- Celtic Animals, Birds and Fish
- Stones with Ogham Texts
Pictish Symbols Decoded – & more
- Carvings on the Stones – Research Approach
- Mithraic Symbols – Identified and Decoded
- Non-Mithraic Objects – Identified & Recorded
The Origin of Pictish-Mithraism?
- Builders & Worshippers – a Roman connection?
- Locations of Roman Army Establishments in Pictland
- Symbol Stones near Roman Army Establishments
- Stones, Eagles and The Roman Army – a Connection?
- Stones, Boars and a Roman Legion – a Connection?
- What the “stayers” created – Symbols and a Legacy
Shared Space for different beliefs
Artistic Techniques
- Design and Construction of Individual Objects
- Relative Positioning
- Associated Meanings
- Hypothetical Stone
- Highlights of Artistic Techniques
- Physical Locations of Pictish Symbol Stones
- Class 2 Stones – a Detailed Exploration
- Features of Class 2 Stone Locations
- “Transition” Dating Prospects – Saints & Class 2 Stones
- Evaluations and Comments
- “Transition” Stones – Conclusions
- Pictish “Transition” Stones booklet
Dating “Transition”
- Part 1 – Initial Focus on Angus and Perth & Kinross
- Part 2 – Saints of Scotland – Creating a Consolidated List
- Part 3 – Saints of Scotland – Assessing their Influence in Dating “Transition”
- Part 4 – Monastic Houses in Scotland – Assessing their Influence in Dating “Transition”
- Part 5 – Outcome – A Prospective Timeframe for Belief “Transition”