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The Picts were a tribal people who lived in Northern Britain and Scotland until abouta thousand years ago. Their language is lost, except for fragments, although they left

behind a wealth of "picture stones," large monoliths carved with mysterious symbolswhose meanings are mostly unknown. There are about fifty maor symbols. Some

are easily identified as animals or mythical creatures! others are completelymysterious, such as the "crescent and #rod" and the "double disk." They may have

originated as tattoos or amulets.

Animals

$ictish animal signs may have been related to %ods and %oddesses, and includedboars, salmon, wolves, and birds&

Mythical creatures

Some of the most famous $ictish carvings are of monsters, mermaids, and other sea

creatures&

Enigmatic Symbols

'ost unusual are the enigmatic symbols known as the "#rod," "(#rod," and "double

disks," all named for their unusual shapes. The #rod is a bent arrow superimposedon a crescent! it is thought by some to be a symbol of death&

The )#rod is found in combination with a serpent, a tomb*doorway, or a double#sun+double disk, all possibly symbols of the solar cycle and the afterlife&

Mirrors

-nother obect commonly inscribed is the mirror, often paired with a comb. The comb

and mirror are symbols of female prestige, and usually denote a womans memorial&

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To view some examples pf $ictish symbols, see the Pictish Stones Gallery.

Stone with Pictish carvings

http://altreligion.about.com/library/graphics/bl_pictishstones.htmhttp://altreligion.about.com/library/graphics/bl_pictishstones.htm

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Fred Sandys, image of Morgan le Fey with pictish emblems, perhaps to underscore

her relation to the ancient goddess Morrigan.

Related Symbols: 

Resources: 

http://altreligion.about.com/library/glossary/symbols/bldefstriqueta.htmhttp://altreligion.about.com/library/glossary/symbols/bldefsmjolnir.htmhttp://altreligion.about.com/library/glossary/symbols/bldefslabrys.htmhttp://altreligion.about.com/library/glossary/symbols/bldefsdruidry.htmhttp://altreligion.about.com/library/glossary/symbols/bldefsirminsul.htmhttp://altreligion.about.com/library/glossary/symbols/bldefsendlessknot.htmhttp://altreligion.about.com/library/glossary/symbolshttp:/altreligion.about.com/library/glossary/symbols/bldefssleipnir.htmhttp://altreligion.about.com/library/glossary/symbols/bldefsmoon.htmhttp://altreligion.about.com/library/glossary/symbols/bldefsgungnir.htmhttp://altreligion.about.com/library/glossary/symbols/bldefstriplehorn.htm