Perth Museum
Perth, Perthshire
Pictish Stones
Also known as St Madoe's; Inchyra; Gellyburn

Perth Museum has three fine and interesting pictish stones on display. Unfortunately, the display leaves a bit to be desired.

St Madoe's

The splendid St Madoe's slab is a beautifully carved class II stone.

On the top edge of the slab are two animals, possibly dogs. The cross is divided into panels of varied interlace and key patterns.

Either side of the top of the cross is a dog biting its own back.

Either side of the shaft of the cross are pairs of dogs.

The rear of the stone is poorly displayed, only being visible reflected in a mirror on the back wall. It is divided into six panels showing horsemen, a double-disc and Z-rod, a crescent and V-rod, and a pictish beast.

Inchyra

The Inchyra slab was found by ploughmen in 1945 and was one of several slabs covering a burial. On both sides are sharply incised symbols: a salmon and double disc on one side, a salmon and serpent on the other. On the same side as the salmon and double disc, there are markings for a mirror and sword, but these are unfinished. There are also three ogam inscriptions on the slab.

Again, the display is less than ideal - the glass case and bright lights make parts of the slab hard to see, and one end of the case is between other cabinets and inaccessible.

Gellyburn

This fragment of a cross-slab is displayed such that only one side can be seen. This side shows a crescent and V-rod and pictish beast, both deeply incised.

Images ©1999 Martin McCarthy, Theasis Photography

Nearby Sites

4km Murrayshall Standing Stone
5km Shianbank Stone Circles
7km Colen Wood Stone Circle
7km Druids Seat Wood Stone Circle
8km Blackfaulds Stone Circle
8km Dupplin Cross Pictish Free-Standing Cross
9km Wolfhill Stones Standing Stones
13km Dunning Standing Stone
15km Murthly Pictish Stone Pictish Symbol Stone Class III
16km Strathmiglo Pictish Stone Pictish Symbol Stone Class I
19km Orwell Standing Stones
19km Crofthead Farm Standing Stones
19km Fowlis Wester Pictish Stones Pictish Stones
19km Fowlis Wester Stone Circles Stone Circles; Standing Stone; Cairn
19km Kettins Pictish Cross-Slab Pictish Stone Class III
20km Buchanty Hill Cup Marks
20km Leys of Marlee Stone Circle
(NB: All distances are as-the-crow-flies. Lochs, mountains and beautiful winding roads will make it further. Sometimes much further.)