File:Transactions and journal of proceedings (1914) (14586736629).jpg

Identifier: transactionsjour33191415dumf (find matches)
Title: Transactions and journal of proceedings
Year: 1863 (1860s)
Authors: Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society
Subjects:
Publisher: Dumfries : Council of the Society
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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nted, floriated upper terminal (but possessing atAnwoth a floriation at either end, a unique feature), involvesthe conception of a protective or divine influence or powerflowing down responsive to the force of human aspirationdirected upwards. The idea seems to have had sway invery ancient Persia and India, and was originally connectedwith fire worship. The oak tree of the Druids, and themistletoe upon it as if growing from above, and the numerousdouble triangle figures, such as the hexagram, form symbolicgroups in the same category. The lower portion of the rod is derived from a represen-tation of the flame or invocative force from the sacrificialfire ascending, and the upper portion from a representationof the divine spirit descending. The Pictish floriated rodthen symbolizes the divine help asked for and received. Itis adjunctive or supplementary, and never occurs alone. Itmeans therefore more generally the invited presence of adivine guardianship. The bridged double-disc with rod,
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••w*. . 164 Archaic Sculpturings. as seen at Anwoth, stands therefore for humanity in itshigher aspects, co-operative and inspired. It is one of themost common symbols of Pictland. Subordinate symbohc ideas are portrayed in this earlyChristian carving, as in other carvings of the same class.Anyone with a ruler and a pair of compasses may easily forhimself carry out an analytical scrutiny of such sculpturings,just as in the fashion already described he could readilymarshal into geometrically precise positions the componentparts of the carvings of groups of cups and rings assignableto a much earlier chronological horizon. In the example at Anwoth, the symbolism of which canonly be broadly outlined here, there is a wealth of detailedsignifications. The human head is represented by a discwith two eyes, nose and mouth. If from the last mentionedpoint arcs are described, and also radial lines drawn so asto pass through the other salient points, then the wholesculpturing will be found to

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