Clach an Tiompain
- Horseshoe
- Eagle
grid ref NH48455852 [1]
Clach an Tiompain (in English, the "Sounding Stone") or The Eagle Stone is a small Class I Pictish stone[1] located on a hill on the northern outskirts of Strathpeffer in Easter Ross, Scotland.
Description
The stone is made of blue gneiss and is 32 inches (81 cm) high, 24 inches (61 cm) wide, and 10 inches (25 cm) thick.[1] Carved on the southeast side are two images, a horse shoe-like arc symbol above an eagle.
History
The stone was originally located further down the hill, towards Dingwall, but was moved to its current site in 1411.[2] One old tradition is that the stone marks the site of a Scottish clan battle that took place in 1411 between the Clan Munro and a branch of the Clan MacDonald, and that the stone commemorates a Munro victory as it is marked with their symbol, an eagle.[3] According to Norman Macrae the stone was placed there by the Munros while marching against Donald of Islay, Lord of the Isles.[4]
The stone is associated with the prophecies of the 16th century Brahan Seer (Scottish Gaelic: Coinneach Odhar). He predicted that if the stone fell three times, the surrounding valley would be flooded, and the stone used as an anchor.
It has since fallen twice, and is now set in concrete.
References
- ^ a b c Site Record for Strathpeffer, Clach An Tiompain, Strathpeffer, The Eaglestone, Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Has some nice pictures, including drawings of the images
- ^ Scott, Douglas, The Stones of the Pictish Peninsulas, (Hilton Trust, 2004).
- ^ Gracie, James (1997). "2". the Munros. Lang Syne Publishers Ltd. pp. 18–19. ISBN 978-1-85217-080-6.
- ^ Macrae, Norman (1974). The Romance Of A Royal Burgh: Dingwall's Story Of A Thousand Years. EP Publishing. p. 47.
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Pictish sculptured stones
- Ackergill
- Birkle Hill
- Crosskirk
- Latheron
- Sandside
- Skinnet
- Ulbster
- Watenan
- Advie Stone
- Ballintomb Stone
- Congash Stones
- Dunachton Stone
- Findlarig Stone
- Grantown Stone
- Inverallan Stone
- Lynchurn Stone
- Birnie Symbol Stone
- Burghead Bulls
- Burghead (fragment) stone
- Dandaleith stone
- Drainie Carved Stones
- Easterton of Roseisle stone
- Elgin Pillar
- Inveravon Church stones (4)
- Rodney's Stone
- Sculptor's Cave symbol wall carvings
- Sueno's Stone
- Balbair Stones
- Culaird Stone
- Dores Stone
- Drumbuie Stone
- Garbeg Stone
- Invereen Stone
- Kingsmills Stone
- Knocknagael Stone
- Lochardill Stone
- Torgorm Stone
- Ardlair Stone
- Aquhollie Stone
- Brandsbutt Stone
- Broomend of Crichie stone
- Cairnton stone
- Dunnicaer stones
- Dyce stones
- Fordoun Stone
- Fyvie Stones
- Kintore stones
- Logie Elphinstone Stones
- Maiden Stone
- Migvie Stone
- Monymusk Stone
- Nether Corskie Stone
- Newbigging, Leslie Stone
- Newton Stone
- Picardy Stone
- Rhynie Stones
- Tillytarmont Stones
- Abdie stone
- Scoonie Stone
- Brough of Birsay
- Greens
- Knowe of Burrian
- Breck of Hillwell
- Cunningsburgh
