Rodney's Stone

Rodney's Stone is a two-metre high Pictish cross slab now located close on the approach way to Brodie Castle, near Forres, Moray, Scotland. It was originally found nearby in the grounds of the old church of Dyke and Moy. It is classed as a Class II Pictish stone, meaning that it has a cross on one face, and symbols on the other. On the symbols face, at the top, are two fish monsters; below is a "Pictish Beast", and below that a double disc and Z-rod. On the cross face there is a cross and some animals.

Front face, containing Pictish ideograms

Back face, containing the cross.

Location map of Rodney's Stone

The stone is most notable, however, for its inscription, which is found on both of the sides and on the cross face. It is the longest of all Pictish inscriptions, and like most Pictish inscriptions, is written in the Ogham alphabet. Much of the inscription is weathered, but it does contain the Pictish name Ethernan (a prominent Pictish saint), written as "EDDARRNON".

It is a scheduled ancient monument.^[1]

References

1. Historic Environment Scotland. "Rodney's Stone,cross slab 450m ESE of Brodie Castle (SM1226)". Retrieved 23 February 2019.

Some of the ogham found on the stone.

• Fraser, Iain, Ritchie, J.N.G., et al., Pictish Symbol Stones: An Illustrated Gazetteer, (Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, 1999)
• Jones, Duncan, A Wee Guide to The Picts, (Musselburgh, 2003)

57°35′51″N 3°42′04″W