Sueno's Stone, Forres, Highlands of Scotland

Largest Pictish Symbol Stone with Intricate Carved Battle Scene

Apr 29, 2009

This enigmatic carved Pictish symbol stone shows scenes from an unknown epic battle.

Pictish stones date from about the third century AD onwards. The Picts left few written documents, but erected many stones with detailed carvings, of which about 200 remain around Scotland. There are several others in the Moray and Grampian region, including the Brandsbutt stone in Inverurie and the Picardy Stone near Insch. Sueno's stone, which used to stand by the side of the Inverness to Nairn road until the late 1980s, is about 6 metres high and is the tallest extant Pictish stone. The name dates from the 18h century disovery of the buried stone and is not associated with the event shown on the stone.

Sueno's stone is now in the care of Historic Scotland, who have placed it in a glass case to protect it from the Scottish weather and the ministrations of local graffiti sprayers. The carving styles indicate it to be from the late Pictish period, perhaps carved in the 9th or 10th century AD. On the front of the stone, which is the side facing away from the road, there is a huge round-headed cross. The back of the stone, ie the part visitors see at first from the roadside, has four panels on it. The top panel shows an army arriving. The middle two panels indicate the battle and the defeat of the army, with the beheaded vanquished shown on the bottom panel.

It is not clear what battle this describes, nor is it clear who the protagonists were. One theory is that the stone shows the victory of the Scots led by Kenneth mac Alpin over the Picts in the 9th century. Another interpretation is that it shows a combined Scottish and Pictish force battling with Norsemen in the 9th-10th century. This would be supported by the fact that a nearby Pictish fort at Burghead was sacked at this time.

There are a number of other richly carved Pictish stones around the Moray region. The craftsmanship is fantastic, though the clarity of the carvings have often been degraded by weathering over the years. Their exact purpose is not known - they may be associated with burials, or they may commemorate particular events of importance to the Picts.

Visiting Sueno's Stone

Sueno's Stone stands in a peaceful cul-de-sac in Forres, formed when the bypass was built. The carvings are more prominent when the sun is low - the back (facing the road) is illuminated in the morning. There is no charge, and parking for a few cars at the end of the cul-de-sac.

The copyright of the article Sueno's Stone, Forres, Highlands of Scotland in Scotland Travel is owned by Richard Mudhar. Permission to republish Sueno's Stone, Forres, Highlands of Scotland in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.