The illustration or tailpiece on the following page shows a remarkable
specimen of early Scottish sculpture, preserved in the Museum of the
Society of Antiquaries of Scotland in Edinburgh.
The stone, which is about 6 feet in length, was found in the River May,
Perthshire, and is supposed to have come from an ancient church which
formerly occupied a site within a rath or stronghold which stood on the
Holy Hill, on the bank of the river, near Forteviot, about two miles
from Forgandenny.[265] The last traces of the rath and church were swept
away by a flood which occurred in the beginning of this century.
This early church is probably that referred to in the legend of St.
Andrew given in the _Pictish Chronicle_ as the church built at Forteviot
by Hungus, the Pictish king (731-761), in the last year of his reign,
after the arrival of the relics of St. Andrew in Scotland.[266] Although
the character of the sculpture seems rather to suggest a date not quite
so early, it may, nevertheless, be surmised that the figures depicted on
the stone are those of King Hungus and his three sons, seated in the
usual royal attitude, with the sword across the knees.
From the arched form of the stone it seems most likely to have been a
chancel arch, a feature which would scarcely be expected in Scotland in
the eighth century. The primitive church may, however, have been
rebuilt, possibly in the tenth century, when a church with a chancel
would more probably be erected, having the stone in question for its
chancel arch. The small upright animal in the centre of the arch, having
a cross in front of it, seems to represent the Paschal lamb; while the
other nondescript animal at the feet of the king may be an early example
of the practice usual in mediæval monuments of resting the feet of the
effigy on an animal.[267] On the Ruthwell Cross the figure of the
Saviour appears standing on the heads of two animals.
[Illustration: Sculptured Stone from Ruins of Ancient Church at
Forteviot, Perthshire.]