| The Scottish Celtic people are also known as | | | | cycle and the afterlife, or death. |
| Pict's, the word Pict having its roots in Latin. They | | | | Mirrors though not commonly regarded as |
| lived in Northern Britain at that time and the | | | | enigmatic are mysterious because of the fact |
| Romans described them as being covered in | | | | that they were deemed a symbol important |
| pictures of animals and other figures. The Pictish | | | | enough to immortalize in their carvings. The mirror |
| people were so notoriously difficult to conquer | | | | is often paired with a comb and is thought to be |
| that Hadrian, a Roman Emperor of the time, built | | | | a symbol of the wealth and power of Scottish |
| a stone wall across Britain to keep them out of | | | | Celtic women. These stone carvings are believed |
| the South, effectively ceding them the North | | | | to denote a memorial and are also often seen |
| which we know today as Scotland. | | | | together with carvings of mermaids. |
| Scottish Picts symbols are known for their | | | | Mythical Creatures |
| intricate Knot Work, animals and Spirals just as | | | | Pictish animal symbols are thought to have been |
| Irish, British and Welsh Celtic symbols are, but | | | | related to the relationship they had with Gods and |
| they have a vast array of symbols not seen in | | | | Goddesses and include animals seen in other Celtic |
| other Celtic traditions and which are often found | | | | tribes such as boars, fish, birds and wolves. They |
| on Pictish Stones. There are approximately 35 | | | | go further though and many Celtic Scottish |
| different symbols depicted on these ancient | | | | symbols depict monsters, mermaids and sea |
| stones, some are abstract while others depict | | | | creatures. One of these creatures is the notable |
| animals, there also exist representations of | | | | Pictish Beast. |
| everyday items. These stones may have served | | | | The Pictish Beast is also known as the Pictish |
| as memorials or as a way to depict clans and | | | | Dragon or Pictish Elephant. It is not usually |
| lineage. | | | | identifiable with a real animal and rather resembles |
| Pictish Symbols | | | | a seahorse. The Picts used this creature in about |
| The Scottish Picts were tribal and although their | | | | 2 out of 5 of all their animal depictions, which |
| language is lost they left a wealth of large | | | | meant they must have credited it with great |
| monoliths carved with mysterious Scottish Celtic | | | | importance. What it is thought to represent is |
| designs known as 'picture' stones of which there | | | | either a highly important person or perhaps even |
| approximately fifty major picture symbols. | | | | a political symbol. |
| While some of these symbols are easily | | | | Druid Symbols |
| identifiable such as animals and other mythical | | | | The earliest of all Scottish Celtic symbols stem |
| creatures, others are more mysterious and | | | | from the ancient Druids. Called Druid Symbols |
| consist of crescents or V-rods or double disk | | | | they include Wreaths and Staves. These designs |
| emblems. After their conversion to Christianity in | | | | have their origin in heraldic designs which often |
| about the 5th Century many Scottish Celtic | | | | featured wreaths made from oak leaves. |
| symbols began taking on a more Christian theme, | | | | A more modern symbol is the Awen which in |
| which reflects in their carvings. In fact, many of | | | | Gaelic means inspiration or essence. The three |
| the Celtic Crosses that exist in England and | | | | parts of the symbol represent the harmony of |
| Scotland are Pictish Stones. | | | | opposites. The left and right bars, or rays |
| Enigmatic or Mysterious Symbols | | | | represent female and male energy and the center |
| Perhaps the most unusual or mysterious of these | | | | ray represents the harmonious balance between |
| Scottish Celtic symbols are ones we know as the | | | | them. |
| V-rod, Z-rod or double disks, which are named | | | | An ancient Druid symbol was the Sun Wheel |
| after their shapes. The V-rod looks as though it is | | | | which had six or eight spokes and which was |
| an arrow bent or superimposed over a crescent | | | | meant to represent the solar calendar. The Celtic |
| and its more common translation is one of death. | | | | cross has its origins in this motif. Another modern |
| The Z-rod is often found depicted on stone | | | | Druid symbol is the Tree of Life which was |
| carvings along with either a serpent, a tomb or | | | | commonly used in Pagan times but was later |
| doorway and a double disk, or sun. These | | | | adopted for Christian use. |
| symbols are perhaps meant to depict the solar | | | | |