1 24 7Va)t.tiactiau><. 



on the flooi- of the church till some time after 1772, when the 

 various pieces were removed into the cluirchyard in consequence 

 of alterations in tiie church. In 1802, Dr Duncan finding that 

 it was exposed to injury in the churchyard, had the various 

 fragments pieced together and erected in their present position. 

 Previous to this, however, a portion of the top of the Cross was 

 found in digging a grave to an unusual depth ; but the transverse 

 arms are still wanting, those now on the monument having been 

 supplied by Dr Duncan in 1823 — "a circumstance," says Fin 

 Magnusen, " which should carefully be kept in mind by all who 

 in future may have occasion to inspect the monument itself, or 

 drawings of it."^ The broad faces of the Cross are sculptured 

 with Scriptural subjects in relief, and on the sides with scroll- 

 work, also in relief, representing a vine, with birds and beasts 

 on its branches and eating of its fruit. "This was a common 

 representation," say Dr Anderson,"- "on Christian monuments, 

 and examples occur at Jedburgh, and on the elaborately sculptured 

 monuments of Celtic character at Hilton of Cadboll, and Tarbet 

 in Ross." This species of ornamentation occurs also on the 

 Bewcastle pillar, and is a strong proof that they are of the same 

 period, and, indeed, they are supposed to have been sculptured 

 by the same person. The figure subjects on the broad faces of 

 the Ruthwell monument are arranged in panels surrounded with 

 flat borders, on which are engraved the inscriptions which give to 

 this monument its special interest. They are in two alphabets, 

 and in two languages — one set being carved in Roman capitals 

 and the other in Runes. The inscriptions in Roman capitals are 

 in the Latin language, and the Runic inscriptions in the Northum- 

 brian or Anglian dialect of the Anglo-Saxon. 



Beginning at the base on the north side of the monument, we 

 have a plain Latin cross with the symbols of the sun and moon 

 on each side.^ Immediately above is a panel containing the 

 annunciation : the Angel Gabriel appearing unto Mary, with the 

 words " INGRESSVS ANGELVS " — " The angel having entered " 



1 " Report of the Royal Society of Northern Antiquaries," 1836, pp. 86-7. 



2 " Scotland in Early Christian Times," 2d series, p. 233. I am indebted to Dr 

 Anderson's book for a few of the above remarks. 



■"• According to Dr Duncan, this Cross is " a representation of the Crucifixion, much 

 defaced. Along with our Saviour, the two crucified thieves seem to have been sculptured, 

 and an orb, probably indicating the darkening sun." This statement is certainly wrong ; 

 there is no trace of any sculpturing on the face of the Cross, and besides there are distinct 

 traces of two orhs, one on each side, which certainly must represent the sun and moon. 

 The Kvmbols occur several times on sculptured stnnes nf the Christian period. 



