Archaic Scl liturings. 163 



vision is increased. It symbolizes the endeavour of the human 

 being to look up and take a wider view . The figure No. 23 

 shows by dotted and other lines many geometrical arrange- 

 ments. The shrimp-like, nondescript monster seems to sym- 

 bolize the great and unknown difficulties which man has to 

 encounter in his struggle upwards. The design below the 

 monster is that of a dagger-blade, and would be more readily 

 understood if a human hand were shown at the butt-end. The 

 blade seems to indicate the conception of climbing upwards 

 over a very steep face of ground, in which the blade is from 

 time to time used to dig out footholds and to assist the 

 upward progression. The blade points directly towards the 

 centre of the body of the monster, indicating a direct bold 

 attack — a determined endeavour to remove the difficulties. 



This symbolism is quite in keeping with that of the 

 Picts, as disclosed by several hundred sculpturings, mostly 

 in the north-eastern parts of Scotland, a full exposition of 

 which I hope shortly to publish. 



Human aspiration or invocation had in ancient beliefs a 

 response by divine inspiration. The best rod figure, some- 

 thing like a lightning conductor, with distinct base and 

 arrow-pointed, floriated upper terminal (but possessing at 

 Anwoth a floriation at either end, a unique feature), involves 

 the conception of a protective or divine influence or power 

 flowing down responsive to the force of human aspiration 

 directed upwards. The idea seems to have had sway in 

 very ancient Persia and India, and was originally connected 

 with fire worship. The oak tree of the Druids, and the 

 mistletoe upon it as if growing from above, and the numerous 

 double triangle figures, such as the hexagram, form symbolic 

 groups in the same category. 



The lower portion of the rod is derived from a represen- 

 tation of the flame or invocative force from the sacrificial 

 fire ascending, and the upper portion from a representation 

 of the divine spirit descending. The Pictish floriated rod 

 then symbolizes the divine help asked for and received. It 

 is adjunctive or supplementary, and never occurs alone. It 

 means therefore more generally the invited presence of a 

 divine guardianship. The bridged " double-disc " with rod, 



