Some time after the thoufandth year of the Chriftian tera, and before the thir- 
teenth century, mod of thefe obelifks would appear to have been erefted j and as 
they give evidence of the genius and capacity of the artifts employed in the carving 
of them, we cannot fuppofe that they would work fymbolical figures on them with 
fuch care, if the import of thefe figures had not been generally underftood; for as 
they had not the knowledge of letters, to enable them by infcriptions to perpetuate 
the memory of perfons and events, it is not to be doubted but thefe hieroglyphics* 
forms are the traces of a language, or fpecimens of imagery at the time compf e ' 
hended, however difficult it may be now for us to unravel their meaning. Theie 
oblervations are applied to the fceptres and circles above the figures for the 
hunting of the deer and the founding of the horns need no illuftration; only, p er ' 
haps, it is worthy of fome notice, that the principal figure in this outfet to the chace 
is a female. It is obfervable, that the uppermoft rider has a ftirrup, wears no fpeaO 
is reprefented in a front view, and is therefore probably feminine : But the emblems 
railed in the adjoining corner feem calculated to put it beyond a doubt. They 
very nearly correfpond in form with thofe expreffed more at large on the Maiden - 
Stone, reprefented in N° 3, and pronounced to be the figures of a mirrour and a 
comb. None need be offended at the choice of thefe hieroglyph icks as appendages 
of drefs, or charafteriftic of the lady. There was found an ivory comb in an aU' 
barter urn, at Rome , in the end of the fixth century, which was efteemed one of the 
greateft curiofities, and gave rife to many deep /peculations on the gradual advances 
offociety towards elegance of manners, and refinement in the arts of polilhed !i fe ' 
Although this be a fimilar occafion, it is not thought neceffary to renew thefe lp e ' 
culative difquifitions, however entertaining they may have been. 
The fhields and fceptres claim a more minute inveftigation. Shields were orna- 
mented with various flowerings, ere they were diftinguilhed by thofe peculiar em- 
blems, which became the chofen infignia of thofe eminent in valour, or remarkable 
for their feats in arms. 
It was about the middle of the twelfth century that blazonry, or the diftinftion 0 
nobility, and of knights, by coats armorial, came into general ufe in Europe-, 
foon after that period we find fuch infignia on Caledonian monuments ; but tho e 
under configuration relate to an epoch more remote.— Let it at prefent be oidf 
farther obferved, with refpedt to the highly-finilhed monument under confideratiom 
that the heads and limbs of animals, entwined with foliage with circular and wav 
ing ftems, was the peculiar tafte of ornament on the continent, efpecially in tho {e 
kingdoms next to Great- Britain, about the end of the tenth and throughout 
eleventh century. Hence we may fee the origin of the marginal embelliffiments 0 
the obelilk but mull hereafter take a more deliberate furvey of the manner 1(1 
which the fceptres are fo often introduced. 
