So, I was trying to figure out what the Picts believed in the other day. You know, those folks in ancient Scotland with all those cool carved stones? Man, it’s not as straightforward as you’d think. It’s not like they left us a diary or a big ol' book of their beliefs.
My first move was, naturally, to just try and look it up. But that’s where it gets messy. See, most of what we hear about them comes from other people, like the Romans who weren't exactly their biggest fans, or much later Christian writers who had their own story to tell. You gotta be careful with that stuff, 'cause everyone’s got an agenda, right?
So, what did I actually find myself looking at? Well, those carved stones are pretty much exhibit A. They’re covered in all sorts of wild symbols. Lots and lots of animals – bulls, eagles, snakes, salmon, and even some creatures that look like they came straight out of a fantasy novel. I spent a good while just staring at pictures of these. My gut tells me these animals weren't just pretty pictures; they meant something serious. Maybe spirits, or clan symbols, or protectors. It really feels like these Picts were super connected to the natural world around them. Makes sense, given where they lived.
Then there are these other symbols, the really abstract ones. You might have seen them – the 'crescent and V-rod,' or the 'double disc and Z-rod.' What do they mean? Honestly, nobody knows for sure. And that’s the frustrating part, but also kinda the cool part that got me digging deeper. I just tried to imagine what they were thinking, what those shapes could possibly represent. Hours of fun, that.
I also read a bit suggesting they probably had their own spiritual leaders, maybe something like the Druids that other Celtic groups had. You know, the wise folks who understood the rituals, the changing seasons, maybe read the stars. It’s a bit of a guess, because, again, no written records from the Picts themselves, but it seems to fit the picture of societies back then.
And what about how they treated their dead? That usually tells you a lot. It seems some were buried in mounds, sometimes with bits and pieces of their belongings. That usually points to a belief in some kind of afterlife, right? Like they needed their stuff for a journey or something after they passed on.
It’s pretty clear they weren't following any of the big religions we know today, at least not initially. Their beliefs would have been what people call 'pagan'. Probably a lot of respect for spirits in the land, in the water, in the forests. Maybe they had gods and goddesses, but we don't have a list of names, which is a real shame. I was hoping to find some cool Pictish god names, but no dice.
Then, of course, Christianity eventually made its way to Pictland. I tried to piece together how that whole change happened. It wasn't like they all woke up one day and decided to switch teams. It was likely a slow process, with old beliefs mixing with the new ones for a good while. Some of the later stones even show Christian symbols right next to the older, traditional Pictish ones. I find that super interesting – like they were trying to make it all fit together.
So, after all that poking around, what’s the real story?
To be honest, it feels like we’re trying to put together a massive jigsaw puzzle, but half the pieces are missing, and the picture on the box is faded. There’s no handy guide to 'Pictish Beliefs 101'. They didn't write it down for us. So, a lot of what we think is basically smart people making their best guesses based on the stones, a few old writings from outsiders, and what diggers find in the ground.
But my takeaway from this little adventure into the past? These were people with a really rich inner world, full of symbols and deep connections to the land and the animals. They definitely had their own ways of understanding the world, life, death, and whatever comes after. It’s still pretty mysterious, and that’s probably why I, and a lot of other folks, find it so fascinating to try and get a glimpse. It was a good way to spend an afternoon, just trying to connect those ancient dots, that’s for sure.
