[Knockdow]

Located north of Oban


The Ardchattan Priory was a Valliscaulian monastic community in Ardchattan, Argyll. It was founded in 1230 by Duncan MacDougal, Lord of Argyll. From the early 1300s, the Prior of Ardchattan held the chantership of Lismore Cathedral. In April 1510 it was incorporated as a cell of Beauly Priory and may have become Cistercian, but the evidence is slight. It was annexed to the bishopric of the Isles in 1615.


The choir is now dominated with an elaborate tomb for the family of Somerled MacDougall (d. 1502) with commemorative inscriptions embracing the early 16th-century priors Duncan and Dugall MacDougall: its Gothic figures in architectural niches sets it in the context of European tomb design and far apart from most Western Scottish tomb carvings.

Many of the grave covers had boats that appeared to be viking boats on them. The skulls and crossbones were a reminder of man's mortality. Hourglasses were prevalent and a symbol of limited time on earth.








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[Knockdow]

[Liz]

Knockdow, about the grave slab with the skull and crossbones. I heard two versions about those last Spring when I was in Scotland. The first one claimed that it indicated a Templar grave, but somebody else said it meant that it was the grave of a plague victim. I don't know which is right.

[Knockdow]

I'd like to think it was the Templars story but I have not heard either? Do you think the carvers had a catalog for the customers to choice from or did they have a showroom with stock ready to go? Seriously, that had to be a hard job cutting the stone

[Liz]

I prefer the Templar version too.

You find these grave slabs all over Scotland and some of them are very artistic. But I don't know if they were made ahead of time, or ordered at the time of some important person's demise. Maybe Mairead might know the answer.

Here are some from a chapel only a few miles form Mairead's home:

This post has been edited by Liz: 29 September 2008 - 12:03 AM

[Mike]

When we were at Inchmahome Priory, Maitland mentioned the connection between the skull and crossbones with the plague.

I think we lean into the Templar connection because of all the publicity surrounding Baigent, Leigh and Lincoln. (Much of which I find questionable, BTW)

[Maitland]

Liz Wrote:

Quote

Knockdow, about the grave slab with the skull and crossbones. I heard two versions about those last Spring when I was in Scotland. The first one claimed that it indicated a Templar grave, but somebody else said it meant that it was the grave of a plague victim. I don't know which is right.

Mike Wrote:

Quote

When we were at Inchmahome Priory, Maitland mentioned the connection between the skull and crossbones with the plague

Liz. The skull and crossbones represent a victim of a plague. These grave slabs with the skull and crossbones are pretty common in older grave sites throughout Scotland. It would be nice if they were to represent a Templar grave but unfortunately that is not the case.

M...