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Govan Sarcophagus
Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Sarcophagus (cast)
This cast of a sandstone sarcophagus, or coffin, found in the churchyard at Govan in Glasgow, was made in 1990. Unusually, all four sides of the sarcophagus were preserved, with carvings on each face. Only the lid is missing.
This picture shows one of the long sides. The left scene appears to show a hunting scene with a man on horseback, armed with a short sword, hunting a stag and another animal. On the right is a beast trampling another beast and a snake.
For over 5000 years people in Scotland have hunted for sport and prestige as well as to obtain food. Scenes of aristocratic hunting were popular on Pictish stone monuments.
Museum reference: X.IB 12
Description: Cast of a stone coffin, 1990, the original was found in the churchyard at Govan in Glasgow and dates from the 10th or 11th century
Date: 1990 (of cast)
Date of original: 10th or 11th century
Material: Stone, ornamented interlaced work, figures of beasts
Dimensions: 88" x 25" x 20"
Location: Govan Churchyard, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, Europe
Source: National Museums Scotland
Additional Information
Sarcophagus, Govan Old Parish Church, Glasgow. In Strathclyde in the 10th century there was a distinctive school of monuments, influenced by Anglo-Scandinavian sculpture of northern England. At Govan in Glasgow there are 41 stones consisting of crosses, graveslabs, gravecovers and a sarcophagus. This lower half of the monolithic sarcophagus (carved from one stone) probably dates to the 10th or 11th century. Its four sides are elaborately decorated with animals and interlace, which are related to both Pictish and Anglian styles of design. The sarcophagus was probably intended for a royal burial. Known as the tomb of St Constantine, it has been suggested it may have been used to move his relics, when the church was reorganised after the disturbance of Viking raids in the 10th century. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.
