Observations placeholder
Totem group – Picts – Elements - The Smith [Fire]
Identifier
026458
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
Rhynie is a village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland and the stone which bears the name of the "Rhynie Man",is named for it. Eight Pictish symbol stones have been found at Rhynie, including the "Rhynie Man". It is a 6 foot tall boulder carved with a bearded man carrying some tool. Archaeologists have concluded it must be an axe, but we believe it to be a depiction of The Smith, a far more significant symbol in ancient days and one which would have also been recognisable to the Romans as Vulcan.
Vulcan (Latin: Volcānus or Vulcānus; ], [wʊlˈkaːnʊs]) is the god of fire including the fire of volcanoes, metalworking, and the forge in ancient Roman religion and myth. Vulcan is often depicted with a blacksmith's hammer. The Vulcanalia was the annual festival held August 23 in his honor. His Greek counterpart is Hephaestus, the god of fire and smithery.
A description of the experience
Rhynie Man
The Smith used sound to promote spiritual experience and the building used to do this was the round tower. Thus any symbol describing the Smith was also indicating the existence of the Round Tower used by the Smith.
Golspie stone
