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Symbols – Picts – Constellation - Dog or Hound [Canis]
Identifier
026560
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
A description of the experience
The symbolism of the dog is to be found by following the link below
George Baines drawing
Pictish stones were used to navigate and find key sacred sites via the stars. Symbols were mapped to constellations and when found on a Pictish stone, the constellation being referred to may be either Canis Minor or Major, Canis Minor used to have the title Procyon which is also the name of its alpha star, Procyon. Procyon is a combination of two Greek words; pro-, 'before' + Greek kuon, 'dog'; meaning the constellation rises before Canis Major, or before Sirius, the main star in Canis Major. Canis Minor is situated by the Great Celestial River, the Milky Way.