The Maiden Stone

The 3 metre high pink granite Maiden Stone is an excellent, though enigmatic example of Pictish carving. Situated NW of Inverurie it was probably erected to mark a place of prayer for travellers between Aberdeenshire and Moray.

The face shown has carvings of a centaur and other creatures, a notched rectangle with a Zrod, a Pictish beast and a mirror and comb. There is a very indistinct Ogham inscription in the bottom left corner.

The reverse has strong Christian symbolism - a male figure, possibly Jonah flanked by 2 sea creatures. Below these are a large cross and ornate interlaced patterns.

The name Maiden Stone may be a corruption of Meddan's Stone. St Meddan being an obscure early missionary to whom some kirks in Aberdeenshire are dedicated. A more colourful explanation links the stone to a Maiden who made a wager with a stranger that she could bake bannock in less time than he could build a road up Bennachie. Alas, the stranger turned out to be the Devil who subsequently turned the Maiden into this pillar of stone.