Detail of gravestone.

Description Detail of gravestone.

Date 1991

Collection Papers of Betty Willsher, historian, St Andrews, Scotland

Catalogue Number B 4307/23

Category Photographs and Off-line Digital Images

Copies SC 801148

Scope and Content Gravestone commemorating William Stivenson, St Ninian's Church, Lamington, South Lanarkshire Emblems of death and mortality predominate on this memorial, with a winged figure with a skull-head, and skull and crossbones beneath. At the foot of the stone is an unusual symbol, a ring formed by a coiled snake with its tail in its mouth. The winged skull embodies the belief that death flew on swift wings and life could be ended at scarcely a moment's notice. The skull and crossbones were a popular symbol and was used to signify mortality and the ending of this life. In contrast, the final motif on this stone speaks of hope and life everlasting as the unbroken ring signifies eternity through the immortal soul living on in heaven. In this context the snake reinforces this message and is a Classically-inspired motif representing both regeneration and eternity. Another reading may be that as the snake sheds its skin to grow and develop, it might be considered that the soul sheds its body before it can live on in Heaven. This gravestone commemorates William Stivenson, the son of a tenant farmer. The inscription reads: 'HERE LYES WILLIAM STI/VENSON WHO DIED NOVEMBER/THE 25TH 1776 AGED 30/SONE TO WILLIAM STIVEN/SON LATE TENANT FALSIDE/HERE LYES THE SAID/WILLIAM STIVENSON LATE/TENANT IN FALSIDE/WHO DIED OCTR 23 1793/AGED 83 YEARS'. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/727998