Slab depicting Abraham and Isaac (left) and Adam and Eve (right) placed within W end of mortuary enclosure in burial-ground. Digital image of B 14750 CN

Description Slab depicting Abraham and Isaac (left) and Adam and Eve (right) placed within W end of mortuary enclosure in burial-ground. Digital image of B 14750 CN

Date 1989

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

Catalogue Number SC 803308

Category On-line Digital Images

Copy of B 14750 CN

Scope and Content Panel from the chest tomb of Mary Stephens, Cargill Old Parish Church, Cargill, Perth & Kinross This shows one of the long sides of the chest tomb, with its three arched panels. The panel on the left illustrates the story of Abraham and Isaac. Abraham was told by God to sacrifice his son Isaac as a test of his devotion, but just in time, God told him to stay his hand, and provided a ram to sacrifice instead. This can be seen in the central panel, 'caught in a thicket' (bush) as the Bible describes. The panel on the right illustrates the story of Adam and Eve, who stand next to the Tree of Knowledge. A snake curls around the tree tempting Eve to eat an apple. Both figures wear aprons of leaves. These Biblical scenes are often found on Scottish gravestones, but rarely together on the same monument. The story of Abraham and Isaac tells of total devotion to God, whilst the story of Adam and Eve shows how mankind brought about its own suffering by disobeying God. Gravestones reveal the beliefs of the deceased, and challenge the living to lead more virtuous lives. This chest tomb commemorates Mary Stephens, who died in 1721. It is inscribed: 'Mrs Mary Stephens gentlewoman to Jean/Gordon Duchess of Perth who died 1st May/1721 aged 70 years. May her soul rest in peace'. The panels are detached from their original structure, and are now propped against a wall. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/803308

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap