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Field Visit
Date 20 August 2002
Event ID 612984
Category Recording
Type Field Visit
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/612984
Relief of snake coiled in horizontal figure of eight around man's head on left and woman's head on right, with foxglove behind. Integral rectangular trough below (at waist height). Its front has a flowing design of tree branches, the left side has detail of frowning person's eyes and nose with 'the evil eye' written below; the right side has hands holding a bowl with 'hands of' written above and 'healing' written below it.
Inspected By : D. King
Inscriptions : Top left of relief (incised Roman numerals): MCCCCLXXIX
Bottom right of relief (incised Roman numerals): MDCCXXII
Left side of trough: the evil eye
Right side of trough: hands of / healing
On plaque above: THIS FOUNTAIN, DESIGNED BY JOHN DUNCAN, R.S.A. / IS NEAR THE SITE ON WHICH MANY WITCHES WERE / BURNED AT THE STAKE. THE WICKED HEAD AND SERENE / HEAD SIGNIFY THAT SOME USED THEIR EXCEPTIONAL / KNOWLEDGE FOR EVIL PURPOSES WHILE OTHERS WERE / MISUNDERSTOOD AND WISHED THEIR KIND NOTHING / BUT GOOD. THE SERPENT HAS THE DUAL SIGNIFICANCE / OF EVIL AND WISDOM. THE FOXGLOVE SPRAY FURTHER / EMPHASISES THE DUAL PURPOSE OF MANY COMMON OBJECTS.
Signatures : Bottom left corner of wall relief (incised letters and numbers): 18 (JD) 94
Design period : 1894
Year of unveiling : 1894
Information from Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (PMSA Work Ref : EDIN0558)
