Whithorn, Bruce Street, Museum, Latinus Stone
Inscribed Stone (Period Unknown)
Site Name Whithorn, Bruce Street, Museum, Latinus Stone
Classification Inscribed Stone (Period Unknown)
Canmore ID 121867
Site Number NX44SW 56.01
NGR NX 4449 4028
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/121867
- Council Dumfries And Galloway
- Parish Whithorn
- Former Region Dumfries And Galloway
- Former District Wigtown
- Former County Wigtownshire
NX44SW 56.01 4449 4028
(1) Roughly squared pillar stone with inscription. The stone was found in 1891, probably near the early church.
The inscription in twelve horizontal lines reads:
(ET) DOMINU(M)/LAUSAMUS/LATINUS/ANNORU(M)/XXXV ET/FILIA
SUA/ANN(ORUM) IV/(H)IC SI(G)NUM/FECERUT/NEPUS/BARROVA/DI
(We praise the Lord, Latinus, aged thirty-five and his daughter, age four. The grandson Barrovadus set up the monument here.)
The letters, although some are carelessly formed, are all Roman capitals. The allusion in the opening words is to the 146th psalm (I will praise the Lord in my life), which forms part of the Roman office for the dead. the erection of the memorial stone by the surviving relative is frequently attested in early Christian memorials.
The pillar was a gravestone and dates from the middle of the 5th century. It is the earliest Christian memorial in Scotland.
Radford and Donaldson 1953b, 38.
