The Sun Stone is the most unusual and striking of the carvings at Govan Old Church Museum. One side is dominated by a large ‘sun symbol.’ This consists of a prominant central boss with four sun rays emanating from this, each in the form of a serpent. The sun symbol is somewhat bunched over to the left hand side. Maybe a slightly amateurish effort. This type of symbol has comparisons elsewhere in Scotland within the corpus of Pictish art. Beneath the sun symbol there is a rectangular panel containing an interlaced pattern.
On the other side of the stone, there is a cross, enclosing another interlaced design. Below this is a rectangular panel containing a carving of a warrior on horseback. Although quite worn, the rider’s pigtail can be made out and he is carrying a spear and a sword. It has been suggested that this warrior is riding a curious bear-like animal, rather than a horse, but on the evidence of the ‘amateurish’ sun symbol on the other side of the stone, I’d go with a poorly depicted horse!
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