MacDuff's Cross facts for kids
Quick facts for kids MacDuff's Cross |
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| Location | Fife, Scotland |
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MacDuff's Cross, also known as the Cross of MacDuff or Ninewells, is the remains of a very old stone monument. It is made of white sandstone. You can find it on a historic spot between Lindores and Newburgh in Fife, Scotland. Some people think it was built around 1059 CE, but it might be even older.
What is MacDuff's Cross?
This ancient monument is located near a small road west of Black Cairn Hill. It's about 1 mile (1.6 km) southwest of Newburgh. Today, only the base, or pedestal, of the cross remains. The stone is about 3.75 feet (1.14 meters) high, 4.55 feet (1.39 meters) long, and 3.75 feet (1.14 meters) wide.
The monument has several marks on it. People believe these were once nine cup and ring marks, which are ancient symbols carved into rocks. There are other similar old crosses in places like Mortlach, Aberdeenshire; Kiels, Inverary; Strathlacplan, Argyll; and on Iona, Islay and Oronsay.
The Special Law of Clan MacDuff
The cross is said to mark a very important place for the Clan MacDuff. Legend says that the chief of Clan MacDuff helped defeat Macbeth. Because of this, the clan was given special rights. These rights included "sanctuary," meaning people could find protection there, and "composition for murder done in hot blood." This meant that if someone from the clan committed a serious act in a moment of anger, they could pay a fine instead of facing a harsher punishment.
The legend states the fine for such a crime was nine cows and a heifer (a young female cow). After Macbeth, King of Scotland died, Malcolm III of Scotland supposedly gave the Thane of Fife (a powerful local leader) even more special rights. These included the privilege of officially approving the King and leading the first charge in battle.
The cross was originally dedicated to a saint named Magider. Sadly, in 1559, a group of people who strongly supported John Knox (a famous religious reformer) broke the cross into many pieces. William Ballingall, a historian, wrote that this was a place where people accused of serious crimes could seek the protection of the Law of Clan MacDuff.
The Mysterious Inscription
It is believed that MacDuff's Cross once had a special message carved into it. This message was a "metrical inscription," which means it was like a poem or song. It was written in a mix of Latin and other old words, making it quite mysterious. Many historians have tried to figure out exactly what it said.
After studying old translations, Walter Wood suggested that the inscription's main message was about protection and a safe place. It seemed to say something like: "This is a safe place for those who are in trouble with the law or who have no home. If you come here, this agreement offers you safety. But there is hope for peace only if the serious act was committed by my grandson's family. I will free the accused, and a fine of a thousand drachms (an old type of money) will be paid from his lands. Because of Macgridin and this offering, my family will be cleansed under this stone, which is filled with water." This inscription highlighted the special protection and forgiveness offered at this site.
