Sigurd Slab (No. 122)

No. 122

Sigurd Slab (No. 122)

This broken cross slab came from a wall in a Ramsey house. One side has interlacing, which is typical of Scandinavian design with broad and narrow bands in the form of a figure of eight. The cross is from around 1150 AD (middle of the 12th Century) and has no Christian symbols. It is one of four Sigurd crosses found on the Island. The others are at Kirk Andreas, Jurby and Malew.

The other side of the cross shows a scene from the Sigurd story, which is displays a bolt heaving at an otter as it lay eating a salmon snatched from the pool below. Above this design separated by an interlacing pattern is a later scene of the steed Grani (the grey one) with a gold hoard on his back, which was won by Singuar upon slaying the dragon Fafni. It is possible this cross was made in memory of King Olaf, who was slain at Reamey in 1153.