Mên Scryfa
Mên Scryfa illuminated by the setting sun.
|
|
 Shown within Cornwall
|
|
| Location | Cornwall |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 50°09′44″N 5°36′12″W / 50.162238°N 5.603314°W |
| Type | Standing stone |
| History | |
| Periods | Early middle ages |
Mên Scryfa (or Mên Scrifa, literally "stone with writing") is an inscribed standing stone in Cornwall, United Kingdom (grid reference SW427353). The inscription, dating to the early medieval period, commemorates "Rialobranus son of Cunovalus."
Mên Scryfa stands near the Madron to Morvah road in Cornwall. It stands in the middle of a field. The prehistoric Mên-an-Tol standing stones lie about 300 metres to the south.
The stone is 1.7 metres high and roughly rectangular in section, with sides of 0.4 metres by 0.5 metres. The inscription is on the northern face, although the bottom of the inscription is buried in the ground. At one time two plain crosses were said to be viewable at the upper end of the stone. The horizontal axis of the lower cross, is clearly visible but the vertical stroke is very indistinct. The smaller cross above this can no longer be distinguished.
The inscription, in debased Roman capitals, reads "Rialobrani Cunovali fili", which translates as "Rialobranus son of Cunovalus." Rialobran is not known elsewhere, but he may have been a Cornish petty king or tribal leader. Rialobran (or Ryalvran) may be Cornish for "royal raven", whereas Cunovallos may be British for "famous leader", thus the inscription would read "royal raven son of famous leader. Antiquarians, at one time, used to identify Cunovalus with the pre-Roman British king Cunobeline.
The inscription has been dated on stylistic grounds to the 6th to 8th century AD. It is thought, however, that the stone itself could be a prehistoric standing stone.
...
Wikipedia