The Odin Stone

The Odin Stone

The Odin Stone was a 2.5m tall standing stone which had a hole in it and was placed in a field close to the Standing Stones of Stenness. It is thought to have been erected around 3000 BC, roughly around the same time that the Standing Stones of Stenness were erected. The Odin Stone played an important part in the culture of the native Orcadian people. It was supposedly very common for young lovers to visit the stone and make their marriage vows binding and absolute by clasping hands through the hole and swearing the Oath of Odin. Additionally, it was also believed that the stone had healing powers and it was common for young people to stick their head through the hole to ensure good health. In the same vein, new-born babies were passed through the hole to ensure them a healthy future. There are stories of the Orcadians leaving offerings of food when visiting the stone and it seems that this stone was cherished by the Orcadian people. Unfortunately, the Odin Stone was demolished in 1814 by Captain W. MacKay, who had recently immigrated to Orkney and leased the land which the Odin Stone stood on. He was irritated as he felt that his land was being ruined by the influx of people visiting the Odin Stone and the other ancient sites around it. He set out and destroyed the Odin Stone and then went to the Stones of Stenness and toppled the fifth stone and destroyed the sixth stone. The native Orcadians were enraged by his actions and made various attempts to burn down his house. The law got involved and executed a “Sist and Suspension” against MacKay who then promised to stop destroying the stones. Unfortunately, it was too late for the destroyed stones but the Standing Stones of Stenness were passed into the care of the state in 1906 and the toppled stone was re-erected.

standingstones

Estimated 3000BC

lj77

Site

459

22/04/2022

04/26/2022 04:27:35 pm

http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/odinstone/index.html , http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/odinstone/tradition.htm , http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/odinstone/odwedd.htm

cm x cm x cm

current,58.994996175093455,-3.208207368588774;

The Odin Stone

TEXT

Building

757

lj77@st-andrews.ac.uk