They begin with a triskle of knotwork in the center

This particular pattern was found on the shield of King Raedwald

giving to those who firmly believe in it great comfort and endurance in adversity

collected in Iceland

this complicated knotwork is the dance of a druid's magic spell

Maiden Stone Pictish Tattoo Design falcon They begin with a triskleThe carvings on the Maiden Stone date to the 4th century. Found in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, the pink granite monolith is one of the finest examples of a Pictish cross slab. The stone commemorates a local Maiden who made (and lost) a wager with a stranger, who turned out to be the Devil. She fled, and uttering a prayer just as he caught up to her, was turned to stone.