Tour Scotland Video Repairing Scottish Unicorn Market Cross Perth Perthshire

Tour Scotland video of a worker repairing the Unicorn on top of the Market Cross on a cloudy day ancestry visit to Perth, Perthshire, Scotland. The octagonal shaped cross was designed in 1913 as a memorial to King Edward VII. A mercat cross is the Scots name for the market cross found frequently in Scottish towns, cities and villages where historically the right to hold a regular market or fair was granted by the monarch. In Celtic mythology, the Unicorn of Scotland symbolized innocence and purity, healing powers, joy and even life itself, and was also seen as a symbol of masculinity and power.During the reign of King James III gold coins were introduced that featured a Unicorn, and at the time of King James VI of Scotland’s succeeding of Elizabeth I of England, and the resulting effective union of the two countries, the Scottish Royal Arms featured two unicorns as shield supporters. In a gesture of unity, King James replaced the one on the left with the English lion.

All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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