Basaltic Columns of Arthur's Seat

Category

Library Item

Item no

1115

Title

Basaltic columns of Arthur's Seat

Artist / maker

Skene, James

Date

1818

Size

22 x 14 cm.

Type

Watercolour

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

The watercolour drawing shows basaltic columns, known as Samson's Ribs, which are found on the southern flanks of Arthur's Seat in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh. The columns are made from the cooling and contraction of molten lava. As to the meaning of Arthur's Seat, the painter James Skene writes, "There is not certainly as to how the hill came by the name of Arthur's Seat, except from the propensity of locals often using at random the names of Chivalry or Romance, and accordingly the hero "par excellence" of England shares largely in these honours in the southern half of the island, but he seems to have little to do with Scotland, although we have Arthur's oven (A Roman Temple), Arthur's round table at Stirling, and here Arthur's table, all probably equally guiltless of much connection with the Hero of England. However, "le pay Artis" is held in equal renown throughout the continent in the tale of Chivalry as is Britain&"(1)

(1) Skene James, Reekiana, 1836, Edinburgh Central Library Archive, 143

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