De Profundis Stone
The De Profundis Stone is a recumbent stone located in the townland of Kilbride, County Westmeath, Ireland, near the town of Mullingar. The stone was possibly used to mark an ancient graveyard, as was sometimes customary in Ireland.[1] The monument takes its name from a local tradition of stopping a funerary procession at the stone, and reciting the "De Profundis"[2] (a colloquial name for Psalm 130 of the Old Testament).[3] The Kilbride stone is the only known remaining example in Ireland at which this "De Profundis" tradition was performed.[1]
The stone is made from limestone, and was shaped into a "coffin-like" shape with a crude cross carved into the top. The stone is approximately 0.94m in length.[citation needed]
Notes and references
[edit]- ^ a b PIP 2009. "THE DE PROFUNDIS STONE/MEGALITHIC MONUMENTS OF IRELAND.COM". megalithicmonumentsofireland.com. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ James Woods (1907). Annals of Westmeath, ancient and modern. Sealy, Bryers & Walker. p. 278.
"At the present day funeral processions, when they come to one of these crosses, halt while the De Profundis is solemnly recited for the repose of the soul of the deceased"
- ^ Psalm 130 in its Latin form is sometimes colloquially known as the "De profundis" as these are the first words of its opening line.