Pillar of Eliseg

The Pillar of Eliseg, also known as Elise's Pillar, stands near Valle Crucis Abbey, Denbighshire. It was erected by Cyngen ap Cadell (died 855), king of Powys in honour of his great-grandfather Elisedd ap Gwylog. The form Eliseg found on the pillar is assumed to be a mistake by the carver of the inscription.

Whilst the pillar itself dates to the 9th century, the large artificial mound is thought to be significantly older, possibly prehistoric. Certainly the mound can be dated to the Bronze Age.

The Latin inscription consisted of some thirty-one lines of insular script. It not only mentioned several individuals described in the Historia Britonum, but also complemented the information presented in that text. The inscription is one of the longest surviving inscriptions from pre-Viking Wales.

Address
Abbey Terrace 1, Llangollen, United Kingdom

Established
9th century AD