St Tredwell, also known as Triduana, a ‘holy virgin’ or nun, was courted by Pictish King Nechtan, who admired her beautiful eyes. In response, Triduana gouged them out and sent them to him, skewered on a thorn. I read different accounts of the story, some saying that the king tried to rape her and her actions were self-preservation, others suggesting it was an act of love.
