"If trees could talk, then the gnarled and ancient Birnam Oak which rests wearily on crutches on the south bank of the River Tay at Birnam would surely have some amazing tales to tell.
|[photo from Courier]|
But it was Shakespeare’s Macbeth, a blend of fact and fiction written over 400 years ago, which gave rise to the notoriety of the famous Birnam Wood, alongside Perthshire’s Dunsinane Hill, near the village of Collace.
The places were immortalised by Shakespeare when he wrote:””Macbeth shall never vanquished be, until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill Shall come against him.”
The prophecy of Shakespeare’s three witches did come true, with the branches of trees from great Birnam Wood, camouflaging the advancing army against Macbeth.
The Bard also gave his lead character the title of ‘Thane of Glamis’, which lies in Angus whilst Scone Moot Hill is where Macbeth was crowned.
It is believed that Shakespeare got inspiration for this section of 'The Scottish Play` during a visit to Perth, Birnam and Aberdeen in 1599 as one of a troupe of comedians. ..."
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