Corpus Refs: | Harbison/1992:54 Macalister/1949:849 Petrie/1872:86--88 |
Site: | CLMAC |
Discovery: | first mentioned, 1699 Lhuyd, E. |
History: | Harbison/1992, 4, argues that the reference to a High Cross at Clonmacnoise from the year 957 in the Annals of the Four Masters, is a reference to this cross. Under the year 1060 the same source makes specific reference to `Cros na Screaptra' - the cross of the Scriptures. Harbison also states that in 1699 Edward Lhuyd recorded the cross in drawings now held at the British Library (Stowe MSS 1023-24). Petrie/1872, 42: `Drawn by Dr. Petrie at Clonmacnois, in the year 1822'. For a discussion of the history of the study of this stone see Henry/1980, 36--46. King/1992a, 22--23, states that this cross, the 'Cross of the scriptures' was moved into the Visitor's centre and replaced by a replica in 1991. |
Geology: | Harbison/1992, 48: `sandstone millstone grit'. |
Dimensions: | 3.15 x 1.45 x 0.38 (Harbison/1992) |
Setting: | in display |
Location: | Visitor's centre, Clonmacnoise (Cat: n/a) King/1992a, 22--23, states that the cross in now in the visitor's centre at Clonmacnoise. |
Form: | Cramp sh. A, head 1a |
Condition: | frgmntry , some Harbison/1992, 48: `The monolithic cross is 3.15m tall, 1.45m across the arms, and the shaft measures 54cm wide and 38cm thick. It rests on a base which is 75sm high, and 1.20m by 1.07m at ground level. |
Folklore: | none |
Crosses: | none |
Decorations: | animal; boss; figural; geometric ribbon interlace; geometric key pattern; other Harbison/1992, 48--53, gives a full description of the decoration of the cross. Here it is only summarised. EAST FACE (Figs 132--35): Base: Lower Panel - Two chariots, drawn by two horses each, and each with a charioteer and a passenger. Upper Panel - Three horsemen proceeding to the left. Shaft: Plinth - Inscription. E1 - Joseph interprets the dream of Pharaoh's Butler. E2 - The Chief Butler gives the cup into Pharaoh's hand. E3 - Traditio Clavium - Christ seated in the centre hands a key to Peter and a book to Paul, both of whom are standing. Head: Centre - The last judgement. Top - Majestas Domini - Christ with book flanked by two angels. Ring - Decorated by four roundels ornamented with a variety of boss motifs, from which snake-like figures emerge. Also panels of animal ornament. SOUTH SIDE (Figs 136--38). Base: Lower panel - Hunting scene. Upper Panel - Jacob and the angel. Shaft: Plinth - Inhabited vine-scroll. S1 - Human interlace. S2 - David playing his lyre. S3 - David? as a shepherd. Head: Underside of ring - S-spirals flanking a sunken panel with two human heads enmeshed in serpents. Underside of arm - The Hand of God. End of arm - A tronco-pyramidal boss with fret-pattern. Upper side of ring - A sunken vertical panel with interlace in the centre. Top of Shaft - Panel of interlinked bosses above which is loose interlace. WEST FACE (Figs. 139--41, 144, 917) Base: Lower panel - Left - Christ entering Jerusalem. Lower panel - Centre - The resurrection? Lower panel - Right - The Holy women at the tomb. Upper panel - The raised Christ / Mission to the Apostles. Shaft: Plinth - Inscription. W1 - Christ in the Tomb. W2 - The Mocking or Flagellation of Christ. W3 - The Soldiers casting lots for Christ's seamless garment. Head: Centre - The Crucifixion. North Arm - The Sun / The Ocean. South Arm - The Moon / The Earth. Top - A panel with five interlinked bosses. Ring - Roll mouldings at the edges, with animal interlace; bossed decoration linked to form S-spirals; bird with outstretched wings; horseman. NORTH SIDE (Figs. 142--43, 145--46). Base: Lower Panel - Animals, one of which is a unicorn. Upper Panel - Animals, two griffins and a lion devouring human body parts. Shaft: Plinth - Framed panel with two quadrupeds enmeshed in interlace which may stem from a tree placed between the animals. N1 - St. Anthony overcoming the Devil. N2 - The Burial of St Paul the Hermit. N3 - Saints Paul and Anthony. Head: Underside of ring - Two vertical panels of interlace, flanked by a sunken panel with two human heads, enmeshed in a figure-of-eight shaped serpent. Underside of arm - A cat-like figure devouring the legs of an animal. End of arm - A tronco-pyramidal boss, with a central panel decorated with a cross, also with interlace. Upper side of ring - Panel of interlace. Top - Panel of bosses, with fretwork and interlace. |
Petrie, G. (1822): | O~R~DOFLAVNDM~C | MAELSECHLAIND || [.]OLMANDORRO | [INIINCROI]SSAAR | INRI [FL]AND Expansion: OROIT DO FLAVND MAC MAELSECHLAND [C]OLMAN DORRO[INI IN CROI]SSA AR IN RI [FL]AND Translation: Pray for Fland (PN), son of Maelsechlaind (PN). Colman (PN), who made this Cross for the King Fland (PN). Petrie/1872 42 reading only |
O Murchadha, D. (1980): | ORDORIGFL[.]INDM~MA | [--]N[--]O | ROITDORIGHERENNOR | DOCOLMANDORRO | [--]ANCROSSAAR[.] | [--]RIGFLAIND[--] Expansion: ORDO RIG FL[A]IND M(AC) MA[--]N[--] OROIT DO RIG HERENN OR DO COLMAN DORRO[--] AN CROSSA AR [--] RIG FLAIND [--] Translation: Prayer for the king Flaind (PN) son of Ma[--](PN) Prayer for King of Ireland prayer For Colman (PN) who the cross on king Flaind (PN). Harbison/1992 357 reading only OMurchadha/1980 47--51 reading only |
Harbison, P. (1992): | [--]ANDORRO | [--]AR[.] | [--]D[--] | [--]NDM~[--] | [--] | [--] Expansion: [--]ANDORRO[--]AR[.][--]D[--]NDM~[--] Harbison/1992 356 reading only |
Orientation: | horizontal |
Position: | many ; shaft ; n/a ; separated Harbison/1992, 356--57: `The cross of the Scriptures has fragmentary inscriptions on the plinth of the shaft of both faces...east face...[and] the west face.' |
Incision: | inc |
Date: | 900 - 915 (Harbison/1992) |
Language: | Goidelic (rbook) |
Ling. Notes: | See Harbison/1979, for some detailed commentary on this inscription. |
Palaeography: | CISP: The lettering is Insular half-uncial. In general the letters have a round and squat appearance. Even on ÓMurchadha's illustrations (ÓMurchadha/1980, p. 49), little can be made out regarding the detailed form of the letters. Nonetheless the Ss and Rs appear to be majuscule and the Ds are in the form of a O with a short stroke from the top left of the bow. Some of the Ns are majuscule, while others are minuscule. The Ms have curved top strokes. |
Legibility: | poor Harbison/1992, 356--57, argues that the inscription is badly damaged, with little visible to the naked eye. Also see the detailed comments of ÓMurchadha/1980, 47--51. |
Lines: | 6 |
Carving errors: | 0 |
Doubtful: | no |