CLMAC/251

(Cross of the Scriptures)
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.

References


Inscriptions


CLMAC/251/1     Pictures

Readings

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

Notes

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

Names

References