DUROW/1

Corpus Refs:Harbison/1992:89
Macalister/1949:591
Site:DUROW
Discovery:, 0
History:No inscription on this cross is mentioned in Petrie/1878, 55--56.
Geology:
Dimensions:4.46 x 1.39 x 0.46 (Harbison/1992)
Setting:in ground
Location:earliest
Form:Cramp sh. A, head 12a, r1
Harbison/1992, 79: `The complete monolithic cross is 3.16 m high, 1.39 m across the arms, and the shaft is 46 cm wide and 31 cm at the bottom. It rests on a base which measures 1.30 m by 1.10 m at ground level, and which is 58 cm high. The sides of the base are slightly convex, and have a step near the top. The base has grooved lines forming a base-line above which are the frames of two undecorated panels -- two each on the broader faces, and one each on the sides. The cross has a roll moulding around the edges, and the smaller roll mouldings framing the panels come in from each side between the panels and double back on themselves without meeting in the centre. This moulding has a number of small horizontal grooves, best seen on the north side. The head has a smaller moulding inside the roll moulding on the edges'.
Condition:complete , good
Folklore:none
Crosses:none
Decorations:animal; figural; geometric zoomorphic interlace

Harbison/1992, 79--83, provides the following account of the cross's decoration:

`EAST FACE (Figs. 247--258)

Shaft (Fig. 249)

Plinth: Due to its heavily worn condition, the subject matter of the plinth is difficult to ascertain. On the left there is what could be the head of a ringed cross on a possible shaft, or a lamb with a ringed head, but the nature of the small ring on the right is more enigmatic. In the centre there may be a human figure flanked by an animal or a bird, or it could be two centaurs face to face, but identification is very uncertain.

E1: THE RAISED CHRIST (Fig. 922)...

E2: a panel of interlace forming circular devices.

E3: THE SACRIFICE OF ISAAC (Fig. 680)...

Head (Figs. 248 and 939)

Centre: (?)THE LAST JUDGEMENT (Figs. 248 and 939)...

South arm: DAVID PLAYING THE LYRE (Fig. 939)...

North arm: DAVID SLAYS THE LION (Fig. 939)...

Top: A square panel has a rounded boss in each corner, on one of which interlaced decoration is preserved. Emerging from them are some animals which bite one another in the centre, and others with their heads on the outer periphery of the bosses. Above this panel is a roof, decorated with an imitation of shingles.

The ring: The ring has roll mouldings at the edges, framing panels of animal interlace in the lower left and upper right segments, and fretwork with spiral terminations in the lower right segment. The nature of the decoration in the upper left segment is not clear. Attached to the inner surface of the ring are the cylinders, the ends of which are decorated with a round boss surrounded by a circle of pellet decoration.

SOUTH SIDE (Figs. 250-253)

Shaft (Figs. 250 and 251)

Plinth: On the plinth, two winged animals are seen in profile, contorting the neck so that the head is almost frontal. The animals stand opposite one another under a tree. The right-hand animal seems to grasp the stem of the tree with its right front paw.

S1: EVE GIVES THE APPLE TO ADAM...

S2: CAIN SLAYS ABEL (FiG. 670)...

S3: DAVID AS KING (Fig. 250)...

Head (Figs. 251--253)

Underside of ring: Snake and heads (Figs. 253)...

End of arm (Fig. 252) The end of the arm is in the shape of a truncated pyramid, with cushion moulding above and below, and having raised ribs on the sides and top of the pyramid. The central panel bears a fretwork pattern.

Upper side of ring (Fig. 252) -- There is probably an interlace pattern on the left side.

Top: A Horseman (Fig. 252) -- A horseman proceeding to the left, and with the head of the horse in front of the roll of moulding of the frame. The decoration in the triangular area above it, and on the finial at the top, is too worn to be identified.

WEST FACE (Figs. 254--256)

Shaft (Fig. 255)

Plinth: Inscription --The plinth bears a fragmentary inscription...

W1: CHRIST IN THE TOMB...

W2: THE MOCKING OR FLAGELLATION OF CHRIST...

W3: THE SOLDIERS CASTING LOTS FOR CHRIST'S GARMENTS...

Head (Figs. 256 and 870)

Centre: THE CRUCIFIXION (Fig. 870)...

North arm: THE DENIAL OF SAINT PETER (Fig. 870)...

South arm: PILATE WASHES HIS HANDS (Fig. 870)...

Top: TRADITIO CLAVIUM...

The ring: The ring has roll mouldings at the edges, and attached to its inner surface are the cylinders decorated in a similar fashion to those on the east face (Fig. 248). The upper left and lower right segments have raised bosses linked in the form of S-spirals; the bottom left has animal interlace as has also probably the upper right segment as well.

NORTH SIDE (Figs. 257-258)

Shaft (Figs. 258 and 784)

Plinth: Inscription -- The plinth bears a fragmentary inscription...

N1: (?) ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST EMBRACING/ RECOGNISING CHRIST (Fig. 784. bottom)...

N2: A panel of spiral bosses forming alternative horizontal and vertical interlinked C-shaped spirals in pelta form (Fig. 784, middle).

N3: ZACHARIAS AND ELIZABETH WITH THE INFANT JOHN THE BAPTIST(Fig. 784, top)...

Head (Fig. 257)

Underside of ring: Similar to the south side (Fig. 253)

End of arm: Similar to the end of the south arm (Fig. 252), except that the central panel is decorated with interlace.

Upper side of ring: No decoration visible.

Top: An unidentified seated figure with hands, palm outwards, falling down by the side. Above, in the triangular gable of the roof, there is a boss-whirl out of which three serpent-like animals emerge. There are knots of three-pointed interlace in the intervening spaces'.

References


Inscriptions


DUROW/1/1

Readings

Macalister, R.A.S. (1949):[OROI]TDOT[IG][--
Expansion:
[OROI]T DO TIG[--
Macalister/1949 40 reading only
Ó Murchadha, D. (1988):[--][O]DUBT | [--]RIG | [--] [E]LSE | [--][R][E][--]
Expansion:
[--]ODUBT[--]RIG[--]ELSE[--]RE[--]
ÓMurchadha/ÓMurchú/1988 54, 57 reading only
Harbison, P. (1992):--]ODUBT[--
Expansion:
--]ODUBT[--
Harbison/1992 81 reading only

Notes

Orientation:horizontal
Position:W ; base ; n/a ; panel
Incision:inc
Date:None published
Language:Goidelic (rbook)
Ling. Notes:none
Palaeography:CISP: The lettering is Insular half-uncial. The T, D, B and G are half-uncial, the D and B having ascenders which curve over their closed bows. The Rs and S are majuscule and the Es are in the closed minuscule form.
Legibility:poor
Macalister/1949, 39: `there is not much to make out in either of them...That on the western face has apparently been in three lines, but the upper line is partly, and the two lower lines are completely, chipped away, and even what is left in the upper line is badly worn...the first four letters [are] broken off, the last two worn to evanescence...I fear that both these inscriptions are past all hope of certain decipherment'.
Lines:3
Carving errors:0
Doubtful:no

Names

References


DUROW/1/2

Readings

Macalister, R.A.S. (1949):O~R~DOAED | OCUSDO | [B]ANGAD | AN[DORI]G | NIINCHROIS
Expansion:
OROIT DO AED OCUS DO [B]ANGADAN DO RIG NI IN CHROIS
Macalister/1949 40 reading only
Ó Murchadha, D. (1988):ORDOM[..] | SECHNA[...] | RIGHERE[..] | OR[.]OC[.]O[..] | A[.]DORRO[..] | A[.]CHRO[.]S
Expansion:
OROIT DO M[..]SECHNA[…] RIG HERE[..] OROIT [D]O C[.][..]A[.]DORRO[..] A[.] CHRO[S]S
ÓMurchadha/ÓMurchú/1988 56, 58 reading only
Harbison, P. (1992):--]ORDOM | ARO | ERGU
Expansion:
--]ORDOM ARO ERGU
Harbison/1992 82 reading only

Notes

Orientation:horizontal
Position:N ; base ; n/a ; panel
Incision:inc
Date:None published
Language:Goidelic (rbook)
Ling. Notes:none
Palaeography:CISP: The lettering is a rounded squat of Insular half-uncial. The Rs and Ss are majuscule and the Es minuscule. The minuscule Hs have short ascenders.
Legibility:poor
Macalister/1949, 40: `desperately worn'.
Lines:5
Carving errors:0
Doubtful:no

Names

References