High Crosses

High Christian Period

7th-9th Century. Huge growth in monastries. Monastries- metal workshops, scriptorium. Clergy/ Catholic religion- highly regarded and in luential. !reland- the island o "aints and "cholars.

High Crosses
#asic High Crosswheel head, pyramidshaped $ase and some had caps. #elie%ed to $e highly in luenced $y metal and wooden crosses rom the time. &unction'Central position/ $oundry marker/ meeting place or mass and prayer/ where illiterate pu$lic were educated.

High Crosses
(arlier crosses in High Chriatian periodmainly decorati%e decoration. )ater crosses in High Cristian Period#i$lical decoration *old and new testaments+. ,t least -.. high crosses in !reland.

/orth and "outh ,henny Crosses

Co. 0ipperary. 9th Century. 1.2 Meters high. 3heel head, pyramid shaped $ase, conical cap *not seen elsewhere+.

/orth Cross

"outh Cross

4ecoration
#osses- re lect the studs used to hide ri%ets in metalwork at the time. Panels o decorationcur%es, knotting, retwork, strapwork, spirals and celtic knots *%ery ine 5uality+. Car%ed rope $order *high relie +. 6eminiscent o handheld processional crosses o the period.

4etail o wheel head and sha t on the "outh Cross

/orth Cross
(ast- 7od with outstreched hands naming animals. "outh- 7oliath8s headless $ody $eing escorted to 9erusalem. 3est- 6aised Christ sending his apostles on their misson. /orth- , scene o a chariot procession. !magery re lects 9th Century dress and hair.

3est &ace

"outh Cross
"outh, 3est and /orthHunting scenes. (ast-4aniel with two lions $eside se%en igures *represent Christ and the apostles+.

*0he decoration on $oth crosses

has weathered o%er time+

0he Cross o Moone

Co. :ildare 7..; m 7ranite &ound in a gra%eyard "lim compared to ,henny Crosses (longated sha t, small wheel head /o capstone

4ecoration
<oomorphic decoration )ow 6elie =ne o the earliest to introduce $i$lical scenes "tories rom the =ld and /ew 0estaments !t is suggested that it is to $e read clockwise $eginning on the top o the (ast &ace.

0he 3heel Head

0he "ha t

0he #ase
"outh &ace >Children in the &iery &urnace

>0he &light o the Holy &amily into (gypt

>0he Miracle o the )oa%es and &ish

0he #ase
(ast &ace > ,dam and (%e in the 7arden o (den

>0he "acri ice o !saac $y ,$raham

>4aniel in the )ions 4en

0he #ase
3est &ace > 0he Cruci ication

>0he 0wele%e ,postles

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