|
the left and four to the right of the central figure. The text can be interpreted in many ways. W. Sibley Towner writes “The story offers a foretaste of the coming victory of God over all foes, even death itself.” (Towner 88) Thus Daniel, the righteous man who was saved from lions by his God, became a prototype of Christ who became savior of all people. Images from the Christian Scriptures: The vast majority of the Christian scripture scenes depicted on the High Crosses come from the four gospels. These images cover the story of Jesus from his incarnation to the last judgment. The vast majority of these images depict scenes of Passion Week, from his entry into Jerusalem to his burial. There is even one scene (on Muiredach’s cross at Monasterboice) that has been identified as the resurrection. There is not, of course, a scripture in the Gospels that describes the resurrection: appearances yes, the event itself, no. There is also quite a variety of images of the Apostles, either grouped or individually, and sometimes symbolically. Depictions of the crucifixion appear more often than any other. These scenes are almost always in the center of the head of the cross. In a good number of these we see the figures of “Stephaton the sponge-bearer and Longinus with his lance.” (Harbison 1992, 273) These are the names traditionally given to the two Roman soldiers, the first of whom offered Jesus a sponge filled with wine and the second of whom pierced Jesus’ side after he had breathed his last. In the examples below these figures appear in one but not in the other. The left image is from the west face of the Unfinished cross at Kells, while the right image is from the east face of the west cross at Kilfenora.
Left image west face of head of Unfinished cross at Kells, Co Meath. Right image east face of head of West cross at Kilfenora, Co Clare. Both images by Barney McLaughlin 2008.
|
|
Not surprisingly, the apostles are another popular theme on the Irish High Crosses. On the cross below (left), from the Tall Cross at Monasterboice (Co. Meath), they appear grouped in four successive panels. On the cross below (right), Moone (Co. Kildare) the apostles are grouped together on the base of the cross. These images offer an excellent example of scenes that are not related to any particular biblical text. The apostles are recognized only by the fact there are twelve of them in the group.
Monasterboice (Co. Meath) Tall Cross left and Moone (Co. Kildare) Cross right. Photos by Barney McLaughlin 2006, 2008.
Another Christian image, not directly connected to one particular text, is the Last Judgment. There are a number of texts this image might be related to including Matthew 25: 31ff, The Judgment of the Nations. One of the finest examples of the Last Judgment is found on the Cross of Muiredach at Monasterboice (see below). Kees Veelenturf writes that this cross has the most elaborate depiction in Irish art of the Last Judgment. (Veelenturf 104-107) Peter Harbison describes the scene: “In the centre, Christ stands with outspread feet and wearing a long robe to below the knees. There is an eagle above his head, with its head to the left and its left wing expanded. Christ carries a cross-staff over his left shoulder, and a blossoming scepter over his right. To the left of his feet there is a kneeling angel holding a book, and with another book above its head. Beside the angel, and looking to the right towards Christ, a harper – presumably David – sits playing the instrument which rests on his knees, while a bird perches on top of it and whispers into his ear – the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Behind him is a man playing a flute-like wind instrument, while behind him
|
|
again there is a man with an open book, probably to be understood as singing. The south arm is taken up with a number of seated or kneeling figures in long garments – the good who have been saved and who deserve a place in heaven. “To the right of Christ there is a seated musician with something flat (an instrument?) on his lap as he plays a three-reeded pipe. He is presumably one of David’s musicians. To his right, a bearded devil – holding a trident – herds the evil souls, in all their nakedness, towards their eternal damnation in hell. The first of these figures is a curious kneeling figure with the lower legs splayed sideways, to the right of which there is a figure with a book. The north arm is occupied by the bad souls.” (Harbison 1992, 141-2)
Cross of Muiredach at Monasterboice, Co Louth, The Last Judgment
Non-biblical images There are quite a variety of non-biblical figural images on the High Crosses. Some of these are religious in theme and others are not. Under the first category we have images that have been identified as various saints including St. Anthony (a desert father), St. Brendan (the Navigator) founder of Clonfert monastery, St. Columcille founder of Iona and many other Irish monasteries, and of course St. Patrick. The following photos each present a story about Saint Paul the Hermit and Saint Anthony of the Desert. While Anthony was visiting Paul “they noticed with wonder a raven which had settled on the bough of a tree, and was then flying gently down till it came and laid a whole loaf of bread before them. They were astonished, and when it had gone, ‘See,’ said Paul, ‘the Lord truly loving, truly merciful, has sent us a meal. For the last sixty years I have always received half a loaf: but at your coming Christ has doubled his soldier's rations.’” (Saint Jerome) |
|
Moone (Co. Kildare) top, and Castledermot (Co. Kildare) bottom. 2008 Barney McLaughlin
The later, mainly twelfth century crosses sometimes depict bishops or other ecclesiastical figures. In the year 1111 an all-Irish church synod was held at Rath Breasail. At this meeting the first diocesan structure for all of Ireland was established. This shifted the balance of power in church politics from the Abbots to the Bishops. While scholars debate whether the ecclesiastic images on some of the twelfth century crosses represent bishops, abbots or Christ as the bishop of the world, the results of the Synod of Rath Breasail suggest these images represent bishops in their role as the vicars of Christ. The two twelfth century crosses below offer representations of this type of image. On the cross to the left, from Dysert O’Dea (Co. Clare) the figure of the bishop is just below the image of the crucified Christ. On the cross to the right, from Kilfenora (Co. Clare) the bishop is the main feature of the east face of the cross. The crucifixion scene appears on the west face on the head of this cross.
Left, photo of Dysert O’Dea High Cross (Co. Clare) and right, photo and illustration of Doorty High Cross at Kilfenora (Co. Clare). The drawing is from an interpretive sign at the site. Photos by Barney McLaughlin 2008. |
|
There are also figural images on some of the Irish High Crosses that may not be religious in content. The east face of the base of the Cross of the Scriptures at Clonmacnois offers an excellent example. Here is how the scene on the lower panel of the base is described by Peter Harbison: “Two chariots, with large 8-spoked wheels, and probably drawn by two horses apiece, proceed toward the right. In addition to the charioteer, who holds the reins, there is one passenger in each vehicle.” (Harbison 1992, 48) Harbison notes on the same page that at least one scholar has sought to identify this image with the Exodus.
Clonmacnois (Co. Offlay) Cross of the Scriptures, east face of the base. Photo on left copied from Harbison 1992, volume two.
|
