One of Ireland’s finest surviving High Crosses, the shat and ringed head were carved from one piece of sandstone around 900 AD. The cross, 13 feet (4m) high, stood to the west of the cathedral. Its surface is divided into panels with figured scenes. The Crucifixion, the Last Judgement and Christ in the Tomb are Biblical in origin but the lowest scene on the east face of the shat shows an ecclesiastic and a warrior holding a pole. This has been variously interpreted but may represent Abbot Colman and King Flann who erected both this cross and the church now known as the Cathedral. The badly damaged inscriptions on the east and west faces at the foot of the shaft have been convincingly reconstructed and appear to mention both King Flann and Colman, who made the cross for him. OF005-017---- Depicted on the first edition of the OS 6-inch map as the 'Cross of the Scriptures' located to the W of the Cathedral (OF005-004001-). Not marked on subsequent editions of the OS 6-inch maps. Well preserved 10th-century high cross decorated with panels depicting scenes from the bible such as the Crucifixion, the arrest of Christ, Soldiers guarding the tomb of Christ etc. (Harbison 1972, 202-4). (O' Donovan 1856-7, 448; Westropp 1907, 290-6; MacAlister 1910, 15; Harbison 1979, 177-88; Henry 1980, 36-46) Described by Harbison as 'The sandstone millstone grit cross which stands to the west of the doorway of the Cathedral gets its name because it has commonly been identified with the cross thus named in an entry in the Annals of the Four Masters under the year 1060. 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 75cm high, and 1.20m by 1.07m at ground level. Both base and shaft have roll mouldings the upright corners, and the panels are seperated by a raised rib which projects from each side towards the centre and turns back on itself without meeting the rib from the other side. The arms of the cross are tilted noticeably upwards and, unusually, the ring projects beyond the surface of the cross. The top of the cross is roof-shaped, and decorated with an imitation of roof-shingles. EAST FACE Base Lower Panel: Two Chariots. - Two chariots with large 8-spoked wheels, and probably drawn by two horses apiece, proceed towards the right. In addition to the charioteer, who holds the reins, there is one passenger in each vehicle. Upper panel : Horsemen. - Three men on horseback proceed towards the left. Porter's interpretation as the Magi on horseback is a possibility, though there is nothing to identify the horsemen. Shaft Plinth : Inscription . On the plinth at the bottom of the shaft there is a fragmentary inscription, the only absolutely certain letters of which are ANDORRO on the first line and AR at the end of the second. E1 : (?) JOSEPH INTERPRETS THE DREAM OF PHAROAH'S BUTLER. - Two figures in profile - that on the left in a long robe with a cloak and carrying a travelling bag on his back, that on the right in a short belted tunic with sword-grasp with both hands a stick which expands into a triangular space on each side, and with a rounded knob-like form on top. The stick has been interpreted as the corner-post of a church, which seems highly improbable. The head which Crawford noticed as being carved on the knob on top of the stick is almost certainyl secondary. In contrast to the popular interpretation of the two figures as having local significance-either St. Ciaran and King Diarmuid swearing a compact or placing the corner post of the first church there in the ground, or King Flann and Abbot Colman founding the Cathedral at Clonmacnois - it is suggested here that the panel is more likely to represent an episode in the story of Joseph, perhaps Joseph interpreting the Bulter's dream about the vine which the two figures may grasp between them. E2 : (?) THE CHIEF BUTLER GIVES THE CUP INTO PHAROAH'S HAND. - Two frontal bearded figures, dressed in long robes with cape, each having a brooch on the right shoulder and wearing a sword. One of the figures appears to offer the other a long, curving cylindrical object shaped like a horn. If the panel beneath is correctly interpreted here as belonging to the Joseph cycle, so also may this, in which case it could represent the butler on the left handing over a drinking horn (rather tham the biblically more correct cup) to the Pharoah on the right. E 3 : TRADITIO CLAVIUM. - Christ, seated in the centre and wearing a long robe, hands a key to St. Peter on the left and a book to St. Paul on the right. Peter and Paul both stand, and are dressed in long robes. Head Centre : THE LAST JUDGEMENT. - Christ stands with out-turned feet standing on a bar, and clad in a long robe, carrying a sceptre with curling ends over his right shoulder and a cross-staff over his left shoulder. To the left is a figure with flexed legs playing a flute, behind which, on the south arm, are the righteous turning towards Christ. To the right of Christ, on the north arm, is a figure with its back to Christ and holding what may be a three-pronged fork over the right shoulder, driving further to the right the wicked who have turned their backs on Christ on their way to eternal damnation. Top : MAJESTAS DOMINI. - A small central figure, presumably Christ seeming with an open book in front of him, and flanked by two figures, almost certainly angels. The limited space in the panel has reduced the height of the figures, giving the impression that Christ is seated and the two flanking figures kneeling. Ring: The ring, which stands out from the shaft and arms of the cross, is decorated with four roundels ornamented with a variety of boss motifs, from which the sanke-like animals emerge - those on the lowest boss seen from above with front legs projecting beside the head, Within the toll mouldings of the edges of the ring, there are panels of animal ornament. The cylinders are attached to the inner surface of the ring, their ends decorated with a central boss surrounded by pellets. SOUTH SIDE Base : Lower Panel - Hunting scene - Two figures in short tunics on the right raise their hands towards two dogs one above the other in front of them, and seem to be hunting two deer. The deer nearest the centre of the panel turns back its head and seems to have its back pierced by a spear. Upper panel : THE KISS OF JUDAS - Four figures carrying upright staves in front of them walk towards two figures in the right who are best understood as embracing one another. The four figures represent the multitude coming to arrest Christ, who is being embraced by Judas. Shaft Plinth: 'Inhabited Vine Scroll'. - A vine-scroll inhabited by two quadrupeds facing one another and with their heads facing outwards. The panel is much worn. S1 : Human interlace. Two sets of human interlace, one above the other, forming an X-shaped pattern, with the side spaces occupied by interlace. There is a human head in each of the corners of the sets of human interlace. S2 : DAVID PLAYING HIS LYRE - A frontal, long-robed figure stands holding a crook with volute head, and is protected by an angel with outspread wings above. The crook could suggest that the figure may represent David with the attribute of a shepherd. Head Underside of the ring. - The underside of the ring has panels of S-spirals flanking a sunken panel bearing two human heads enmeshed in the coilings of two serpents with pelleted backs, one having its head on top, the other with its head below. Underside of arm : THE HAND OF GOD - A left hand with beaded cuff, presumably the Hand of God, in a circle with beaded decoration. End of arm : A tronco-pyramidal boss with fret-pattern in the central square and having cylindrical cushions above and below. Upper side of ring : A sunken vertical panel in the centre contains interlace. Top of shaft : A panel of interlinked bosses having above it a panel of loose interlace. WEST FACE Base Lower Panel Left : CHRIST ENTERING JERUSALEM. - Christ, seated on a colt with bowed head, proceed towards the right. Behind the animal's head something stans out in relief which could be part of a human figure, or possibly a tree in the branches of which Zacchaeus may formerly have been visible. It is uncertain whether the figure in front of the animal is one of the crowd welcoming Christ and holding a palm in its left hand, or whether it belongs to the middle section of the panel, though the latter is the more likely. Centre : (?) THE RESURRECTION - The top part of the scene shows the upper part of three human figures, that in the middle possibly with arms outstretched. The lower part is very worn, and it is no longer possible to make out the details. Comparison with the scene on the south arm of the west face of Muirdeach's Cross at Monasterboice suggests that the three figures in the upper part may represent Christ with outstretched arms accompanied by two angels. The figure to the left of the group, mentioned in the preceding section, may be identical with the figure seen on the left in the Monasterboice representation. Right : THE HOLY WOMEN AT THE TOMB. - Two long robed figures advance from the right towards a much-worn figure holding a long object diagonally, and apparently seated on an object in the shape of a horizontal rectangle. The most satisfactory interpretation is that of two holy women approaching the tomb on which is seated an angel bearing a cross-staff and raising its hand in a gesture of speech or greeting. Upper panel : THE RAISED CHRIST / MISSION TO THE APOSTLES - Christ is shown, probably seated, in the centre of the panel, raising his right hand in blessing and possibly holding a book in his left hand. He is approached on each side by three figures, presumably Apostles, who raise their hands towards him. Shaft Plinth : Inscription On the plinth at the bottom of the shaft there are remains of an inscription, of which only certain letters are NDM. W1 : CHRIST IN THE TOMB - The body of Christ lies prostrate, with his head to the left. He is draped in a shroud bearing three equal armed crosses in relief along its length, and with pellet decoration around the face. Above the body is the horizontal stone of the tomb, on one end of which perches a bird which puts its beak into Christ's mouth, suggesting that it is breathing life into the dead body. Seated on the tombstone are the large figures of two soldiers, one on the left, the other in the centre. Their helmeted heads have fallen together in sleep, and each holds a spear over his shoulder. To the left of the spearhead of the soldier in the centre there is a small head, and another appears in the top-right corner of the panel. Seated on the right-hand end of the tombstone is an angel, in front of which stands a miniature figure. The two heads in the upper right-hand section may conceivably represent the same two ladies who approach the tomb on the bottom right of the base below. The identificatiuon of the small figure in front of the angel is enigmatic, but if the whole scene is related to Christ's descent into hell, it could represent Adam. W2 : THE MOCKING OR FLAGELLATION OF CHRIST. - A central figure, shown frontally though with feet pointing to the left, is flanked on each side by a figure in profile, presumably a soldier. That on the left holds in his right hand a rod which he strikes the central figure, presumably Christ, whose hands seem to be folded and possibly bound in front of him. In his left hand, the soldier on the left holds something which may be the rod of the soldier on the right whose hands are occupied in clutching Christ around the waist. The soldiers are presumably in the act of striking Christ in the first mocking scene or the flagellation. Although all three figures appear to be haloed, it seems likely that the 'haloes' of the flanking soldiers are best explained as the crests of helmets. W 3 : THE SOLDIERS CASTING LOTS FOR CHRIST'S SEAMLESS GARMENT - Of the three figures, presumably all representing soldiers, that in the centre is shown frontally, while the other two flanking figures are shown in half-profile. The two flanking soldiers hold up spears diagonally across their bodies. The soldier in the centre holds a knife in his right hand and with his left he holds one arm of the T-shaped garment which falls to the level of his knees, and the other arm of the garment is clasped by the left hand of the left-hand soldier. The central soldier is clothed in a robe to the ankles, presumably in order not to have the body of Christ's garment confused with his tunic, as the bottom of the garment is of approximately the same height as that of the tunics of the flanking soldiers. The scene is presumably intended to show the moment when the soldier hesitates about cuttin up the seamless garment. As with the panel beneath, the 'haloes' of the soldiers are best understood as the crests of helmets. Head Centre : THE CRUCIFIXION - Christ, represented as it wearing a short trouser-like garment and with his legs bound, is shown with his outstretched arms falling at an angle and with his large hands bearing the nail heads in the centre of the palms. To the left, Stephaton offers the vinegar in a vessel on the end of a long pole, while on the other side Longinus thrusts his spear into Christ's left arm-pit. There is a simple bar - a kind of suppedaneum - beneath Christ's feet, and a small figure of a winged angel above his head. North arm : (?) THE SUN OR (?) OCEAN - A figure clad in a short garment and holding up an object with a globular swelling above the figure's right hand, and a slightly expanding top. The object is not immediately identifiable, but may be a torch, somewhat larger than that held by the probable figure (?) the Moon on the opposite arm. The Sun is often found on Christ's right side on Crucifixion scenes of the first millenium. The figure could, however, also be interpeted as the element Ocean, with his water jar. South arm : (?)THE MOON OR (?) EARTH - A figure on one knee, turned towards Christ and with an arm drape. It holds up a narrow object, having a globular swelling with depressed centre beneath the expanding top. The object is perhaps a torch, and the figure, may represent the Moon, often found on Christ's left side on Carolingian representations of the Crucifixion. It coould, however, also be interpreted as the element Earth holding her cornucopia. Top : A panel with five interlinked bosses, above which is the roof, bearing an imitation of shingles. Ring : The ring, with roll mouldings at the edges, bears animal interlace on the lower left and upper right segments, while the other two bear bossed decoration linked so as to form part of S-shaped spirals. The cylinders are attached to the inner surface of the ring, but there is no trace of decoration on their ends. On the ring there are four roundels, those on the arms being flat, though there may have been interlace on the southern one. They may be related to the figures on the adjoining arms which probably represent the Sun and Moon, or Earth and Ocean. The other two roundels are carved in relief, that on the bottom bearing a bird with outspread wings flying downwards, while that on the top shows what seems like a horseman, but the devils are so worn that reliable identification is difficult. It seems unlikely that these roundels bear evangelistic symbols, as has sometimes been suggested. NORTH SIDE Base Lower panel : Animals - Much of the panel is occupied by three animals walking towards the right. That third from the right seems to be a unicorn, with a tail which passes between its hind legs and rises to a floral termination above its back. The other quadrupeds are difficult to identify, as is the creature on the extreme left - which may be a human driving the animals from behind. Upper panel : Three fabulous animals - Three fabulous animals looking left. Those at left and in the centre are clearly winged griffins, the central one trampling upon what may be a prostrate human body. There is an unidentified object (a human head and neck?) between these two animals. The right-hand animal has no wings and may be a lion, with its tail above its back and possibly holding a human leg in its mouth. The significance of the animals on this panel and the one underneath it is no longer clear. Shaft Plinth : On the plinth there is a framed panel containing two quadrupeds with necks contorted in such a way that their heads look sideways towards the observer. They are enmeshed in interlace, which may emanate from a tree centrally placed between the two animals. N1 : (?) St. Anthony overcoming the devil in human form. - A seated figure, dressed in long robes with folds, seems to hold in its left hand an unexplained heater-shaped object with somethin standing out in relief from its surface. In its right hand it holds a stick, with a bird (a falcon or raven?) perched on top of it, while the butt is rammed into the eye of a figure lying on its back on the ground with its feet up in the air and its hands folded. By analogy with the north arm of the west face of the Tall Cross at Monasterboice, and the west arm of the north face of the Market Cross at Kells, this panel may be related to one of the desert hermits, possibly St. Anthony, overcoming the devil in human form. N 2 : (?) THE BURIAL OF ST. PAUL THE HERMIT. - A long-robed figure playing an instrument consisting of three pipes. To the left of its head, a cat-like figure contorts itself so that its head seems to examine or lick the underisde of its body. Beneath the human figure there are two lions, back to back, with outward-facing heads and intertwined hind-legs. As the lions may be those which made their appearance to help dig the grave of St. paul the hermit, the figure may represent St. Anthony playing a lament for his deceased fellow. N 3 : (?) SAINTS PAUL AND ANTHONY. - A seated figure with hands raised and palm outwards, holds between its knees a crozier having an upward-curving spiral on each side at the top. Above it is a large disc, perhaps a brooch or clasp, with pellet decoration around the perimeter, and possibly attached to the garment of the seated figure. One of the strands of coiled hair falling on either side of the head of the seated figure is grasped by the left hand of a second figure standing above the first, and which holds a book or panel in the right hand. The scene is enigmatic, but the roughly T-shaped crozier of the seated figure could support its identification as St. Anthony, with whom the tau-shaped crozier is certainly associated in later medieval art, while the upper figure would then be most likely to represent St. Paul. Head Underside of the ring and arm Underside of ring : The underside of the ring has two vertical panels of interlace on the side, flanking a sunken panel with two human heads enmeshed in the figure of eight formed by a serpent with its head and tail at the top of the panel. Underside of arm : A cat-like figure with curved tail devouring the legs of an animal (a mouse?). End of arm : A tronco-pyramidal boss, with cylindrical cushions above and below, and with a central panel decorated with a cross-shape, or divided into nine panels, of which that in the centre bears a circular decoration and that to the left of it bearing interlace. But the whole panel is so worn that, even with oblique lighting, it is difficult to make sense of the pattern. Upper side of ring : There would seem to be a panel of interlace in the sunken vertical panel at the centre of the upper side of the ring. Top : A panel of bosses against a fretwork background, and with interlace above it.' (Harbison 1992 vol. 1, 48-53).

Metadata	Information
Source	The Discovery Programme
Contacts	Mr Anthony Corns Technology Manager The Discovery Programme 63 Merrion Square Dublin D2 Dublin Dublin Ireland +353 1 639 3039 +353 1 639 3710 info@discoveryprogramme.ie The Discovery Programme
Copyright Credit Line	Copyright © The Discovery Programme
Europeana Rights	Creative Commons - Attribution, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives (BY-NC-ND)
Spatial	Cross of the Scriptures, Clonmacnoise
Protection Type	National Monuments in State Care
Start Date	900
End Date	999
Period Name	10th century AD
Materials	Gritstone, Sandstone, Stone
Heritage Asset Type	Cross - High cross