Cross - High cross

The National Monuments Service's description

The south cross is also known as the cross of Saints Patrick and Columba because of the inscription on its base. The ringed cross (H 2.7m; Wth 1.25m) has a shaft (dims 0.51m x 0.29m) and stands on a pyramidal base (dims at base 1.45m x 1.3m; H 0.6m) which has a hunting scene on the E face. The worn edges of the cross have roll mouldings, but no frames separate the panels. Panels are listed from the bottom. The E face has representations of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, the children in the furnace, and Daniel in the lion’s den. The head has interlace with seven bosses at the crux, the sacrifice of Isaac, Saints Paul and Anthony, and David playing a harp. The W side has a crucifixion on the shaft and Christ in majesty on the head. The extremities of the arms have David killing a lion at N and at S, while the top has Centaur (S) and SS Patrick and Columba (?) at N. (Harbison 1992, vol. 1, 108-11)

See attached image

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 2 July, 2014

References

Harbison, P. 1992 The high crosses of Ireland: an iconographical and photographic survey, 3 vols. Dublin. Royal Irish Academy. Bonn. Dr. Rudolf Habelt GMBH.