Cross-slab

The National Monuments Service's description

National Monument No. 313. A sixth century monastery was founded at Durrow reputedly by Colum Cille [of the church] who died in 597 and whose feastday is celebrated on the 9th of June (Ó Riain 2011, 213-14). Early Christian cross-inscribed slab (H 1.1m; Wth 0.42m; T 0.19m) of possible 10th century date described by Crawford (1913, 263) as 'a narrow slab of sandstone 3ft. 7in.(1.09m) by 1ft. 4in. (0.41m), incised with one of the finest cross designs known. A ringed Latin cross of three lines, with square centre, and three rectangular extremities containing knots. The top is semicircular and contains a spiral pattern. The segments of the ring are ornamented with a running design of spirals. In one line down the sinister side is inscribed Or do aigidiu'. This can be translated as Pray for Aigide (Petrie and Stokes 1878, 56). The slab was described by Macalister (1949, 40-1) as `an unusually elaborate five-line cross, square expansions at the centre and the three lower terminals, a semi-circular expansion at the top, all decorated with interlacements and spiral patterns'. Listed as Durrow (b) in Crawfords catalogue of cross-slabs at Durrow. See attached image of cross-slab taken from Macalister 1949. According to Lionard (1961, 127) this slab was probably dedicated to Aegidium or Egidius who was probably the father of Aed, mac Aicidi, lord of Teffia who died in 954-55. This cross-slab has been moved into the C of I church (OF009-005013-) where it has been mounted on the S wall of the church. The church has been recently converted into a heritage centre by the OPW and now houses the Durrow high cross (OF009-005010-) and the cross-slabs (OF009-005015-/020-) that were located in the surrounding graveyard (OF009-005009-).

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 23 April 2014

References

Macalister, R.A.S. 1949 Corpus Inscriptionum Insularum Celticarum, 2 vols. Dublin. Irish Manuscripts Commission.

Crawford, H.S. 1913 A descriptive list of early cross-slabs and pillars. (cont.) Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 43, 151-69, 261-5, 326-34.

Petrie, G. 1878 Christian inscriptions in the Irish language. Chiefly collected and drawn by George Petrie, LL. D.; and edited by Margaret Stokes, 2 vols. Dublin.

Lionard, P. 1961 Early Irish grave-slabs. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 61C, 95-161.

Ó Riain, P. 2011 A dictionary of Irish Saints. Dublin. Four Courts Press.