High Cross of Muiredach Monasterboice, Ireland, 923 Earlymedieval Irish high crosses are exceptional
High Cross of Muiredach Monasterboice, Ireland, 923 Earlymedieval Irish high crosses are exceptional in size. Muiredach’scross marked his grave and bears reliefs depicting the Crucifixionand Last Judgment, themes suited to a Christian funerary monument.(Read More Now doesn’t work here)TheHigh Cross of Muiredachat Monasterboice, Ireland, is one of the largest and finest earlymedieval crosses. An inscription on the bottom of the west face ofthe shaft asks a prayer for aman named Muiredach. Most scholars identify him as the influentialIrish cleric of the same name who was abbot of Monasterboice and diedin 923. The monastery he headed was one of Ireland’s oldest,founded in the late fifth century. The cross probably marked theabbot’s grave. The concave arms of Muiredach’s cross are loopedby four arcs that form a circle. The arms expand into squaredterminals. The circle intersecting the cross identifies the type asCeltic. At the center of the west side is a depiction of thecrucified Christ. On the east side (above) the risen Christ stands asjudge of the world, the hope of the dead. Below him the souls of the dead are being weighed on scales—a theme that sculptors of 12thcentury church portals pursued with extraordinary intensity. (x) -- source link
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