Development of stone carving
Aglish Pillar
Duvillaun Slab
Fahan Mura Slab
Carndonagh Cross
The North Cross Aheeny
The South Cross Aheeny
Muiredach's Cross
The Cross of Moone
Aglish Pillar
Aglish Pillar
• Co Kerry
• Now in National Museum
• Has a Greek cross , inscribed in a circle,
cut into its surface
• Ogham writing up the side
Duvillaun Slab
Duvillaun Slab
• Co Mayo
• Carved decoration on
back and front
• Like Aglish Pillar has
Greek cross inscribed
in a circle
• Other side has a
primitive Crucifixion
• Spiral design
(Newgrange)
Fahan Mura Slab
Fahan Mura Slab
• Co Donegal
• The surface area of the slab
around the form of cross has
been carved away allowing the
cross to stand out in high relief
• The Greek cross now has a
stem
• Powerfully decorated on both
sides with interwoven strap
work (manuscripts)
• On one side two figures stand
on either side of the cross
• 2 bumps project from either
side of slab (wooden arms may
have attached to these)
Carndonagh Cross
Carndonagh Cross
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Co Donegal
Primitive outline of a cross
Strap work decoration
A. One side is pure non figurative
decoration
B. Other side is a mixture of
decoration and figures
Second Side (B) has a large figure
presumably Christ, he is surrounded
by 4 small figures packed tightly into
spaces beneath the upraised arms
and on either side of the head.
Side (B) underneath is a small
rectangular panel with three more
figures this time seen in profile
The strap work itself forms a Greek
cross above the figurative section
Possibly made in same workshop as
Fahan Mura Slab (strap work
decoration is similar)
Side A
side B
North Cross at Aheeny
• East Face
• West Face
North Cross Aheeny.
Aheeny Co. Tipperary.
8th century.
Short cross worth a widely spaced
ring and base.
Unusual conical shaped cap.
Decoration on both north and south
crosses echoes metalwork motifs of
the time such as interlace, Celtic
spirals, and geometric patterns.
Cap and West Face
North Cross Aheeny
• The rounded bosses are
similar to studs found in
metal work from the
period.
High relief rope moulding
on outer edge of crosses
similar to decoration on
Tara brooch
• The lower south arc of
the ring is missing
• Scalloped indents where
the horizontal arms meet
the vertical shaft.
North Cross East Face
• East face- The head of the cross is outlined with rope like
border and filled with delicate and precise interlacing
• This surrounds 5 convex bosses.
• The ring on the head is ornamented with a sequence of
spirals joined by diagonals and enclosing 3 birds heads
East Face
South Cross Aheeny
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Aheeny, Co Tipperary
Full ring intact
Small irregular cap
Base is plain.
South Cross East Face
• Interlacing at top resembles wickerwork
• All 5 bosses are flat with ringed surfaces
• Lower on shaft is a pattern is a pattern of 5
spirals, similar to that on the North Cross,
each with a bird head in the centre.
West Face
• Irregular interlacing
around central boss
• The bosses are raised
and round
• Lower down are 2 sets of
5 spirals
• On the ring - the upper
sections features an
interlacing pattern, while
the lower ones are
decorated with inter
connecting pairs of
spirals
Muiredach’s Cross
• Name comes from inscription “Pray for
Muiredach who had this cross erected”
• Monsterboice, Co. Louth
• Muiredach is said to have been an abbot who
died in 923, which helps to date the cross.
• Both the east and west faces are almost entirely
covered with figure compositions, carved in high
relief.
• Cap stone is a separate stone, carved as a small
church with finials at either end of the roof.
Muiredach’s cross
West face – Muiredach’s cross
• Five subjects depicted,
from the bottom:
• 1- The arrest of Christ
• 2-Doubting Thomas
• 3-Christ giving keys to
Peter and the book of
new Law to Paul
• 4-The Crucifixion (across
the arms of cross)
• 5-Moses between Aaron
and Hur (old testament)
East Face-Muiredach's cross
• Six panels carved
• More crowded than other side with some panels showing
more than one subject
• 1-The bottom panel depicts both Adam and Eve and
Cain slaying Abel
• 2-David and Goliath
• 3-Saul and Jonathon
• 4-Moses striking the rock
• 5-The adoration of the Magi
• 6-The Last Judgement (Large panel across arms) Christ
the judge divides the blessed and the damned, below his
feet souls are weighed
Stone Carving in the early 10th
century
• The carvings on Muiredach’s cross were revolutionary
and can be compared to other crosses such as the tall
west cross at Monsterboice, the cross of scriptures at
Clonmacnoise the high cross at Durrow and the market
cross in Kells.
• The development of crosses seems to have been prolific
during the early decades of the tenth century. The years
between 875 – 915 (the 40 year recess from Viking
raids) were used to rebuild monasteries, round towers
and re group their forces. Stone carving matured
considerably at this time. Towards the middle of the 10th
century the carving of crosses ceased and was revived
again a century later when styles and concepts changed
radically.
Cross of Moone
The Cross of Moone
• Co. Kildare 9th century.
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This cross is unusual
in that the base is taller than
most. The base is shaped like a pyramid so that
there is no step between it and the mid section
of the cross.
• There is a relatively small ring with biblical scenes, both
Old and New testament are depicted on the base. The
space between the ring and arms is cut away.
• The cross used to stand in a graveyard, to the south of a
ruined church, but has been moved by the Office of
Public Works to within the ruins of the church for safety.
A glass roof now protects it from the elements.
The Cross of Moone
• Lithographs made in 1857 of
the cross show it as a shorter
cross than we see today. The
mid section was found at the
end of the 19th century in the
churchyard. Lord Walter
Fitzgerald had it placed on the
base and the head placed on
top. It now measures 7.65
meters high and is in 3parts,
head, shaft, and base. (see
handout)
• When the cross was moved
the repair work was re-done
with greater skill and with a
slightly paler granite.
Cross of Moone East Face
• The figure of Christ in
glory occupies the centre
of the head. It has been
deeply eroded over the
years and only the outline
can be made out now.
The shaft or mid section
is covered with a number
of panels and abstract
designs.
Cross of Moone West Face
• The Crucifixion
occupies the narrow
top of the base.
• Underneath this are
12 apostles, set side
by side in 3 rows of
four. (pl 33)
Cross of Moone South side
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The south side includes one
scene from the old testament, the
three children in a fiery furnace
Below is a unique nativity scene,
the flight of the Holy Family into
Egypt
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At the bottom a large panel is
taken up with one of Christ’s most
memorable miracles: the feeding
of 5,000 with just 5 barley loaves
and two small fishes The design
is reduced to its essentials; the
lack of a human figure suggests
that the intended audience may
have already been aware of the
story.