Cross — High cross in Clonmacnoise

National Monument No. 81. 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 1970, 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 (1992 vol. 1, 48-53) as following: '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 detail