Killamery High Cross

Killamery Cross is a 9th-century high cross and National Monument in Killamery, County Kilkenny, Ireland.[1] It is located in the north of Killamery graveyard.[2]

Killamery High Cross
Native name
Irish: Ardchros Chill Lamraí
The Maelsechnaill Cross
The Snake-Dragon Cross
TypeHigh cross
LocationKillamery, County Kilkenny, Ireland
Coordinates52.475437°N 7.446012°W / 52.475437; -7.446012
AreaAnner Valley
Height3.65 metres (12.0 ft)
Built9th century AD
Official nameKillamery Cross
Reference no.75
Killamery High Cross is located in Ireland
Killamery High Cross
Location of Killamery High Cross in Ireland

History

A monastery was established at Killamery by St Gobhan, a disciple of Saint Fursey, in AD 632. The Killamery High cross is part of the western Ossory group of crosses, used as a model for many of the small high crosses sold across the world as an Irish symbol.[3]

Locals formerly touched the cross's capstone to cure headaches.[4][5]

Description

The cross stands 3.65 metres (12.0 ft) high. It is richly sculptured on the shaft with marigold flowers carved on it. There is a boss in the middle of the wheel-head that is surrounded by interlacing snakes and, above the boss, an open-mouthed dragon, giving it the name of the Snake-Dragon Cross.

The western face has a sun swastika at the centre and also depicts Adam and Eve, a stag hunt and a chariot procession.[2][6] On top of the cross is a gabled cap-stone. Noah and John the Baptist are depicted. On the base an inscription reads OR DO MAELSECHNAILL, "a prayer for Máel Sechnaill", who was high king of Ireland in 846–862.

Other artefacts

There is also a cross-slab of an earlier date the inscription OROIT AR ANMAIN N-AEDAIN, "Pray for the soul of Áedáin". Two bullaun stones can also be seen. There is also a holy well, St Goban's Well.[7][8][9] [10]

References
  1. "Killamery, Co. Kilkenny".
  2. "Killamery high cross - Nigel Borrington".
  3. Hourihane, Colum (1 January 2001). From Ireland Coming: Irish Art from the Early Christian to the Late Gothic Period and Its European Context. Princeton University Press. ISBN 9780691088259 – via Google Books.
  4. Richardson, Hilary; Scarry, John (1 January 1990). An introduction to Irish high crosses. Mercier Press. ISBN 9780853429548 – via Google Books.
  5. Monk, Michael A.; Sheehan, John (1 January 1998). Early Medieval Munster: Archaeology, History and Society. Cork University Press. ISBN 9781859181072 – via Google Books.
  6. "Killamery High Cross".
  7. "Killamery High Cross". megalithic.co.uk.
  8. "Killamery High Cross - Tulllahought Tidy Towns".
  9. "Killamery High Cross".
  10. "Killamery High Cross". megalithicireland.com.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.