High Cross of Muiredach Monasterboice, Ireland, 923 Early medieval Irish high crosses are
High Cross of Muiredach Monasterboice, Ireland, 923 Early medieval Irish high crosses are exceptional in size. Muiredach’s cross marked his grave and bears reliefs depicting the Crucifixion and Last Judgment, themes suited to a Christian funerary monument.(Read More Now doesn’t work here) The High Cross of Muiredach at Monasterboice, Ireland, is one of the largest and finest early medieval crosses. An inscription on the bottom of the west face of the shaft asks a prayer for a man named Muiredach. Most scholars identify him as the influential Irish cleric of the same name who was abbot of Monasterboice and died in 923. The monastery he headed was one of Ireland’s oldest, founded in the late fifth century. The cross probably marked the abbot’s grave. The concave arms of Muiredach’s cross are looped by four arcs that form a circle. The arms expand into squared terminals. The circle intersecting the cross identifies the type as Celtic. At the center of the west side is a depiction of the crucified Christ. On the east side (above) the risen Christ stands as judge 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 12th century church portals pursued with extraordinary intensity. (x) -- source link
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