Early Christian Symbolism in Great Britain and Ireland before the Thirteenth Century

This highly illustrated 1887 book offers a particular focus on the Celtic crosses of Ireland, and their sculptural symbolism.

J. Romilly Allen (Author)

9781108082624, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 28 July 2016

440 pages, 154 b/w illus.
21.5 x 13.9 x 2.5 cm, 0.6 kg

The civil engineer and archaeologist John Romilly Allen (1847–1907) delivered the Rhind lectures of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland in 1885, and published them in book form in 1887. The art of pre-Norman Britain and Ireland had long been a subject of fascination for him, and in this highly illustrated book he considers the wider European context of British art, and the chronology of Christianity from the Romano-British period onwards. There is a particular focus on the Celtic crosses of Ireland, and the meaning of the sculpture on their faces, shafts and bases. Allen continues his analysis of Norman architecture up to the end of the twelfth century. The final chapter considers the symbolism of medieval bestiaries, and Allen ends with a plea for the establishment of a museum of Christian archaeology to bring together in one place all the different manifestations of British Christian art.

Preface
1. Early Christian symbolism in foreign countries
2. Romano-British period and Celtic sepulchral monuments
3. The high crosses of Ireland (subjects on the heads)
4. The high crosses of Ireland (subjects on the shafts and bases)
5. Norman sculpture, chiefly in the architectural details of churches
6. The medieval bestiaries
Index.

Subject Areas: Medieval European archaeology [HDDM]