It contains the four gospels of the bible in latin, along with prefatory and explanatory. The illumination above shows the symbol for the word christ. They were used universally as a shorthand for writing christs name, and the abbreviation is used throughout the book of kells. When it is the most beautiful page of the most beautiful book in history, i think. Book of kells, chi rho page detail in gospel of matthew including greek letters chi, rho, and iota. The book of kells contains the four gospels in latin based on the vulgate text which st jerome completed in 384ad, intermixed with readings from the earlier old latin translation. The initial chi in kells dramatically fills up more than half the page, leaping like a giant acrobat over the small upright rho and iota below. The book of kells seldom comes to view in the historical record. It remained at kells throughout the middle ages, venerated as the great gospel book of st colum cille, a relic of the saint, as.
Below are 21 incredible images from this beautiful and mysterious book. The letter chi dominates the page with one arm swooping across the. Its fame rests not on the text the vulgate version of the gospels but from its absolutely. This is a fullpage image of christ holding a gospel book.
The book of kells is an illuminated manuscript of the four gospels, created around 800 a. The page is rich in multilayered symbolism intended to engage its monastic audience with a range of eucharistic and christological themes. The book was created about 800 by irish monks in the. The letter chi dominates the page with the rho sort of snuggled underneath. Book of kells the library of trinity college dublin. As part of our discussion of the book of kells, we will contemplate the famous chirho page from the book of kells. The book of kells is one of the most famous illuminated manuscripts, and is an example of medieval art that blends pagan design with christian themes. Known as the crux decussata, this figure takes its name. They were used universally as a shorthand for writing christ s name, and the abbreviation is used throughout the book of kells. The chi rho page is one of the most widely pictured of the illuminated pages in the book of kells. Christian thought, the shape of the letter chi was associated with the cross. The letters chi, rho and i are an abbreviation of christ. Your medication, delivered learn more have a question. There is representational art, and there is nonrepresentational art, and theres also a sort of middle ground between these poles, and thats about it.
Made in 800ad by the monks belonging to the columban movement, it is probably irelands greatest national treasure. The book of kells is an illuminated manuscript, sometimes known as the book of columba, held in the trinity college library, dublin. This page occurs in many other insular manuscripts, but they cannot compare to the intricate decoration of the book of kells. In insular gospel books, at the end of the genealogy of christ in matthew 1. One of the most sublime examples of medieval painting ever seen, the monogram chirho page is the most important page in the late 8thcentury book of kells, arguably the finest of all illuminated manuscripts of the middle ages and famous for the intricate swirling patterns of its celtic art. The page precedes the nativity story as related by st matthew. Looking at this page it has many different colors and detailed line work. In expounding on the central position of the lozenge in the kells chi rho page, she shows how the lozenge on that folio brings together the four corners of the world. After a viking raid, the book was moved to kells, ireland, sometime in the 9th century. The symbol was also used by pagan greeks which was inscribed to mark a. The letters that look like xpi that form the primary page elements are respectively, the chi, the rho, and the iota. View image of the most famous page is known as chi rho credit. In the book of kells, the chi rho monogram has grown to consume the entire page. First thing that you would notice while examining closer would be the large symbol in the center that nearly covers the whole page.
One of the most spectacular displays of ornamented text in early irish manuscripts is the chirho page in the book of kells fig. Iona chirho book of kells i stand on ground ive walked before to seek the way and watch the moon rise into night illuminating with its light my thoughts they turn in time and place. The arms of the letter chi x simultaneously evoke the name of christ and the cross, as is discussed in another blog in this series devoted to the chi rho page. The kells initial also contains the third letter of christs name, iota i. Both letters are divided into compartments which are lavishly decorated with knot work and other patterns. Ornamental celebration of christs initial mention in text 3. I published three books on genesis from the sayings of the holy fathers concerning the letter and the spirit. The book of kells less widely known as the book of columba is an ornately illustrated manuscript, produced by celtic monks around ad 800. It is one of the more lavishly illuminated manuscripts to survive from the middle ages and has been described as the zenith of western calligraphy and illumination. Throughout the book of kells, there are very few names that are abbreviated. Matthews account of the nativity 3 the page is illustrated with images of animals and people. The book of kells glory of glories the most famous page is known as. Book of kells an illuminated manuscript gospel book.
Book of kells illumination of the chi rho page poster. Chi and rho are two letters of the greek alphabet, the. Page with chi rho monogram from the gospel of matthew in. All three letters are abundantly decorated, their curves drawn out into.
The book of kells trinity college dublin ms 58 contains the four gospels in latin based on the vulgate text which st jerome completed in 384ad, intermixed with readings from the earlier old latin translation. Illuminated chirho page of the book of kells about richly illuminated manuscript on parchment, dimensions. The most famous page is known as chi rho, which are the first letters of the word christ in ancient greek. It has survived long enough for the to expire and the book to enter the public domain. It is probable that the illumination was begun in the late 8th century at the irish monastery on the scottish island of iona and that after a viking raid the. Book of kells chi rho monogram page european manuscripts. Book of kells illumination of the chi rho page size. Chi and rho written x p in greek are the the first two letters of. The annals of ulster, describing it as the chief treasure of the western world, record that it was stolen in 1006 for its ornamental cumdach shrine. This volume today comprises 340 vellum leaves, or folios, now measuring 330 x 250 mm after being cropped in the eighteenth century for rebinding. This page has become known as the chirho monogram page.
These elaborately decorated initials are found not only in luxury volumes such as the book of kells, the lindisfarne gospels fig. The chirho page consists of the greek letters chi and rho that were used in medieval times to abbreviate the word christ. With quills and ink of iron gall on folded vellum, monks in their cells labored in hives of stone. The letter chi dominates the page with one arm swooping across the majority of the page. In insular books whatever symbolic importance the xp i incipit may have had seems to have been concentrated in the first letter.
The page dwells almost entirely on the name of christ, or rather on its traditional abbreviation into the chirho symbol say it kairoe. The book was created about 800 by irish monks in the monastery of iona, off the western coast of scotland. The letter chi is very large, followed by a smaller rho looks like the letter p, and this is entwined with the letter i. The word made flesh click here for a smaller 72 dpi image. One of the most sublime examples of medieval painting ever seen, the monogram chi rho page is the most important page in the late 8thcentury book of kells, arguably the finest of all illuminated manuscripts of the middle ages and famous for the intricate swirling patterns of its celtic art. There is also an iota, an i, the third letter, passing up through this spiral. The chi rho monogram from the book of kells rajkumar r medium. The chi rho page in the book of kells is perhaps the most elaborate and enigmatic illumination in the manuscript.
Medieval monks spent years copying elaborate manuscripts. The gospel texts are prefaced by other texts, including canon tables, or concordances of gospel passages common to two or more of the evangelists. The letter rho is snuggled underneath the arms of the chi. It was stolen in the 11th century, at which time its cover was torn off and it was thrown into a ditch. The chi rho page in the book of kells is perhaps the most elaborate. The letters xpi are the greek abbreviation for the word christi or christ. Chi rho the book of and the secret of kells youtube. Eusebius of caesarea, letter to carpianus on the gospel canons. The chi rho monogram from the book of kells rajkumar r. At the bottom on the left, we find two mice playing with what many identify as a eucharistic host. The gospel texts are prefaced by other texts, including canon tables.