Manx Crosses.

OR

THE INSCRIBED AND SCULPTURED MONUMENTS
OF THE ISLE OF MAN FROM ABOUT THE END
OF THE FIFTH TO THE BEGINNING OF THE
THIRTEENTH CENTURY

BY

P. M. C. KERMODE, F.S.A.SCOT.
Hon. Memb. Vidensk-Selsk, Christiania

Fully illustrated from drawings of the Crosses specially prepared by the Author, founded upon rubbings, and carefully compared with photographs and with the stones themselves ; besides numerous figures in outline and a map showing distribution of the monuments

 

LONDON:
BEMROSE & SONS, LIMITED, 4, SNOW HILL, E.C. ; AND DERBY.

1907.

(All Rights Reserved.)

TO THE Manx People

This Account of a class of Monuments in which the Isle of Man is peculiarly rich — many of them our only contemporary records of the early Christian period, many of great artistic merit, and all the handiwork of our own Celtic and Scandinavian forefathers — is respectfully dedicated by the Author

CONTENTS

 

PAGES

PREFACE

vii

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS-FIGURES AND PLATES

xiii

LIST OF THE EARLY SCULPTURED AND INSCRIBED STONES OF THE ISLE OF MAN

xix

INTRODUCTION:-

 

Period of the Monuments; Ancient Keeils, Cells, and Churches; Arrival of the Scandinavians as Heathens; the first Scandinavian Bishop; earliest date of the Scandinavian Cross-slabs; latest date of Monuments of this class; their material, nature, and purpose; their Distribution in the Island ; Literature of the subject ; Casts ; Authorities ; Plan of present work; Illustrations; Arrangement

1-11

ART OF THE CROSSES :-

 

The place of the Manx Monuments; Development of the Cross from the Chi-Rho Monogram; Distribution, dimensions, and nature of the Monuments; almost total absence of Symbolism ; Nature of the Inscriptions ;
Class I, Pre-Scandinavian Slabs.-Incised; absence of Art on Ogam Stones; Linear Crosses ; Outline Crosses; Alpha and Omega ; Forms of Cross; Incised, decorated ; Triquetra ; Hexafoil ; Sunk work ; Crosses inRelief, undecorated; Latin Cross ; Celtic Cross ; Wheel Cross ; in Relief, decorated; Cruciform Stones; Altar Slab; Crucifix; Geometrical Designs; Evolution of the Manx form of Twist and Ring Design; Zoomorphic work; Figure subjects; Local forms of Plaitwork ; Pastoral Staff and the Staff Lands; Daniel in the Lion's Den; Summary Table of Patterns and Designs ; Distribution of decorative ornament on the Pre-Scandinavian pieces.
Class II., Scandinavian.-A continuation of the earlier series; Celtic type of Cross, the established form ; the first Scandinavian Sculptor; Varieties in the form of Cross; Distribution; Runes; Decorative Designs not derived from the earlier Monuments; local peculiarities introduced by Gaut ; Decorative treatment of the head of the Cross; Geometrical Designs ; Link-twist Designs, and patterns derived from them; Gaut's Ring-chain Pattern, its evolution; Tendril Pattern; Description of Decoration on the different Crosses; Geometrical and Zoomorphic Designs; Figure subjects; Norse Mythology; Sigurd Fafni's Bane; Adam and Eve; Summary Table of Designs on Scandinavian pieces; local peculiarities and originality of the Manx decorative work; date of the more highly ornamented pieces; Origin of the Art ; its adaptability to modern purposes

12-70

INSCRIPTIONS:-

 

Ogams : their Origin and Distribution; Alphabets and Inscriptions; Latin Inscriptions and the alphabets used on the Manx Monuments. Runes, their Origin ; Dr. Brate's Introductory Remarks on Manx Runology ; Language of the Runic Inscriptions; Anglian Runes ; Scandinavian Runes; Futhork or Alphabet ; Manx Runic Inscriptions translated; Characters, Language, and Formula, derived from the heathen Scandinavian Monuments ; the south of Norway and east Gothia in Sweden, the homes of the Rune-cutters and Sculptors, and probably of many of the Manx settlers; Fusion of the Races ; Vocabulary, ninety-two words including names

71-95

DESCRIPTION OF THE MONUMENTS:-

 

Class I, Pre-Scandinavian.-First discovery in the Island of Ogams ; the Ogam-inscribed Stones ; Stones bearing Incised Linear Crosses; Crosses Incised in Outline ; Incised pieces, decorated ; Latin Inscription ; Sunk work ; Crosses in Relief, undecorated ; in Relief, decorated ; Crux Guriat ; Ladle as symbol of priestly office; Calf of Man Crucifix. Cross-slabs, with Geometrical Designs; with Zoomorphic Decoration ; with Figure subjects; Scripture subjects.
Class II., Scandinavian-Bishop Roolwer; Design of two Birds; Virgin and Child, original treatment; Pastoral Staff; Gaut's Crosses, geometrical; Inscription in Bind-runes; Zoomorphism ; Figure subjects; the Norse Mythology; Story of Sigurd Fafni's Bane; where figured elsewhere; Examples in the Isle of Man: Jurby, Malew, Andreas, Maughold ; Sequence and Period; the Thor Cross, Bride; Odin piece, Jurby ; Heimdall and Hyndla, Jurby ; Odin and the material joys of Valhalla, Michael; the Giant Hræsvelgr, Michael; Odin and the Fenris Wolf, Andreas; Animal Figures on the Sandulf Cross, Andreas; Swedish Cross, Michael; Harper and Valkyrie ; Late Ogams ; Animal figures on the Joalf Cross, Michael ; Scratched Runes ; Dragon Crosses, Braddan ; Runic Inscriptions, with no ornament; Latest Ogam Inscriptions, Maughold; Adam and Eve Stone, Bride, Norman Treatment; Addendum, Fragment showing Anglian Runes, Maughold

96-218

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