Ardboe High Cross
| Ardboe High Cross | |
|---|---|
| Ardboe Cross | |
stone | |
| Subject | Bible  |
| Dimensions | 18.5 ft (5.6 m) × 3.5 ft (1.1 m) |
| Designation | scheduled monument |
| Location | Ardboe, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 54°37′10″N 6°30′19″W / 54.61953°N 6.50519°W |
| ] | |
Ardboe High Cross (Irish: Seanchrois Ard Bó) is a high cross and national monument dating from the tenth century located in Ardboe, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.
The cross stands at the entrance to a cemetery and a monastery and a church from the seventeenth century which was founded in 590 by Saint Colman. The monastery was destroyed by fire in the twelfth century. It is believed to have been erected in either the ninth or the tenth century. The name "Ard Boe" means "hill of the cow" it comes from a legend that the monastery of Ardboe was built from the milk of a magic cow out of Lough Neagh.[1][2][3] and forms the only remaining part of an early monastery on the site.[4]
At around 18.5 feet (5.6 m), Ardboe High Cross is Northern Ireland's tallest cross.[5] Although the head of the cross is damaged, it seems to be the only such cross in Northern Ireland to remain largely complete and original.[4]
History of the cross
Around 590 AD, St Colman founded an abbey or monastery at Ardboe, on an elevated site overlooking Lough Neagh.
Description and identification
This cross is about 18.5 feet (5.6 m) high and 3.5 feet (1.1 m) wide. It depicts twenty two panels of Old and New Testament scenes.
The east face of the cross depicts the
The south side represents Cain murdering Abel, David (or Samson) and the lion, the fight of David and Goliath and the Desert Saints Paul and Anthony, fed by the raven.
The north side portrays the early life of Christ, including in his
References
- ^ "Ardboe High Cross". The Chrono Centre - Queens University Belfast. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 29 November 2007.
- ^ "Ardboe High Cross". Triskelle. Retrieved 29 November 2007.
- ^ "Ardboe Old Cross". Discover Northern Ireland. Retrieved 29 November 2007.
- ^ a b O'Neill, B., ed. (2002). Irish Cathedrals, Churches and Abbeys. London: Caxton Editions. p. 63.
- ^ "Irish High Crosses - Ardboe". Megalithic Ireland. Retrieved 29 November 2007.
External links
- Geography in Action - Photograph of Ardboe High Cross Archived 11 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine