It is a translation from latin and dates from the 9th century. Strictly speaking, rather than the book of kells, named after a town in county meath, it should be called the book of iona, as its thought that it was monks on that remote scottish island who. They were used universally as a shorthand for writing christs name, and the abbreviation is used throughout the book of kells. Chi rho iota, book of kells how is the initial r from the moralia in job typically romanesque. The book of kells is an illuminated manuscript gospel book in latin, containing the four.
The chi rho page in the book of kells is perhaps the most elaborate and enigmatic illumination in the manuscript. Eastern influence on the design illuminations symbols of the evangelists monogram page chiro and others legacy other irish illuminated gospel. Irelands book of kells is considered to be one of the greatest examples of an illustrated manuscript. Book painting, medieval illuminations, books of hours, psalters. For the meaning and interpretation of other manuscript illuminations, see. Many believe that cultures that are located much further east than the british. The chi rho is a symbol made up of the first two greek letters that spell the name of christ. The chi rho page is considered the most famous page in medieval art and. This is particularly true of the book of kells written about the end of the 8th century. A masterpiece of medieval calligraphy and artistry, the book of kells is an illuminated manuscript of the four gospels of.
In the book of kells, the chi rho monogram has grown to consume the entire page. The book was created about 800 by irish monks in the. Columbas order of iona, scotland, but exactly where it was made is disputed. Book of kells the library of trinity college dublin trinity college. Drk rio arh101 chapter 15 early medieval art in europe.
Currently the book of kells is housed at trinity college in dublin ireland and seen by half a million visitors a year. It is an early christian symbol allegedly seen by constantine before his great battle at. In the book of kells, the carpet page on folio 33r is positioned. The book of kells trinity college dublin ms 58 contains the four gospels in latin. Best of all was the chance to visit the book of kells as many times as i wanted. The book of kells has a second chi rho abbreviation on folio 124 in the account of the crucifixion of christ, and in some manuscripts the chi rho occurs at the beginning of matthew rather than midtext at matthew 1. The book of kells is often called the most beautiful book in the world. One artist was possibly responsible for works such as the chirho monogram. It was made in ireland, or possibly england, about ad800, by monks belonging to the columban movement. The word made flesh click here for a smaller 72 dpi image as part of our discussion of the book of kells, we will contemplate the famous chi rho page from the book of kells. The chi rho page, the book of kells, tcd ms 58, folio 34r. The book of kells is an illuminated manuscript of the four christian gospels. What this means is that the illustrations of a book, often a bible or the gospels, are. The first mention of the book of kells in history was in the monastery records in.
Most of this was filmed around the reed marshes at snape, suffolk close to the home of the british c. The chi rho page folio 34r, introducing matthews account of the nativity. The ornate letters at the beginning of each section, for instance the chi rho page first. The most famous page is known as chi rho, which are the first. Most of this was filmed around the reed marshes at snape, suffolk close to the home of the british composer benjamin britten and features. Chirho from the book of kells, an illuminated manuscript gospel book in latin, containing the four gospels of the new testament, together with various. Chi rho iota page from the book of kells the large greek letters chi rho iota xpi abbreviate the word christi that starts the latin phrase christi autem generatio from the book of matthew 1.