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Cross of the Scriptures
Clonmacnois, Co. Offaly, Ireland
Perhaps the most gracefully proportioned of all the Irish High Crosses, this 9th
century stone cross stands 13 feet high. Monks used the interlinked panels of
the scripture crosses like a picture book to teach about Christ. The scenes may
be tentatively identified as follows, from the bottom upwards;
1. Joseph (left) interprets the dream of Pharaoh's Butler.
2. Chief Butler (left) hands the drinking horn to Pharaoh.
3. Christ handing the key to Peter (right) and the book of the New Testament to
Paul (left).
Center: The Last Judgment - Christ carrying the cross-staff and scepter. Good
souls on left coming to Christ or heaven - bad souls on right going away from
Christ to the devil.
Top: Christ in Glory accompanied by two angels.
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