Here's my photo of the second oldest sight we saw in Ireland.It's the Muiredach Cross which dates from the 10th century. The cross stands in the middle of the ruins of the medieval monastery of Monasterboice, which was founded by a little known disciple of St. Patrick known as St. Buite. Anybody ever hear of St. Buite?
It is massive--17 feet 8 inches tall. One side of the cross depicts scenes from the Old Testament and one side stories from the New Testament. The monks used it to teach the Bible because the people couldn't read the Latin in which the Bible was written at the time and also couldn't read anything else.
The cross is in the middle of an ancient graveyard that you can see in the background. It is full of different styles of Celtic crosses.
You don't see the well-preserved and restored ancient sites in Ireland that you see in Britain. Most of the historic sites we visited have a wall, or a tower, or the outline of a foundation standing. At Monasterboice this famous cross, the graveyard and a small tower are all that remain of the medieval monastery.
8 comments:
You knew I'd love that one!
That would make a great medallion!! ...the design.....not the actual cross ;)
Beautiful, and I'm amazed at its condition.
Makes me want to go back to Ireland again. Many of the pictures we took when we went in 2002 have been misplaced, lost, and one very precious set of pics was mostly lost when the camera accidentally opened.
Yes, GG, I KNEW you'd love that cross, so I posted it first!
Did you say St. Booty???
Welcome home.
Sounds like a great trip.
WOW!
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