The book of kells is located at the trinity college in dublin and it is open for public visits, most times. The dart stations of pearse street, tara street and. The book measures x10 inches 33x25 cm and is made of vellum pages decorated in painted images which are accompanied by latin text written in insular script in various colors of ink. Only one of the irish charters in the book of kells can be. The book of kells itself is believed to have been written around 800ad, perhaps at iona but its precise location is not certain. The book of kells is one of the finest and most famous, and also one of the latest, of a group of manuscripts in what is known as the insular style, produced from the late 6th through the early 9th centuries in monasteries in ireland, scotland and england and in continental monasteries with hibernoscottish or anglosaxon foundations. Beautiful by far the best modern short account of one of the great. Ireland and the book of kells history course futurelearn. One page from the book of kells and what it can tell us. The book of kells exhibition is a mustsee on the itinerary of all visitors to dublin. One of the great masterpieces in the history of irish art, and a worldfamous example of early. The 9th century book is a richly decorated copy of the four gospels of the life of jesus christ. Its regarded as one of the greatest cultural treasures of ireland and described by some as the most famous manuscript in the world.
The book of kells features a latin version of the four gospels and highly ornate drawings of the apostles and other biblical figures that resemble stainedglass window images. Over 20 stab marks were recently discovered in the manuscript. It was created by celtic monks some time around 800 ad. Trinity college dublin is right in the heart of dublin and well served by cross city buses. The book of kells, one of great treasures of medieval europe, is an illuminated manuscript gospel book in latin, containing four gospels of new testament matthew, mark, luke and john together with various prefatory texts and tables. Book of kells an illuminated manuscript of the gospels made by irish monks in the 8th or 9th century now kept at trinity college in dublin, ireland what is one of the best known pages in the book. Our online book of kells brochures are available in the following languages. The book of kells contains the four gospels of the christian scriptures written in black, red, purple, and yellow ink in an insular majuscule script, preceded by prefaces, summaries, and concordances of gospel passages. Situated just off grafton street in the heart of dublin, trinity is perfectly located to explore the city.
The book of kells sits in a darkened room encased in protective glass in the old library here at trinity college. Why do so many people travel from across the world to see it. The book of kells is irelands greatest cultural treasure and the worlds most famous medieval manuscript. While the book of kells is far from unique, it is one of the greatest examples of this type of document and one of the earliest. It contains the four gospels of the new testament based on the vulgate text of st jerome, certain older latin translations, canon tables, summaries of the gospels and prefaces characterizing the evangelists. Learn more from dr jane maxwell, manuscripts curator at.
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