Introduction to the Book of Kells

    In another post, I will go into more detail about the meaning in the illustrations. 

     I first discovered the Book of Kells when I took a course on the history of the book during my masters program at the University of Washington in Seattle. I was fascinated by the intense detail, the colors and the artwork--especially the tendency to work in small animals or designs at the end of lines. I didn’t learn the symbolic meanings of the art until much later, although I did learn that the designs were pagan in origin and that the book was intended to communicate through its art with new converts who were illiterate. Since then I’ve discovered that there is a good deal more to it.

     Part of the reason I want to share this book with you is its sheer beauty, but I also want to share some of its background and symbolism. When the book was made, Ireland was only newly Christian. The monks were still very much involved in missionary work. They needed a way to communicate with people who could not read and to whom Christianity was strange. The art work is heavily symbolic. Of course, Christian symbols dominate, but the pagan and the ordinary and familiar appear, too.  We can recognize many of the symbols today (the cross, for example), but the meaning of most of the symbols is lost for us. In fact, some of the meaning is even lost on the scholars. Why, for example, are men often shown pulling each other’s beards? Over the centuries, the illuminators began to focus more on “prettiness” and less on visual symbolism. And with increased literacy, there was greater dependence on communicating through words. In very recent years there has been a return to an understanding of the importance of symbols in our lives. I think learning something about this book and its contents can enrich our spiritual lives today.

     Christianity was introduced into Ireland in the late 4th century. The fact that St. Patrick was sent to northern Ireland as a missionary in 431 B.C. suggests that southern Ireland was already evangelized. During the 7th to the 11th centuries, Irish monks established monasteries throughout Europe, among them Bobbio in Italy which was especially known for its illuminated manuscripts. The Book of Kells is the best known of several surviving manuscripts which the Irish monks made. It is not illuminated. That is, no silver or gold leaf was used.

     There is controversy about where the book was made. It was probably made at either the monastery at Iona or the monastery at Kells in the late 8th or 9th century. (It may have been made at both places. The Vikings were attacking the area of Iona at this time, so the monastery at Iona moved to Kells.)

     The Gospel books made by the Irish monks show a mix of styles and influences: Germanic, Mediterranean, and Celtic. The script, often called insular, originated in Northumbria and spread throughout England and Ireland.

Some Symbols Used in the Art

     Below are some of the symbols used in the art work. In another post, I will go into more detail about the meaning in the illustrations. Here are some links where you can see color illustrations and hear a portion of a lecture. I'm also listing links for two books that include color illustrations. Perhaps your local library owns one or both:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Kells

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1B3-cqU-zFE  Timothy Graham's illustrated lecture excerpt

http://www.amazon.com/The-Book-Kells-Reproductions-manuscript/dp/039449475X 

http://www.amazon.com/The-Book-Kells-Illustrated-Introduction/dp/0500277907/ref=pd_sim_b_1

Symbols of the Evangelists

[from the prophesies of Ezekiel and the Apocalypse]

a man, a lion, a calf, and an eagle:

     also represents the four stages of Christ’s life: birth, death, resurrection, ascension

     [Christ was a man in his birth, a calf in his death, a lion in his resurrection, and an eagle in his ascension]

In representing the Evangelists the symbols are man=Matthew, calf=Mark, lion=Luke, eagle=John). The symbols are often used together to signify the unity of the Gospels.

Eucharist Symbols

disc often marked with a cross [hosts] scattered throughout. 

Symbols of Christ

fish:  “swimming in the waters of baptism”

And the Greek word for fish (icthus) is an acrostic for Jesus Christ Son of God, Savior

snake: symbol of the Resurrection [also a reminder of the fall of man, the embodiment of evil]

lion: A symbol of Resurrection and of the Breath of Life. Also associated with majesty and power, the Royal House of Judah from which Christ was descended.