It stayed there for many years and takes its name from Kells (obviously), but it’s still difficult for historians to say if that’s where it was written. The book may also have been created in the small town of Kells in County Meath. There’s no way of knowing conclusively if the book was indeed written on the island of Iona by the monks at a Columban monastery, but that’s one of the main theories. The Roman Empire had collapsed, Charlemagne had his tentacles all over the continent, and Spain was an Islamic Caliphate – crazy!īut miles away from all this drama on a wind-whipped island on Scotland’s west coast, the Book of Kells was being written (probably). Where does the Book of Kells even come from? Just a cursory glance at a map of Europe during the time period it was written (800AD) shows what a different world they were living in. And there’s a nice bit of myth and legend attached to it. The Book of Kells history is an interesting one.Īs it has been around since 800AD, it’s seen its fair share of action. Now, it’s time to tackle ‘What is the Book of Kells’ and where did it come from. There are few books like it and the fact that it’s over 1000 years old just makes it even more extraordinary. It’s a bonafide work of art that should be appreciated as if you were strolling through a gallery. Perhaps I was a little gushing in the introduction, but I meant what I said! This book is more than just an ancient manuscript with a few pictures. On Sundays between May and September, it’s open from 09:30 to 17:00 but that changes between October and April when it’s 12:00 to 16:30. The Book of Kells is open for visits all year round between Monday and Saturday from 09:30 to 17:00. You can also try this guided tour that’ll take you around Trinity and Dublin Castle (the reviews are excellent). Standard adult entry to the Book of Kells tour will cost €18.50 for adults or €15 for students and seniors. This’ll save you having to queue (and the queues here can be huge!). The Book of Kells tour is hugely popular, so it’s highly recommended that you book your tickets online in advance of visiting. Situated just south of the Liffey and to the immediate east of the popular Temple Bar, the college is easily accessible on foot. The Book of Kells is found next to The Old Library on the north-side of Fellows Square at Trinity College. You won’t pay extra, but we really do appreciate it. Note: if you book a tour through one of the links below we may make a tiny commission that helps us keep this site going. Right: Ireland’s Content PoolĪlthough the Book of Kells tour is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable. Other illuminated pages in the Book of Kells Very likely this is a portrait of Jesus, as seen through Irish eyes. A fascinating detail is the red-haired human head at the center of the Rho (ρ). Sadly, the precise meaning of these symbols is lost to us today. The decoration throughout has mostly two-dimensional patterns and designs with some little creatures such as cats, mice, otters, salmon, and three elaborate angels who hold up the left side of the Chi (χ). Matthew 1:18 reads, “This is how the birth of Christ came about.” This illumination shows the words, “Christi autem generatio,” which is Latin for, “The birth of Christ.” “Christi” is written with the monogram Chi Rho, or χρ in Greek, “autem” is abbreviated with the Greek letter η, and “generatio” is written out at the bottom of the page. This page illustrates the first time Jesus appears in the Bible, and the words literally explode onto the page. It took four scribes, three illuminators, and 185 calves that were slaughtered for their skin. This amazingly beautiful manuscript is incredibly valuable and was expensive to create. It is painted on animal skin that’s called vellum and was made in a monastery on the island of Iona off the west coast of Scotland. Another word for Irish art is Celtic art, and since the Irish were the first to develop Christian monasticism, most Hiberno-Saxon art comes from monasteries, as does this. It is the crowning achievement of Hiberno-Saxon art, which really means Irish-English art. The ninth century in early medieval western Europe was an age of monasticism, and this is arguably the most beautiful product from the era.
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