Celtic Studies

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[celtic-studies]

Pictish chain of 22 double links with a pennanular terminal ring, the ring engraved with designs inlaid with red enamel, from Whitecleugh, Lanarkshire, 6th or 7th century

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Massive Pictish silver chain consisting of nineteen pairs of circular rings with a single ring at one end, from Traprain Law, 400 - 800 AD

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Hemispherical bowl of silver, decorated with chased lines outlined with dots, Pictish, from St Ninian's Isle, Shetland, 8th century

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Eating utensil of silver, a one-pronged implement with engraved design of interlace on both faces, Pictish, from St Ninian's Isle, 750 - 825 AD

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Spoon of silver with a cast dog's head with blue glass eyes at the junction of stem and bowl, Pictish, from St Ninian's Isle, 8th century

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Hanging bowl of silver with three oblong gilt escutcheons in the form of spreadeagled boars, Pictish, from St Ninian's Isle, 8th century

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Bowl of silver decorated with lines of dots and gilded male bearded faces, Pictish, from St Ninian's Isle, 8th century

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Bowl of silver, decorated with four pairs of grotesque animals, interlocking, Pictish, from St Ninian's Isle, 8th century

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Conical silver-gilt mount decorated with symmetrically arranged animal interlace, Pictish, from St Ninian's Isle, 8th century

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Bowl of silver decorated with dotted lines, Pictish, from St Ninian's Isle, 8th century

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Right, I've neglected this blog far far too much! Decided to start posting again soon (plus it's summer so should probably do it now while I'm free before Uni)

Is there anything in particular people would like me to post about?

I'm thinking of maybe looking at some of the illustrated manuscripts next (especially the book of Kells because well it's beautiful) but if anybody wants me to post about something specific then I'll be happy to do that.

As I mentioned a while ago, although my blog is called "Celtic Studies" I'm using Celtic in the meaning of "Celtic countries" so anything relating to those countries is fair game (this is why I post so much Pictish stuff without having to deal with the whole "Were they Celtic?" question) although my knowledge is mostly on Scotland, Wales and Ireland so it will take me longer as I'll probably have to do research for the rest.

I'm also thinking of making a daily post in one of the Celtic languages (both modern and older forms along with maybe including Scots even though it's a Germanic language), things like phrases or extracts or short poems if that's something people would be interested in.

So yes, please let me know if there's anything you'd really like to see and I'll try my best to help!

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Stone, fragment of slab with part of an inscription in Old Irish

EA AENACH LUGDAC

8th-11th Century Celtic (Irish)

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Gilt bronze brooch, sub-rectangular + arc lobes; 1 of 2 blue glass settings left; pale blue stud at each end; plait-work panels.

8th Century Celtic (Irish)

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Espocc Iubhair dom chobair, 'Sé ro-fhidir mo rúna; Cuinghedh dilgadh mo chinadh, Rom-gabhsat idhain gúra.

--

Bishop Iubar to my aid! It is he who knows my secrets; Let him ask forgiveness of my sins; Sharp pains have overtaken me.

[earlyscotland]

Pictish symbol stone at Abdie, Fife, Scotland.

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Stone pillar of squarish section inscribed along 2 angles with ogam letters.

Found in Roovesmore Rath, County Cork from around the 5-7th Century

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The fragment appears to be the top left-hand corner of a rectangular slab carved in relief. Carved decoration survives on only one side. Within a border moulding around the edge of the stone are depicted in relief two men facing one another and grasping each other by the wrists, possibly fighting over a book or rectangular object held in the hand of the right-hand figure. Their legs become an interlace pattern which binds them together and continues down the left-hand side of the slab as far as the lower break. To the right of this design are to be seen the hind parts and tails of two animals, the upper possibly a hound, the lower possibly a wolf or other wild beast with a spiral tail. Very little of these animals survives.

The surfaces of these relief carvings have been damaged in places but this is not recent. The stone measures 345mm in width, 352mm in height and 100mm in maximum depth.