Images of the North Cross, Monasterboice, County Louth, Ireland, 10th century. Digital Imaging Project: Art historical images of European and North American architecture and sculpture from classical Greek to Post-modern. Scanned from slides taken on site by Mary Ann Sullivan, Bluffton College.

The North Cross, Monasterboice, County Louth

10th century CE

3 meters high (but only the upper part of the shaft and head belong to the original)

The North CrossUnlike the Muiredach Cross and the West cross, the billets or volutes are set at the center of the inside of the ring rather than at the angles of the intersection. The shaft was not ornamented except for the incised line defining the edge of the shaft. The west side of the cross head depicts a simplified crucifixion scene with the spearbearer and spongebearer on each side. The east side of the cross has a central medallion with spiral bosses.

The west side of the cross head with the Crucifixion and the east side with the decorative medallion

Much of the information on this page was taken from Helen M. Roe, Monasterboice and its Monuments (County Louth Archaeological and Historical Society, 1981).

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Copyright © Mary Ann Sullivan. I have photographed (on site), scanned, and manipulated all the images on these pages. Please feel free to use them for personal or educational purposes. They are not available for commercial purposes.

Page created by Mary Ann Sullivan

	The North CrossUnlike the Muiredach Cross and the West cross, the billets or volutes are set at the center of the inside of the ring rather than at the angles of the intersection. The shaft was not ornamented except for the incised line defining the edge of the shaft. The west side of the cross head depicts a simplified crucifixion scene with the spearbearer and spongebearer on each side. The east side of the cross has a central medallion with spiral bosses.

The west side of the cross head with the Crucifixion and the east side with the decorative medallion