When was the book of kells completed

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The Book of Kells is what we call a gospel book. It contains the four gospels which come from the New Testament of the Christian Bible. The book itself is very precious to us, the manuscript of the Book of Kells, because it comes from an era in Ireland, a time of great learning, from the eighth and ninth century. And we have very few manuscripts left with us from that period. However, we know that there was lots of learning in Ireland at that time because we have records of stories which tell us of learned people who came from mainland Europe to learn even more, to study in the Irish monasteries.

And we also have many accounts of Irish scholars, Irish monks, Irish pilgrims, going to mainland Europe, and bringing their learning with them. We have evidence of that in some gospel books, which still exist in England and in mainland Europe.

Although there are a number of surviving manuscripts from the period, the Book of Kells really excels. But what makes it particularly exceptional is the quality and quantity of illustrations. Practically every page is adorned with intricate artwork. The monastery was founded in by monks fleeing Viking attacks on the western Scottish island of Iona.

The date of the manuscript has been subject to some debate. Columkille, also known as St. Columba, is an early Irish saint who was born in the northwest of Ireland in County Donegal. He went as a missionary to the islands off the coast of Scotland. And on the island of Iona, he founded a monastery which became a very great monastery.

From Iona, many other monasteries were formed. Two, perhaps, of the most famous, would be Durrow in County Offaly, and also Lindisfarne in the northeast of England. These great monasteries formed a family of monasteries, and people would travel between them and share learning and creativity. Columcille himself was famous for his scribal gifts, for his learning, and for his creativity.

And indeed, from the 11th century, or even earlier, this manuscript was regarded as a relic of Saint Columba, Saint Columcille. Three different scribes and four artists have been identified in creating the Book of Kells. It is not known whether some of the scribes and artists are the same individuals. It is believed that this book was made for display and ceremonial use, not to be read out loud.

The reason for this is that the images are elaborate and detailed while the text is carelessly copied with entire words missing or long passages being repeated. The Hiberno-Saxon style first appeared in the seventh century and is a blend of the curvilinear motifs and elaborated initials of the Irish-Celtic tradition and Anglo-Saxon zoomorphic inter-lacing and bright coloring. The style is characterized by geometric design, large areas of color, and complicated interlaced patterns.

Twelve years later the Book of Kells was brought to Dublin for safekeeping and it has been in the possession of Trinity College since at least Since , the Book of Kells has been bound in four volumes. Two of these volumes are on display at Trinity College. One volume shows an illumination. The transcription of the text was remarkably careless, in many cases due to eye-skip, with letters and whole words omitted. Text already copied on one page folio v was repeated on folio r, with the words on v elegantly expunged by the addition of red crosses.

Such carelessness, taken together with the sumptuousness of the book, have led to the conclusion that it was designed for ceremonial use on special liturgical occasions such as Easter rather than for daily services. The Book of Kells seldom comes to view in the historical record. The Annals of Ulster, describing it as "the chief treasure of the western world", record that it was stolen in for its ornamental cumdach shrine.

It remained at Kells throughout the Middle Ages, venerated as the great gospel book of St Colum Cille, a relic of the saint, as indicated by a poem added in the 15th century to folio v.

In the late 11th and 12th centuries, blank pages and spaces on folios 5v-7v and 27r were used to record property transactions relating to the monastery at Kells.

Following the rebellion of , the church at Kells lay in ruins, and around the book was sent to Dublin by the governor of Kells, Charles Lambert, Earl of Cavan, in the interests of its safety. It has been on display in the Old Library at Trinity College from the mid 19th century, and now attracts in excess of , visitors a year.

Since it has been bound in four volumes. Two volumes can normally be seen, one opened to display a major decorated page, and one to show two pages of script. Where and when was the Book of Kells written? Why is the Book of Kells famous?