The Cross Of The Scriptures, Clonmacnoise, Co. Offaly Stock Image

The reason why The Cross of the Scriptures has this name is obvious. The cross is totally carved with biblical scenes.On the west face, the head shows a crucifixion, with the two soldiers piercing Christ's chest under his arms.The first panel of the shaft under the head depicts three soldiers in the act of taking Christ's robe off.The middle panel on the west side of the shaft shows the mocking of Christ.The bottom panel shows Christ in the tomb with the soldiers guarding the place.On the east face of the cross, the head shows the Judgment Day, with Christ in the centre, the good souls and a piper to his right, and the bad souls and a devil who is pushing them to the eternal damnation on his left. The small panel above the ring shows Christ in Glory with two angels.The first panel on the shaft, under the head, depicts Christ with St. Peter and St. Paul. Peter is receiving the key, Paul is receiving the Book of the New Testament.The middle panel shows the Butler handing a drinking horn to the Pharaoh. The bottom panel depicts two figures with a vine.The north side of the cross has another nice carving under its arm, with a snake wrapped around two human heads and a cat on top of it in the act of eating something.The upper panel on the north side shows two figures, one standing, the other one is sat. Thay might represent an evangelist behind a prophet. The panel below shows David as a shepherd, guiding his sheep. The last panel shows David playing his lyra.The south side of the cross has a nice carving under the arm, where a snake is trying to strangle two human figures, with a hand, likely the Hand of God, emerges from the twisted snake.The upper and middle panel might depict St. Anthony and St. Paul hermits in the desert.The arms of the cross are slightly tilted upwards.