St Martins Cross, Iona

Category

Library Item

Item no

24441

Title

St Martins Cross, Iona

Description

The carved stone cross known as St Martins Cross, sits in the centre of the picture on a mix of rocky stone and grass covered ground.

Artist / maker

Valentine, James

Date

1865

Size

23.8 x 18.7cm

Type

Photograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

St Martins Cross is situated west of the main entrance to Iona Abbey; it was originally one of a number of crosses which showed the way to the grave of St Columbus, who came from Ireland to Iona and established religious community which taught Christianity.

The cross is carved from a single piece of stone, the carvings are of bosses and serpents on one side and on the other there are biblical scenes such as the Virgin & Child, David & Goliath and Abraham's sword raised to the sacrifice of Isaac. The stone is believed to date between AD 750 and 800.

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Related images

Related subjects

Architecture > Architectural features > Stone carvings

Landscape > Landscape architectural facilities > Standing Stones

Places > Scotland > Iona

Places > United Kingdom > Scotland

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