09/11/2024
Wee Yarn. Whats this late night ding d**g ? See While following a hunch about pictish symbolism locally i spotted a replica St. Patrick's Bell in the cathedral .. i wondered did it have hidden importance was it a replica of the original , a bell a symbol of druidic society usung a older relic as powerful as a bell was , was it proof of there society used within early irish Christianity . Pagan traditions incorporated into one keeping the faith these as stories symbols in a language long forgotten modern day the pattern the lay out of the panels, the shape. See…. ..
5th century St. Patrick's Bell is a significant relic of Ireland's patron saint, Saint Patrick, intertwined with several pivotal events in Irish history: like
Political Tool
The bell served as a powerful symbol to establish Armagh as the foremost Christian site in Ireland. It was integral to Armagh's assertion of being the heart of Patrick's legacy & the superior seat of Irish Christianity.
# # # # Legend of the Demonic Birds
According to legend, Saint Patrick used the bell to drive a flock of demonic birds into the "hollow of the demons."
# # # # Legend of the Demonic Serpent
Another tale recounts Patrick banishing a demonic female serpent named Corra into Lough Na Corra, situated below the mountain.
To name a few legends.. ..
The bell itself is an iron hand-bell encased in a trapezoidal shrine made of bronze, silver, & gold. This exquisite shrine was completed rebuilt around 1100 & features openwork panels alongside a silver-gilt frame. Both the bell & its shrine are permanently displayed at the Newry dromore christian catholic cathedral , granite built of , its recorded an early 20th-century replica of the bell resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York & the other lesser known replica sits proud as a bell in the left hand corner of the cities Roman Catholic cathedral ., a confessional box hosting the shrines & relics all part of a much larger collection bequeathed the parish long ago .. within this
This bell, looked its said to have held a bell believed to have belonged to St. Patrick, is crafted from two riveted sheets of iron that are coated in bronze. As a revered relic, it is frequently cited in historical texts as one of Ireland's principal sacred objects. Moreover, its association with St. Patrick reinforced Armagh's status as the most significant Christian site in the country.
An inscription on its surface reveals that the bell's shrine was crafted around AD 1100. Before that ? From 500ad ish The shrine's trapezoidal shape mirrors that of the bell it encases. Constructed from a series of bronze plates joined by tubular bindings, the shrine features a curved crest that covers the bell's handle. The front is adorned with a silver-gilt frame that once held thirty gold filigree panels arranged in the form of a ringed cross.
The sides of the shrine are embellished with openwork panels depicting elongated creatures intertwined with ribbon-bodied snakes. The back is more subdued & flat, decorated with an openwork silver plate showcasing interlocking crosses.
The inscription along the edge of the backplate lists the names of the earlier craftsman & his sons who re created the shrine, as well as Domhnall Ua Lochlainn, the King of Ireland from AD 1094 to 1121, who is believed commissioned the work. The keeper of the bell, Cathalan Ua Maelchallain, is also mentioned.
Remarkably, the shrine remained within the possession of this family until the late 19th century, showcasing a long tradition of hereditary keepership that is noteworthy for many medieval artifacts. This legacy illustrates the enduring belief in the power of such relics to influence lives for better or worse. The documentation of the craftsmen’s names provides fascinating insights into the organization of work & the transmission of craft skills during that era.
Its claimed The bell of St. Patrick & its shrine are on permanent display in the Treasury gallery at the National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology, Kildare Street, Dublin. Yes & newry city..
Crest & Front
The front crest features a gilt bronze cap, facing birds, a prominent blue glass boss, & intricate filigree work. At the top, a hollow gilt bronze cap is adorned with extended wings that culminate in animal heads. The mid-section showcases the profiles of two confronting birds maybe with raised wings. Centrally located within this section is a large clear glass boss (or stud) that holds a cloisonné insert, secured by strips of wire. The center of the panel to the right is embellished with zoomorphic interlace, while the insert to the right remains empty.
The main structure is constructed from a grid of silver gilt panels that accommodate a variety of smaller inserts. The larger panels are organized into quadrilaterals arranged in a cross formation. Originally, this section contained thirty panels of gold filigree & zoomorphic interlace; however, several have suffered damage or loss & have been replaced or left empty. The arrangement & complexity of the panels suggest that the shrine was meticulously designed on a flat surface using a compass & T-square to achieve precise ratios & measurements of distance, proportion, volume, & line.
# # # Sides & Reverse
Both of the shrine's short sides are adorned with pairs of openwork silver & gilt panels filled with interlace designs, separated vertically by an openwork frame. Each side features a perforated cube & rings that were once used to attach carrying chains, which have been lost since the 19th century. The base plate is designed to be loose, allowing it to slide open for the removal of the bell.
The reverse side mirrors the shape of the front plate but lacks the bilateral symmetry that characterizes the front & sides, as well as the prevalent "circle & cross" patterns found on the front. Its body consists of an openwork silver plate showcasing diagonal rows of interlocking patterns, similar in design & coloring to those on the backs of the 11th-century segments of the Soiscél Molaisse & the Cathach. The crest on the back is also decorated, though it is simpler & less pronounced than that on the front. This shrine is the only surviving bell-relic linked to Patrick, among a few referenced in various texts & accounts prior to 1200 AD. Two now-lost shrines were named "Bernàn" (the gapped bell) & "Findfaidech" (the sweet-sounding bell, mentioned before 947).
