Images from Digital version on Trinity College website. The actual Book of Kells comprises 340 pages (decorated front and back) and is bound in four volumes. The Passive Voice is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, audible.com, and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program. The majority of these examples are actually older than the Book of Kells, and their influence on the manuscript is obvious. Aside from the wonderful mystery and complex history, the thing that continues to draw people to the Book of Kells is that it is stunning to look at. Vellum, a parchment made from the skin of lambs or calfs, was used for the manuscripts as it was the most durable material available at the time. Amazingly since they were written, the majority of the pages have been passed down through the generations with just 60 pages missing. Recent research has shown that books were used in religious processions, enhancing the notion that they were almost objects of worship themselves or at least had talismanic properties for a medieval populace. There are the numerous James Joyce themed tours. Monks became experts in calligraphy. All of this together makes the Book of Kells a strong candidate for the title of World’s Most Famous Book, which it’s frequently claimed to be. The 11th Century Annals of Ulster describe the Book of Kells as “primh-mind iarthair domain”, “the most precious object of the Western world”. Conveying the message with gorgeous iconography and illustration could communicate the ideas without words. They contained latin verses accompanied by images and illustrations that told a visual story of the words, as this was a time when the majority of ruling classes were still illiterate. They usually display one illustration page and one text page, and change the pages regularly. When you want to shop on Amazon, if you click THIS LINK, and other links on TPV, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. These designs are typically Celtic and the practice of illustrating the first letters is unique to Irish illuminated manuscripts – the Book of Kells is the only example in which every single opening letter without fail is subject to this design. I haven’t included many photos here, since the available Public Domain images aren’t of very high quality. He divided the manuscript into four volumes and treated the pages so they didn’t crumble or bulge. The large pages and illustrations could be seen from further back in the church to make an impact on a congregation that for the most part couldn't read or write. The 12th century historian Giraldus Cambrensis even concluded the book had been written by an angel. Sounds like quite a lot of excitement over a book, doesn’t it? We have a few well-preserved … For example, on one of the pages in St. John’s section, a ‘c’ and ‘i’ are joined together to form a man playing a harp, and in St. Luke’s section, the letters ‘i’, ‘a’ and ‘m’ are transformed into an instrument of torture. It’s been on display there since the 1800s, inspiring visitors since. Sure, in other regions, manuscripts could be “manufactured” by many nameless hands. Fine craftsmanship is all about you, but you might not notice it. There won't be many modern visitors who will be convinced of that but take a look at the images yourself and you will be transported into a magical world of awe-inspiring skill. ( Log Out /  A lot of this has to do with the very precise illumination of the manuscript. “The Book of Kells” in. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. If you can’t make it to Trinity this really is a great way to see this amazing artwork. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Symbols of the four evangelists appear in various different sizes and shapes doing various different actions throughout the first few pages. The fact that it is unsigned or unattributed is also unique. For a book that really REQUIRES pictures. Here are four reasons why the Book of Kells is important: 1. The size of the skin determined the size and shape of the eventual manuscript. No rights are claimed to original materials created by third parties that are included in posts and/or post excerpts. COVID19 UPDATE Our Online Shop is Open | Free Worldwide Delivery, Handcrafted Irish Jewelry, Inspired by the Past, Sign up for our newsletter & receive 10% off your first order.