Ruthwell Cross

The Cross of Ruthwell (English Ruthwell Cross) is an Anglo-Saxon stone cross in the style of an Irish high cross. It is to date from the 8th century, when Ruthwell, located in Dumfries and Galloway, through conquest of the Christian king Eadberht ( 737-758 ) was part of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria in Scotland.

It was supposed to be a prayer cross on a pilgrimage, perhaps from the Solway Firth to the Monastery of Hoddom, but there is no port in the surroundings of Ruthwell. It is completely unclear who commissioned it and why it is here. Its original position is uncertain.

The Ruthwell Cross is 5.5 m, the largest Anglo-Saxon cross in relief with Latin and runic inscription. The only possibly added later runic inscription contains lines of the Old English poem: The Dream of the Rood (The Dream of the Cross ). This is possibly the oldest surviving text of Old English poetry, older than all manuscripts.

The cross was during the English Civil War (german English Civil War ) smashed in the years 1642 to 1649 from Presbyterian iconoclasts. The pieces were at the cemetery, where they restored the philanthropist Henry Duncan (1774-1846) until 1818. In 1887, the Ruthwell Cross in the church of Ruthwell was erected, whose apse was rebuilt it. The center of the cross, the horizontal arms and a piece of the stem were not preserved and have been replaced. The Ruthwell Cross has edged picture panels with biblical scenes on the front and back and decorative panels with vineyards on both sides. The vines are worked particularly fine and are supplemented by bird and animal representations.

The largest and central panel on the front is characterized Christ on two animals standing, the Latin margin Text reads: " Jesus Christ judge of justice." The table above shows John the Baptist holding a lamb. From the text, the line survived, " we pray ." The lower panels show Paul and Anthony with a bread and escape to Egypt. On the back are shown from top to bottom: Mary Magdalene washes the feet of Christ, the healing of the blind, the advent of angels, and finally the crucifixion.