# Ahenny High Crosses [View the canonical artwork record]() ## Artwork - Artist: [PRE-ROMANESQUE SCULPTOR, Irish]() - Date: 0701-0750 - Technique: Stone ## Commentary The stone monuments of the end of the 7th century are blocks of some 1.8 m or more high, carved with Greek crosses in circles, the ends of the crosses often being twisted into spiral decorations. Some have a schematic representation of the Crucifixion, with the lance and sponge thrust upwards by rudimentary figures, a motive of Byzantine origin, or with crosses ornamented with spirals and interlacings. These were erected in the 7th century possibly as gravestones. It is not until the 8th-12th century that the great standing crosses appear, and then not only in Ireland, but also in all the British Isles. The earliest in Ireland are probably two at Ahenny, one over 3,3 m high and the other over 3,6 m. Both have scenes carved on their bases, and the ornamentation of the cross itself is a translation into stone of metal ornaments - spirals, interlacings and bosses. The arms of the crosses are joined by similarly decorated circles \(the so-called Celtic cross\). The Ahenny Crosses are part of the Ossory Group which are believed to be the earliest crosses and date from the eight to ninth centuries AD. The two stone crosses actually imitate wooden crosses that were encased in metal plates and are decorated with the type of geometric designs, interlacing and spirals found on contemporary metalwork. Both crosses have unusual bee-hive shaped hats that are only found on a few other crosses. ## Related artworks - [Ahenny High Cross]() - [Ahenny High Crosses]() - [Cross of Scriptures]() - [Cross of Scriptures]() - [Moone High Cross \(detail\)]() - [Moone High Cross \(detail\)]() - [Moone High Cross]() - [Moone High Cross]() - [Muiredach's High Cross]() - [Muiredach's High Cross]() - [North Cross]() - [North Cross]() ## Attribution [Web Gallery of Art]()