Cathach of St. Columba
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The Cathach of St. Columba, known as the Cathach, is a late 6th century Insular psalter. It is the oldest surviving manuscript in Ireland, and the second oldest Latin psalter in the world. Its cumdach
Folio 48r, Cathach of St. Columba
The Cumdach of the Cathach
Folio 19r, note the abraded and stained edges caused by impact damage as the pages moved against the cumdach, which was not large enough to hold them flat in place.
The Shrine of the Cathach. Length: 8.5 in (220 mm), width: 7.25 in (184 mm), breath: 2.1 in (53 mm). National Museum of Ireland, NMI R2835
Cumdach
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A cumdach or book shrine is an elaborate ornamented metal reliquary box or case used to hold Early Medieval Irish manuscripts or relics. They are typically later than the book they contain, often by s
Cathach of St. Columba
…Battler"), is a late 6th century Insular psalter. It is the oldest surviving manuscript in Ireland, and the second oldest Latin psalter in the world. Its cumdach (a type of ornamented metal reliquary box or carrying case for holy books) dates to the late 11th century, and was refurbished in the 14th and 16th…
Cumdach for the Stowe Missal, 11th century
The Soiscél Molaisse, 11th century
Side-view of the shrine of the Stowe Missal, mid-11th century
Reverse of the Shrine of the Cathach