Assoc for Scottish Literature1d ago

Medieval monks in Easter Ross – and not the Hebridean island of Iona – may have created the intricately decorated 1,200-year-old Book of Kells, according to researchers. A new project will explore the possibility it was created at a monastery in Portmahomack where there was a workshop turning animal hides into vellum.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8r4jxj0e3jo

#Scottish #literature #medieval #earlymedieval #history #BookHistory #BookofKells #arthistory #CelticArt

Book of Kells possibly made by Highland monks, say researchers

Mystery surrounds the origins of the 1,200-year-old, intricately decorated Book of Kells.

BBC News
Show threadPeter Brown1d ago
@scotlit A pretty fine distinction because the monks who travelled to Portmahomack came from Iona
Show threadAssoc for Scottish Literature19h ago
@peterbrown Portmahomack was (probably) founded by monks from Iona, but there is a gap of about 200 years between the (probable) founding of Portmahomack in the 6th century CE and the creation of the Book of Kells c.800 CE. Despite the obvious connections between the two locations, if the Book of Kells was indeed created at Portmahomack we have no way of knowing if any of the (probably three) people who illustrated it came from or indeed ever set foot on Iona itself.
Show threadPeter Brown

@scotlit not wishing to steal Portmahomack’s thunder, but I think it was considered to be a daughter monastery from Iona. It may be however that they developed a speciality in books which meant they were the obvious place to produce it.
I’ve no doubt that our archaeology and science develops will have a better handle on who did what and when.

And it seems likely that the trip Columba made to the king of the Picts when he met Nessie was to negotiate for more land, ie Portmahomack.

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