Corp Naomh

The crest is decorated on both sides with patterns and figures that are continuous from front to back.

Detail of the cleric on the crest

The center of the crest contains a figure in full profile holding a book.[10] He is assumed to be an ecclesiastic based on both this clothing and the fact that he is partially bald, which was often contemporary short-hand for indicating clerics and monks,[n 1] while he may been intended to represent an evangelist given his similarities to the four figures in the 11th century front of the Soiscél Molaisse.[12][13] He has whiskers and a curled beard, and wears a full length tunic rendered with cross hatching on enamel, niello and sandals.[14] His head extends beyond the frame and onto the 1.27 cm (0.50 in) wide semi-circular border above him, which is made of bronze and decorated with running-knot interlace patterns and is likely 15th century.[15]

Each of his shoulders have circular ornaments and cross hatchings resembling early versions of Orthodox Crosses. The historian William Frazer describes the designs and their "equal-rayed limbs" as an examples of the then "popular and universally worn" Patrick's Cross type, which he said were "distinctive emblems of Christian teaching...[that were a] recognised badge of those who possessed rank in the Celtic churches".[14] Other early works containing similar designs include figures on a stone cross from Meigle, Scotland, and the 12th-century Irish Saint Manchan's Shrine.[16] Above these designs are triangular shapes, likely representing brooches used to fix his decorated cloak in place.[17]

The panels on either side contain rather cramped scenes[13] with riders and horse facing towards him.[9] They are drawn in the a tradition often found on earlier Illuminated manuscripts, high crosses and Insular metalwork, mostly notability on folio 255 of the Book of Kells, after which this so-called "Kells style" tradition has been named.[17] In all examples, the horse is small enough to be a pony, and has a long and thick main, downwards looking eyes and head, and a long and wide tail. Their hind legs are low and underneath their body, while their forelegs are positioned forwards as if about to gallop.[18]

Keeping within the tradition, the Corp Naomh riders hold their hands inside their cloak, and are positioned low on the horses with their legs thrown forward above the horses shoulders. In earlier examples (including the Book of Kells miniature, the late-10th century Clonmacnoise Crucifixion Plaque and warriors on the 11th century shrine of the Stowe Missal), the riders have short fringes, shoulder-length sides and sometimes a bald crown, here and in other later examples their hair is longer and dramatically curls-up at the back.[17][18]

Above the horsemen are two large birds with small curved beaks[10] and long wings that appear as if to take flight. Based on contemporary iconography, Frazer speculates that the birds may represent the martyrdom of the cleric.[14]

• 
  Horseman in folio 255 (Luke), Book of Kells, 9th century
• 
  Detail of the horseman on folio 58 of the Book of Kells
• 
  Rider on the Corp Naomh

Christ with closed eyes and drooping head

The bronze figure of Christ and the silver cross was added in the 15th or 16th centuries but is now badly damaged, while most of the plating around him was 10th century but is now is lost as most of the cross.[19] Equally the 10th century bronze backing is severely damaged especially to the lower right hand side.[8] Christ is naked except for a loincloth and is obviously dead; his eyes are closed, his head droops to the right, his body is rigid and while his ribs are extended, his chest overall is flat.[13] His hands have been lost (and replaced with crudely described rods), while the also damaged horizontal design above his head maybe either a crown or a band of hair.[13]

Opposing griffin and lion above Christ's left arm

Above Christ's left arm is an embossed (ie the metal was hammered into shape from the back) silver panel showing a dragon or griffin and lion confronting each other in symmetrical poses. This was likely one of a series of similar plates surrounding the length of his body, but are now lost.[8] In the panel, the hindlegs of both animals are extended as if they about are about to attack each other.[13] Confronted griffin and lions were a common motif in 15th century Irish art, notably on the c 1493 wooden Dunvegan Cup, a fact that has been used to date the additions to the main panel.[20] The examples from from this period are so similar that a number of art historians have suggested they were copied or based upon die-stamps. The art-historian Susanne McNab speculates that the design on the Corp Naomh comes from the same stamp as the 14th century addition to the Cathach's shrine.[20]

The remnants of other embossed plates survive, including a strip of dotted tetrahedra (triangular pyramidal shapes) lining the left margin, while a floral pattern runs along the top border, but is badly damaged.[13]

The back of the 10th century crest is as equally decorated as the front part.[21] The reverse of the lower part contains a grid of small interlinked openwork crosses set on a damaged bronze plate.[8][22] Its crosses are similar to the 15th patterns found on the reverse of the Soiscél Molaisse – an Irish cumdach (book shrine).[17]

It is unknown how the front and reverse originally fitted together; they may have been individually laid over the main sides of a bell, or, as most art historians believe, have formed part of a box-like container for a bell, in a shape similar to the c. 1100 St. Patrick's Bell Shrine, and thus are now missing their side panels which would have been also decorated.[23]