Ardagh Chalice Summary

Culture and society before the arrival of Christianity

Gaelic culture and society was centered around the Fine (clann) and, as such, the landscape and history of Ireland was wrought with relationships, marriages, friendships, wars, vendettas, trading, and so on. Despite this, Gaelic Ireland had a rich oral culture and appreciation of deeper and intellectual pursuits. Druids were held in high regard during pagan times and orally passed down the history and traditions of their people. Later, many of their spiritual and intellectual tasks were passed on to Christian monks. Poetry, music, storytelling, literature and other art forms were highly prized and cultivated in both pagan and Christian Gaelic Ireland. The Gaelic order in Ireland, rather than a single unified kingdom in the feudal sense, was a patchwork of Túatha. These Túatha often competed for control of resources and thus continually grew and shrank.

Religion and mythology

Before Christianity, the Gaelic Irish were pagan. They were also animists, believing that all aspects of the natural world contained spirits, and that these spirits could be communicated with. Burial practices—which included burying food, weapons, and ornaments with the dead—suggest a belief in life after death. The mythology of Ireland was originally passed down orally, but much of it was eventually written down by Irish monks.

Settlements and architecture

For most of this period, dwellings and farm buildings were circular with pointed thatched roofs. In some areas, buildings were made mostly of stone. In others, they were built of timber, wattle and daub or a mix of materials.

The dwellings of freemen and their families were often surrounded by a Ring Fort. The Ring Fort would typically have enclosed the family home, small farm buildings or workshops, and animal pens.

Christianity arriving to Ireland – Summary

 

·         Arrival of Christians to Ireland, approx 430AD, the country was dominated by the Celtic culture that had arrived during the Iron Age period.

·         The people in Ireland were druids including the Kings and nobles, a challenge for any Christian.

Who brought Christianity to Ireland?

·         Many people believe that St Patrick was the one responsible for bringing Christianity to Ireland. Although he made a major impact on Christian Ireland he certainly wasn't the first to arrive here. 

·         St Palladius was the first Christian to arrive in Ireland sent over from Rome by the Pope in 430 AD, two years previous to St Patrick’s arrival. St Palladius wasn't as successful in converting the Irish and Celtic druids to Christianity as St Patrick.

The monastic movement in Ireland

·         Christian’s in Ireland become known for their monastic lifestyle, they changed the way Christianity would be taught but also how they lived.

·         They would build monasteries in remote places, away from main villages or towns and they themselves would become the centre of their own community.  

·         The monks were extremely intelligent, the spoke and wrote Latin but also had great skills in art as proven with the creation of some of the finest illuminated manuscripts such as the Book of Kells. 

·         These places of worship help produce many Irish saints who would go to spread the word of the lord throughout Ireland, Europe and in some cases further.

Monks also loved to write and they started recording important events that were occurring in Ireland during their time. They were also known to record stories or ancient folklore that had been handed down to families over generations and some of the stories date back when the Celts had become settled in Ireland. This was extremely important in terms of documents history, without the records from the monks we today would know very little about Ireland its early history.

When answering Question about an historical artefact:

What did they make? (Form)

Who made it?

Where did they make it?

When did the make it?

How did the make it? (Technique and Decoration)

Why did they make it? (Function)

Ardagh Chalice: Summary

What did they make? (Form)

• ·         A silver bowl connected to a thick bronze stem by gilt (thin layer of precious metal) bronze collar. It’s 17.8 cm high and 19.5cm in diameter.
• ·         Perfect balance between areas of decoration and the plain silver of the bowl and the foot
• ·         Cone shaped foot gives it extra stability
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Who made it?

• ·         It was assembled by Celtic metalworkers and metallurgical artists.

Where did they make it?

• ·       According to Celtic scholars, this example of early Christian art was probably created by metalworkers at the Clonmacnoise monastery.

 

When did the make it?

• ·         Archaeological experts are unsure of the exact date of the chalice. It may be eighth or ninth century.

How did the make it?

• ·         Engraving, casting, enamelling and cloisonné
• ·         Interlace, animal interlace, scrolls, plaits and frets in gold wire filigree
• ·         The chalice is surrounded by a band of gold filigree and red and blue glass studs
• ·         The names of all the apostles except Judas are engraved lightly into the silver under the band
• ·         The handles on both sides are decorated with coloured glass panels in red, blue, green and yellow. Between these panels are smaller panels of complex and skilled gold filigree work
• ·         Centre of each side is a cross within a circle. It is richly decorated with spirals of gold wire filigree work, coloured glass and a cloisonné enamelled stud in the cenrtre.
• ·         Under the rim there is blocks of blue glass separated by panels of interlace and geometric design
• ·         In the centre of the underside of the base is a circular crystal surrounded by gold filigree and green enamels.

Why did they make it? (Function)

• ·       According to tradition mass used to be said in the Rath (Ring Fort). The chalice may have been used on these occasions to distribute communion to the multitude that assembled there. The large size of the chalice points to ceremonial use. Perhaps when the alarm was raised to signify the approach of soldiers, and in the hurry of the moment, the chalice was hidden to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. This would be supported by the condition in which the items were found, with neither case nor covering to protect them, suggesting that they were buried in a hurry. The person who placed them in the earth may never have had an opportunity of returning to the place to retrieve them.