228 Description of the Crosses 



use in Northumbria about the year 700 ' ; (2) The Dream of the 

 Rood was early ; (3) there were tall crosses in England in the 7th 

 century (referring to the life of Willibald, p. 112, below) ; (4) 'the 

 sculptures of these crosses are of " Early Christian " or Byzantine 

 character ' : thus the Paul and Anthony and Christ treading on the 

 wild animals, while the Crucifixion resembles one in an early manu- 

 script at St. Gall ; (5) the interlacings probably derive from Coptic 

 sources. Incidentally, Mr. Lethaby believes that the top-stone 

 of the Ruthwell Cross should be turned round, so that the archer 

 would be shooting at the single bird. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE CROSSES 

 I. THE RUTHWELL CROSS 



Various descriptions of the Ruthwell Cross are already in print, ^ 

 but none is entirely accurate. The following account, while it no 

 doubt leaves something to be desired, is based upon personal exam- 

 ination and a series of photographs made directty from the shaft 

 itself (ignoring the top-stone) . ^ 



South Face.^ 



1. The Archer. 



An archer faces the spectator's right, with an arrow aimed up- 

 ward at an angle of 45 ^. A possible quiver hangs at the right side 

 of the archer ; only the tip is \dsible. There is an inscription at each 

 side, but the letters are illegible. 



2. The Visitation. 



Mary and Elizabeth face each other, so far as the main position 

 of the bodies is concerned, but the figure at the left seems to have 

 her face slightly turned toward the spectator's, while that at his right 

 is seen in profile. The new stone, introduced to fill the space caused 

 by the fracture, seems too thick, so that it suggests legs much too 

 long for the rest of the bodies. The shoes resemble sabots. The 

 figure on the left has her forearm extended at right angles to the 

 upper arm, with hand touching the other figure near the waist. 



^ See a list given by Allen, Early Christ. Mon. of Scotland 3. 448. 



^ My thanks are due to Rev. J. L. Dinwiddie, minister of Ruthwell, 

 who afforded me every fac-ility for securing these photographs, which were 

 taken by Mr. F. W. Tassell of CarUsle. 



3 As the monument stands at present. See Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6 7, 8. 



(16) 



