The Ruthwell Cross 231 



6. The Crucifixion. 



This is much defaced, but the following points are clear. The cross 

 is of Latin form, with the upright fairly broad, but the cross-beam 

 narrower. The head of Christ incHnes toward his right. His left 

 shoulder, with part of the upper arm, is visible and bare. His legs 

 are bare from above the knee downward, and the feet are manifestly 

 nailed side by side. Whether he wears the nimbus or not it is im- 

 possible to determine. A large circular object above the arm of the 

 cross at the spectator's right may be intended for the moon, which 

 is sometimes found in representations of the Crucifixion after the 

 9th century ; and there is a faint indication of a corresponding object 

 over the other arm. At the spectator's right and below, there appears 

 to be something Uke a crouching, naked figure ; and below the cross- 

 beam, on either side, there may be traces of two smaller crosses, 

 as if of the two thieves. These last, however, are quite conjectural. 



West Face.^ 



A vine-scroll starts in the middle of the base, and curves alter- 

 nately to right and left, touching the right border four times, the left 

 one three times. Above each contact it throws off a branch which 

 curves in the opposite direction to the course of the vine. On each 

 of these branches rests a bird or animal facing alternately right and 

 left, first bird, then beast, then two birds and two beasts. The crea- 

 ture at the bottom, a bird, as well as the two top creatures, has its 

 tail lengthened and recurved on itself, to simulate another offshoot. 

 Each branch ends in a bunch of fruit, which the corresponding 

 animal devours. Both the main vine and its branches freely throw 

 off small shoots ending in leaves or bunches of fruit. The border 

 contains the runes which begin above with Christ wees on, and con- 

 tinue down the right edge, another set beginning on the left edge.^ 



The lower monolith supports two pieces of new hewn stone, which 



1 See Figs. 3, 9, 10, 11. 



2 The runes may be found : 



1) Transliterated in horizontal hnes : Zupitza-MacLean, Old and Middle 

 English Reader, pp. 2-3 ; my article, Pub. Mod. Lang. Assoc, of America 

 17. 381-2 (from the Grein-Wiilker Bibliothek) ; my edition of The Dream 

 of ike Rood, pp. 3-5 ; 



2) Printed in horizontal Unes, and afterwards transUterated : Grein- 

 Wiilker, Bibliothek der Angel sdchsischen Poesie 2. 111-6 ; 



3) Printed in vertical hnes, as on the cross, and transUterated : AUen, 

 Early Christ. Man. of Scotland 3. 446-7 ; 



(19) 



