Armstrong and Lawlor — The Domnach Airgid. 9'.) 



(2) The top, now covered by an embossed silver plate, it measures, 

 including the rim, 226 mm. by 101 mm. 



(3) The sides. These are bronze panels coated with tin, and form part 

 of the earliest metal covering of the shrine. Including the rim, they measure 

 respectively 173 mm. by 92 mm.; and 173 mm. by 96 nun. 



(4) The base, now covered by three silver-gilt fourteenth-century panels, 

 which are apparently riveted directly to the inner framework. Including 

 the rim, it measures 228 mm. by 99 mm. 



(5) The back : a plate of bronze or latten nailed to the inner wooden case; 

 attached to it by rivets is an ornamented and inscribed cross of copper, gilt. 

 Including the rim, the back measures 222 mm. by 167 mm. 



(6) The rim : portions of this have disappeared ; the vacant spaces have 

 been filled with pieces of brass. 



(7) An inner box of yew wood, which is described post, p. 105. 



The front of the case (Plate III) is thus ornamented: the centre is treated 

 as a cross dividing the remaining space into four panels, each contained 

 in a frame of niello work; the dexter lower panel has on its upper side an 

 inscription, reversed, in raised Lombardic characters, which reads : — 



JOrjAnGCS : BAItKDAP. : FABRIdAVIT 



Each panel measures, including the frame, roughly S9 mm. by 70 mm. A 

 figure of our Lord, of silver, gilt, is attached to the cross ; over His head is a 

 bird, presumably a dove, in a setting of blue cbampleve enamel ; above this is 

 a small square silver setting, composed of a beaded base supporting a band of 

 dots arranged in groups of five, with fleurs-de-lis claws, containing a crystal. 

 Petrie 1 wrote that this setting probably contained " a supposed piece of the 

 true cross." Examination has shown this conjecture to have been correct ; see 

 post, p. 104. Adjoining this setting, in a rectangular frame of blue enamel, 

 is a heater-shaped shield bearing emblems of the Passion, the crown of thorns, 

 three nails, and two hands holding scourges ; remains of red cbampleve 

 enamel can be seen on the shield. 



The first of the silver-gilt panels is divided into two niches ; the dexter 

 contains a figure of St. Michael and the dragon ; the saint, who carries a shield 

 emblazoned with a cross, stands upon the reptile and thrusts a cross-headed 

 spear into its mouth ; the sinister niche contains an effigy of the Virgin, 

 crowned and enthroned, giving her breast to the child ; she holds some small 

 object in her left hand. The second panel is divided by inches into three 

 compartments. In the first is a figure, wearing a round hat, dressed in a 

 long robe; he holds in each hand a long-handled rod with a foliated top. 



1 Cp. cit., p. 15. 



