ST MARTIN`S CROSS. This cross, whose name was recorded by Lhuyd in 1699, stands in a granite base no.97 21m W of the abbey church. It is carved from a single block of grey epidiorite, probably from the Argyll mainland, and is 4.3m in visible height by 1.19m in span. The diameter of the pierced ring is 1.09m and that of the armpits 0.24m. In the ends of the arms are vertical slots, open at the top, which may have housed ornamental panels rather than extensions for the arms. The angles bear roll-mouldings which on the W face extended below the lowest panel to flank an inscription, now indecipherable. The shaft of the E face bears three roundels of snake-and-boss ornament, a coarser variant of that in the same position on St John`s Cross. In the top of the shaft are seven interlaced bosses, each producing two snakes, and the largest of these is also one of the group of five high-relief bosses in the cross-head. Iona Abbey and Nunnery was founded by ST Columbia as of the early monastery and Nunnery. Also you can find more cross in the Abbey museum.

圖片編號： 175801801
拍攝者： Loinshoes