Thursday, September 20, 2001

The picture at left is of the famous abbey at Montecassino, The beginning of the selection for today gives you a rundown on the period of upheaval, migrations of peoples, and invasions that characterized the west during the 6th and 7th centuries. Pay attention to the fate of pagan Latin literature during the Dark Ages, especially in the form of palimpsests. Note the importance of Irish Christianity, the foundation of monasteries on the continent, and then the career of Augustine, sent by Gregory I to evangelize the Britons (not the be confused with the St. Augustine who wrote the Confessions.

This chapter talks about the uncial script; take a look at the webpage I've linked here and see what this is all about. I'm also including several images from the Book of Kells; note the use of gold leaf, geometric design (called the "Celtic Knot"), and intertwining of animal imagery into the designs.

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