| |
The
Monastic Complex | Irish Architecture in the Early Middle
Ages: c. 500–1200 AD
Professor Roger Stalley
|
|
|
The monastery
contained a variety of building types, along with several different
churches, but we are not sure how the various churches were
used, for little is known about the way religious rituals related
to their architectural setting. Different words were used to
describe the early churches—oratorium, templum, basilica,
ecclesia or eclais, cell, erdam—but the precise meanings
of the words in an Irish context is not well understood. Did
services take place in different churches at the same time or
were some buildings reserved for special ceremonies? There is
evidence to show that one of the oratories within the complex
was usually associated with the founding saint, marking his
place of burial or containing relics. In some instances specific
oratories were reserved for women—this seems to have been
the case with St Mary's church at Glendalough.
Ireland,
Glendalough (Wicklow), St. Mary's Church
|
|
|
briefing
| image index | resources
home page | site
image index | site resources
media center for art history, archaeology
and historic preservation |
columbia university
|
|
