Provenance
Discovery: This large slab was discovered in use as a lintel above a window in the old church in 1772. The first ogham text was first described by Lord Southesk in 1887, the second ogham text was discovered in 1907. Gibson (1722) only recorded the runes.
Findspot: Kirk Michael, Michael, Isle of Man (National Grid Reference: SC 3170 9080)
Last recorded location(s): In the north transept of Kirk Michael church (MM 130).
Support
Isle of Man Historic Environment Record (IOMHER): 1075.02
Object type: Cross-slab
Material: Stone type unknown
Dimensions: m
Decoration: The slab bears a cross carved in low relief on one face. The decorated side shows a shafted cross with limbs connected by a ring. Both the shaft and circle have a cable border ending at the foot in the head and tail of a serpent. In the centre of the cross is a circle of ring-chain, while each limb contains two interlinked rings bound by a diamond-shaped ring, and ends in four linked triquetras. The shaft is decorated with panels containing plaits of nine and seven strands. To the left of the shaft are a hart and hound, and a robed priest with arms raised, supported by a staff. On the right side are the worn remains of what may possibly be another hart and hound. Below them a seated man plays a harp to the right of whom another figure carries what appears to be a drinking horn. Below the harpist is another priest with uplifted arms, again holding a staff (IOMHER).
Condition: The ogham inscriptions are legible.
Inscription
Text field: The first ogham inscription consists of the ogham alphabet and is incised vertically in the space below the cross shaft. The second ogham inscription is placed centrally near the top of the slab. The other face of the slab bears a long runic inscription to the right and a shorter one to the left.
Letters: The second ogham inscription is only lightly scored.
Edition
Ogham text: ᚁᚂᚃᚄᚅᚆᚇᚈᚉᚊᚋᚌᚍᚎᚏᚐᚑᚒᚓᚔ ᚋᚒᚒᚉᚑᚋᚐᚂᚂᚐᚃᚔᚒᚐᚋᚒᚂᚂᚌᚒᚉ
Transcription: BLVSNHDTCQMGNGStRAOUEI MUUCOMALLAFIUAMULLGUC
Critical apparatus:
- Runic inscription: MAL: LUMKUN: RAISTI: KRUS: ThENA: EFTER: MAL: MURU: FUSTRA: SINE: TOTIRTUFKALS: KONA: IS: AThISL: ATI+
Translation
-
Ogham: The ogham alphabet
-
Ogham: No translation can be provided.
-
Runic: Mael Lomchon raised this cross to the memory of Malmura his foster mother, daughter of Dugald the wife whom Athisl had
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Runic: Better is it to leave a good foster-son than a bad son
References
- Macalister 1945,