Scribe as artist, not monk: the canon tables of Ailerán ‘the Wise’ and the Book of Kells
Douglas Mac Lean
The early eighth-century Augsburg Gospels, from Echternach, contains the oldest copy of a Latin poem on canon tables by seventh-century Irish scholar associated with Clonard, Ailerán, described as sapiens or ecnae, but not monk cleric. shows his familiarity artistic developments originating in Ravenna and offers connections between Book Kells Echternach scriptorium, neither which needs depend Carolingian sources for bearing evangelist symbols. Historical links suggest poem’s possible route to Iona, where it was used set instructions ecclesiastical scholars responsible manuscript production, whose status Old-Irish law that they did have accept monastic rule.
Peritia