Folios 199v – 200r, Gospel of Luke

Caoimhe Ní Ghormáin
Caoimhe Ní Ghormáin

Manuscripts Curator, Research Collections

1 min read • 30 January 2025

This opening displays a list of Christ’s ancestors as recited in his genealogy in the Gospel of Luke and is accorded lavish decorative treatment.

Folio 199v, Gospel of Luke

Book of Kells. Folio 199v: Luke

Folio 199v concludes the ministry of John the Baptist and recounts the baptism of Jesus. On line 2 the words ‘Spirito Santo’ ‘Holy Ghost’ are contracted or shortened, indicated by a flourish above the words which lets the reader know to fill in the missing letters from the middle of the word.

On line 8 of folio 199v, emphasis is placed on the large H for Herod, ‘Herod autem tetrarcha’ ‘Herod the tetrarch’. The H has a thick, black outline with the E placed inside the H, drawing attention to the fact that it was Herod who had beheaded John the Baptist and sent Jesus to his trials and eventual crucifixion.

Folio 200r, Book of Kells

Book of Kells. Folio 200r: Luke; Genealogy of Jesus

On folio 200r each line starts with the words ‘qui fuit’ or ‘who was’ [the son of] followed by a male name. The organisation of the list into three columns of words highlights the importance of the text in using up more space than needed on the expensive vellum page.

The gaps between the text are filled with colourful flourishes such as bunches of yellow grapes. Each letter Q is formed from the body of a lion-like beast and a bird. The linking together of the letters Q show genealogical links as a visible chain.

On folio 200r a blond-haired man, presumably Jesus, appears at the top of a frieze of biting beasts and birds bordering the list of his ancestors. A bearded warrior at the lower right corner, holding a spear and shield, has his foot caught in a snare formed by the final letter of maath (‘Mahath’).  His genitalia, outlined in red, are in parallel to the spear, referring to Jesus’ creation as well as his death.

Explore the artwork

Explore the artwork

Decorative dots

Dots arranged in three are a common decorative feature in the Book of Kells and reflect adoration of the Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). They are seen here at the end of line 7 of folio 199v.

Herod

On line 8 of folio 199v, emphasis is placed on the large H for Herod, ‘Herod autem tetrarcha’ ‘Herod the tetrarch’

Qui Fuit

On folio 200r each line starts with the words ‘qui fuit’ or ‘who was’ [the son of] followed by a male name.

Blond-haired man, folio 200r

A blond-haired man, presumably Jesus, appears at the top of a frieze of biting beasts and birds bordering the list of his ancestors.

Bearded warrior

A bearded warrior at the lower right corner of folio 200r, holding a spear and shield, has his foot caught in a snare formed by the final letter of maath (‘Mahath’)

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