Monymusk Reliquary

The Monymusk Reliquary, early 8th century, National Museum of Scotland

The Monymusk Reliquary is an eighth century Scottish house-shape reliquary[1] made of wood and metal characterised by an Insular fusion of Gaelic and Pictish design and Anglo-Saxon metalworking, presumably by the Celtic Church monks of Iona Abbey. It is now in the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.

Front view; one of two enamelled hinge plates survive that would have attached a strap so that the reliquary could be carried, possibly around the neck.[2]

It is an early example of the house-shaped shrine that became popular across Europe later in the Middle Ages, perhaps influenced by Insular styles. The Monymusk Reliquary is now empty. Its dimensions are W 112mm x D 51mm x H 89mm.[3]

Past scholars suggested that Monymusk Reliquary was the Brecbennach of St. Columba (modern Gaelic Breac Bannoch or "embossed peaked-thing"), a sacred battle ensign of the Scottish army, used for saintly assistance, and mentioned in various charters associated with Arbroath Abbey. However, this identification of the Monymusk Reliquary with the Brecbennach is unlikely, and the Monymusk Reliquary is therefore not the object mentioned in historical records. Very few Insular reliquaries survive, although many are mentioned in contemporary records.

  1. ^ Moss (2014), p. 286
  2. ^ History, Scottish; read, Archaeology 5 min. "Monymusk reliquary". National Museums Scotland. Retrieved 15 October 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ The Monymusk Reliquary Archived 2014-07-14 at the Wayback Machine at the National Museum of Scotland