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Columns of figures on
The Book of Kells
Ireland, c. 800AD


Larger images of columns of figures on the frontis-pieces in the Book of Kells, Ireland, c.800AD
The full image of folio 1v, The Book of Kells.
The full image of folio 2r, The Book of Kells.

The Book of Kells contains the four Gospels in Latin based on the Vulgate text which St Jerome completed in 384AD, intermixed with readings from the earlier Old Latin translation. The Gospel texts are prefaced by other texts, including "canon tables", or concordances of Gospel passages common to two or more of the evangelists; summaries of the gospel narratives (Breves causae); and prefaces characterizing the evangelists (Argumenta). The book is written on vellum (prepared calfskin) in a bold and expert version of the script known as "insular majuscule". It contains 340 folios, now measuring approximately 330 x 255 mm; they were severely trimmed, and their edges gilded, in the course of rebinding in the 19th century.