The Temptation Page

from
the Book of Kells
by Jolanta Cyrek

The Temptation Page, Folio 202v

The Book of Kells.

Ongoing scholarly debate:

Origins of iconography?
Meaning?
Relation to exegesis?

Relation between the images of the

Temptation page and placement of that
page within the Book of Kells: new
understanding of the meaning
Lucan Genealogy (folios 200r 202r)
Temptation Page
Lukes Gospel (folio 204r)

Lucan Genealogy, Folio 200r,

The Book of Kells.

Lukes Gospel 4.9-13, folio 204r,

The Book of Kells

Angels

Christ

Ancestors or
Faithful

Priest or Christ on
Judgement Day
Faithful: Jews
and Gentile (?)

Devil

An early Irish church

Monymusk Reliquary

Resemblance to Irish church. Local inspiration?

Angels

Christ

Ancestors or
Faithful

Priest or Christ on
Judgement Day
Faithful: Jews
and Gentile (?)

Devil

Other interpretation (in isolation

from folios 200r-204r) are
usually within a context of:
Psalm 90,
Liturgical Lent (Quadragesima Sunday
first Sunday of the Lent)

An idea of the temple taken from Ambroses

commentary on Lucan genealogy:
a visual representation of both Christ and his
Church
Church is made up of the bodies of the
faithful
Temple embodies both physical and spiritual
aspects of it
Christian historical and spiritual
chronology/genealogy

Summary:
Viewing Temptation page within a wider
iconographic scheme of the Book of Kells
provides a base for different interpretation
Physical and spiritual aspects of the
depicted temple of Jerusalem
Christ as a physical body and body of the
united church
Ancestry of Christ and importance of the
baptism

Bibliography:

Farr, Carol 1997. The Book of Kells: Its Function and Audience ( Toronto
and Buffalo, University of Toronto Press)

Harbison, Peter 1985. 'Three Miniatures in the Book of Kells', Proceedings

of the Royal Irish Academy. Section C: Archaeology, Celtic Studies, History,
Linguistics, Literature , Vol. 85C: 181-194

Meehan, Bernard 1994. The Book of Kells: an Illustrated Introduction to the

Manuscript in Trinity Dublin College ( London, Thames and Hudson)

Meehan, Bernard 2012. The Book of Kells (London, Thames and Hudson)

O'Reilly, Jennifer .1994. 'Exegesis and the Book of Kells: The Lucan
Genealogy in The Book of Kells: Proceedings of a Conference at Trinity

College Dublin, 6-9 September 1992 (Aldershot, Scolar Press for

Trinity College Library) : 344-397
All images: ArtStor and Trinity College in Dublin except of the image of
the image of an early Irish church (copyright T.OCarragain)