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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\nCross Front (West side)<\/h6>\n
You can see Christ on the cross, framed by 2 reliefs of saints, while an image of St. Patrick watches above the figure of Christ. Saint Patrick is considered the patron saint of Ireland.<\/p>\n
Below the Christ figure are 3 motive elements with various typical Irish braiding or knotting patterns. Detailed images can be accessed in a separate page via the menu.<\/p>\n
A steep gable roof is attached to the cross, the sides of the roof face east and west.<\/p>\n
The cross is rounded inwards in a quarter circle at the intersection of the horizontal trunk and the crossbeam. The typical cross ring around the intersection of the horizontal trunk and the cross beam rounds off the main features of a Celtic cross.<\/p>\n
The bases elements are also explained in detail in separate pictures.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Cross tip (West side)<\/b><\/p>\n On the left and right of the cross there are two more figures. It can be assumed that these are the 2 other patron saints of Ireland:<\/p>\n The circle around the intersection of the cross is decorated with braided patterns.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Cross tip top – St. Patrick (West side) Above the head of the figure of Christ, directly under the roof of the cross, St. Patrick is depicted. He is the most important patron saint of Ireland.<\/p>\n Between him and the head of Christ the letters INRI are engraved in two lines.<\/p>\n The image of St. Patrick is decorated with a woven ribbon. On the upper left next to his face his crosier with a cross can be seen.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Tip of the crossbar left (West side) As already described above, this portrait is possibly of St. Brigid, also a patron saint of Ireland. Her head is also framed with a tendril-like weave.<\/p>\n In the background of the head there are uniform radiations, which can possibly be interpreted as flames of fire. Fire flames above the head are considered an attribute of St. Brigid.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t This relief may show St. Comcille. He is also called St. Columban or Kolumban. But in his case the meaning of the dagger is unclear.<\/p>\n The dagger as an attribute of a saint can be assigned only to St. Kilian in the case of an Irish saint. However, St. Kilian was mainly missionary active near W\u00fcrzburg and probably did not play a major role in Irland itself.<\/p>\n It seems therefore more likely that the Irish prisoners of war had rather direct country related saints on the cross realized. What is more obvious in such a case than to have the 3 great patron saints of Ireland engraved on the cross:<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Back side of the cross (East side)<\/b><\/p>\n The description of the design of the reverse side can be read in the Dietkirchen School Chronicle as follows:<\/p>\n At this point in the description the writer of the Dietkirchen school chronicle seems not to have been precise enough or has not questioned the meaning of the coats of arms.<\/p>\n It is very likely that the coats of arms are the four provinces of Ireland, which are represented with their attributes:<\/p>\n Below the harp the cross stem is decorated with a braided band.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, the cross has again been heavily weathered since the time of renovation until today. The details of the motifs are now relatively difficult to see.<\/p>\n From the renovation in 2007 until today in 2020, just under 13 years have passed and it now seems that another renovation is necessary.<\/p>\n The individual elements are so badly weathered that it is almost impossible to see any details.<\/p>\n A proper renovation with possible reworking of the individual elements seems to be urgently necessary, otherwise in a few years there will be only a sandstone cross on the cemetery where not much is recognizable anymore.<\/p>\n The motifs that characterize the cross in particular will then probably no longer be recognizable in their fineness.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\nTip of the crossbar on the right (West side)<\/b><\/h6>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\nOn the back you can see four Irish coats of arms: high above three crowns, in the middle the harp, on the left the eagle with the sword, on the right an outstretched hand.<\/i><\/h6>\n
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