True Crime Medieval

The Theft of the Book of Kells, Kells 1006

January 13, 2021 Anne Brannen and Michelle Butler Season 2 Episode 33
True Crime Medieval
The Theft of the Book of Kells, Kells 1006
Show Notes

Happy New Year! An episode without any deaths! The "chief treasure of the western world" (as the Annals of Ulster reported) was stolen from the Abbey of Kells in 1006, surprisingly, not by Vikings. The thieves tore off the cover, which was encrusted with gold and jewels, we figure, and threw away the manuscript itself, which was found 2 months and 20 days afterwards, "under a sod." Besides the book itself, and some other book which was like it in being thrown in a bog, and Kells, why we want to go there, Michelle also tells us about finding relatives in Meath, and a high cross in the river at Kells which might be there but if so it's impossible to find. Fun times!  And we repeat: Vikings were not at fault!

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