The Irish missionaries called the
spot to which they went _I. columcille_, "the cell of the Dove's isle,"
or Columba's cell. It is usually spoken of as the Monastery of Iona.
Columba went on many other missions, but ultimately returned to his
beloved Iona, where he died in 597, the year after the arrival of
Augustine at Canterbury.
[11] _Hist. de l'Irlande._
His companions busied themselves with the transcription of the Gospels
for the use of new converts, after the model of those they had seen and
used at Durrow. It is even traditionally asserted that Columba himself
took part in the work, and transcribed both a Psalter and a Gospel-book,
moreover, that one of the Iona Gospel-books written by him is still in
existence. This MS., whether the work of St. Columba or not, and
probably it is not, is the earliest known monument of Irish calligraphic
art. It is known as the Book of Kells, and there is no doubt that it is
the most amazing specimen of penmanship ever seen. It is at once the
most ancient, the most perfect, and the most precious example of Celtic
art in existence. It exhibits the striking peculiarities and features of
the style--the band work knots and interlacings, such as may be seen on
the stone crosses which mark the burial-places of British and Irish
chieftains.
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