Celebrating St Patrick's Day

To celebrate St Patrick's Day the Department of Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic and St John's College are offering an opportunity to see the 'Southampton Psalter'. The St John's College Manuscript C.9, otherwise known as 'The Southampton Psalter' is a wonderful Irish psalm-book, ninth - or tenth-century in date. Its fine script and many decorated initials, as well as its three striking images (of David and Goliath, David fighting the lion and the Crucifixion) make it one of St John's and Cambridge's real treasures. Of particular significance are the Irish glosses in the predominantly Latin manuscript which provide an insight into the bilingual learned culture in which it was produced. Amidst the many additions the scribe makes in his native language is the passing comment: it is Beltaine (Mayday) today, a Wednesday. All are welcome to join the group viewing of the manuscript on the afternoon of St Patrick's Day. Please contact Dr Denis Casey of the Department of Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic at dc399 [a] cam.ac (p) uk, for further details.