Chapter 4: Early Christian Ireland

Pagan

Someone who worships many gods, usually with a focus on nature

Druid 

A spiritual figure who was like a priest in Celtic paganism

Monastery

A religious community living by the rules of an order

Monk

A man dedicated to a religious order and life at a monastery

Scriptorium

A room where manuscripts were copied by hand and illustrated by scribes

Round Tower

A bell tower and safe space for people and treasures if the nearby monastery came under attack

Manuscript

A hand-written book, often in Latin, written on sheepskin parchment or vellum [calfskin]

High Cross

A free-standing stone cross, usually with elaborate carvings depicting biblical scenes

Longphort

A Viking camp near the water, used as a base for raids

Beehive hut

A conical stone hut that a monk lived in

Tonsure

A monk’s haircut

Oratory

A church made of wood or stone where monks prayed

Crozier

A hooked, decorated staff carried by a bishop