Vita sancti Columbae (Adomnán)

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Vita sancti Columbae

Adomnán

• Hiberno-Latin
• Irish hagiography

Author

AdomnánAdomnán (fl. c.628–704) – abbot of Iona; author of a Life of St Columba
See more

Manuscripts

Longer recension:

• Schaffhausen, Stadtbibliothek, MS Generalia 1 [s. viiiⁱⁿ]
  ff. 1–69 pp. 1–136

• London, British Library, MS Cotton Tiberius D iii [s. xii^ex / s. xiiiⁱⁿ]
  ff. 192–217

• London, British Library, MS Additional 35110
  ff. 96v–143

• London, British Library, MS Royal 8 D ix
  ff. 1–70

Shorter (abridged) recension:

• St. Gallen, Stiftsbibliothek, MS 555 [s. ixⁱⁿ]
  ff. 1–83

• Munich, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, MS Clm 6341 [s. ix^ex + c. 1000]
  ff. 1–51
• The Magnum Legendarium Austriacum (Austrian MSS)
  • Heiligenkreuz, Stiftsbibliothek, MS 12 [s. xii^ex]

    ff. 222v–226
  • Zwettl, Stiftsbibliothek, MS 24
  • Admont, Stiftsbibliothek, MS 24 [c. 1200]

    ff. 172v–185
  • Vienna, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, MS lat. 336

    ff. 294v–310v
  • Melk, Stiftsbibliothek, MS M 5

    ff. 151v–172v
• Heidelberg, Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek, MS Salem IX 31

  ff. 113v–135v
• Dublin, Marsh's Library, MS Z 3.1.5 = Codex Kilkenniensis (or Ardmachanus) [s. xv]

  ff. 39ra (line 1)–51va
• Wolfenbüttel, Herzog-August-Bibliothek, MS 357
• Pseudo-Cumméne, i.e. the abridged recension wrongly attributed to Cumméne (cf. the fragment of Cumméne's Life)
  • St Omer, Bibliothèque publique, MS 716

    part v ff. 160–163

     

    13th century
  • Brussels, Bibliothèque Royale de Belgique, MS 7460

    ff. 167–169
  • Vienna, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, MS Ser. Nova 12

    ff. 802–804

     

    Sanctologium of John Gieleman

Other manuscript versions:

• Metz, Bibliothèque municipale, MS 523

  ff. 19–51
• Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, MS 5308

  ff. 287v–292v
• Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, MS 5278

  ff. 393–399

• Le Mans, Bibliothèque municipale, MS 217
  ff. 102v–106v
   
  Available online.
• Florence, Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, MS Ashburnham 58

  ff. 117–131
• London, British Library, MS Additional 19726

  f. 59
• Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, MS 5323

  ff. 133–140

Language

• Hiberno-Latin

Date

7th century

Classification

Irish hagiography

Subject tags

 Colum Cille

• Sources

Primary sources

Text editions and/or modern translations – in whole or in part – along with publications containing additions and corrections, if known. Diplomatic editions, facsimiles and digital image reproductions of the manuscripts are not always listed here but may be found in the entry for the relevant manuscript.

[ed.] [tr.] Anderson, A. O., M. O. Anderson [eds.], and M. O. Anderson [rev.], Adomnan’s Life of Columba, Oxford Medieval Texts, revised ed. (1961), Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991.

[ed.] [tr.] Reeves, William, Life of St. Columba, founder of Hy, written by Adamnan, 1st ed., Dublin: Irish Archaeological and Celtic Society, 1857. CELT – edition: <link> CELT – translation: <link> Internet Archive – original print: <link> Internet Archive – 1874 reprint: <link> Out of date.

[ed.] Reeves, William [ed.], and J. T. Fowler, Adamnani Vita S. Columbae, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1894. Internet Archive: <link> Internet Archive: <link> Internet Archive: <link>

[tr.] Sharpe, Richard [tr.], Adomnán of Iona: Life of St. Columba, London, et al.: Penguin Books, 1995.

[tr.] Fowler, J. T. [tr.], Adamnani Vita S. Columbae: prophecies, miracles and visions of St. Columba (Columcille) first abbot of Iona, A.D. 563-597, London: Oxford University Press, 1895. Internet Archive: <link>

[ed.] Brüning, Gertrud, “Adamnans Vita Columbae und ihre Ableitungen”, Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie 11 (1917): 213–304. Internet Archive: <link> 291–304 An edition of the pseudo-Cumméne text.

Secondary sources

Woods, David, “Crowd-control in sixth-century Clonmacnoise (Adomnán, VC 1.3)”, Ériu 60 (2010): 131–136.

Ritari, Katja, “How should Christians lead their lives? An exploration of the image of lay people in Adomnán’s Vita Columbae”, Studia Celtica Fennica 2 — Essays in honour of Anders Ahlqvist (2005): 138–151. SFKS – PDF: <link>

Picard, Jean-Michel, “Schaffhausen Generalia 1 and the textual transmission of Adomnán’s Vita Columbae on the continent”, in: Ní Chatháin, Próinséas, and Michael Richter (eds.), Ireland and Europe in the early Middle Ages: texts and transmissions / Irland und Europa im früheren Mittelalter: Texte und Überlieferung, Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2002. 95–102.

Stalmans, Nathalie, “Le jugement de l'âme dans la Vie de Columba”, in: Carey, John, Máire Herbert, and Pádraig Ó Riain (eds.), Studies in Irish hagiography: saints and scholars, Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2001. 41–48.

Picard, Jean-Michel, “Adomnán’s Vita Columbae and the cult of Colum Cille in continental Europe”, Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 98 (1998): 1–23.

Herbert, Máire, Iona, Kells, and Derry: the history and hagiography of the monastic familia of Columba, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1988.

Enright, Michael J., “Royal succession and abbatial prerogative in Adomnán’s Vita Columbae”, Peritia 4 (1985): 83–103.

MacDonald, A. D. S., “Aspects of the monastery and monastic life in Adomnán’s Life of Columba”, Peritia 3 (1984): 271–302.

Picard, J. M., “The purpose of Adomnán’s Vita Columbae”, Peritia 1 (1982): 160–177.

Picard, J. M., “The Schaffhausen Adomnán—a unique witness to Hiberno-Latin”, Peritia 1 (1982): 216–249.

Kenney, James F., “Chapter V: The monastic churches: II. The churches of the sixth to ninth centuries; general treatises”, in: Kenney, James F., The sources for the early history of Ireland: an introduction and guide. Volume 1: ecclesiastical, Records of Civilization: Sources and Studies 11, Revised ed. (1929), New York: Octagon, 1966. 372–485. 429–433 (§ 214) [id. 214.]

Brüning, Gertrud, “Adamnans Vita Columbae und ihre Ableitungen”, Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie 11 (1917): 213–304. Internet Archive: <link>

Queried results

if available

Márkus, Gilbert, “Adomnán, two saints, and the paschal controversy”, The Innes Review 68 (2017): 1–18.

Mc Carthy, Daniel P., “The chronology of Saint Columba’s life”, in: Moran, Pádraic, and Immo Warntjes (eds), Early medieval Ireland and Europe: chronology, contacts, scholarship. A Festschrift for Dáibhí Ó Cróinín, Studia Traditionis Theologiae 14, Turnhout: Brepols, 2015. 3–32.

Wooding, Jonathan M., “Irish manuscripts in facsimile: The Schaffhausen Adomnán [Review article]”, Studia Hibernica 41 (2015): 177–188.

Bracken, Damian, and Eric Graff, The Schaffhausen Adomnán, 2 vols, Cork: Cork University Press, 2008-2014.

Enright, Michael J., Prophecy and kingship in Adomnán's 'Life of Saint Columba', Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2013.

O'Neill, Pamela, “The meaning of Muirbolc: a Gaelic toponymic mystery”, in: Ahlqvist, Anders, and Pamela O'Neill (eds), Celts and their cultures at home and abroad: a Festschrift for Malcolm Broun, Sydney Series in Celtic Studies 15, Sydney: Celtic Studies Foundation, University of Sydney, 2013. 229–251.

Woods, David, “Adomnán, plague and the Easter controversy”, Anglo-Saxon England 40 (2011): 1–13.

Woods, David, “Crowd-control in sixth-century Clonmacnoise (Adomnán, VC 1.3)”, Ériu 60 (2010): 131–136.

Klüppel, Theo, “Eremus und Peregrinatio Adomnans Vita sancti Columbae”, in: Walz, Dorothea [ed.], Irische Mönche in Süddeutschland: literarisches und kulturelles Wirken der Iren im Mittelalter, Lateinische Literatur im deutschen Südwesten 2, Heidelberg: Mattes, 2009. 113–130.

Woods, David, “St. Columba, Silnán, and the ‘male bovine’ (VC 2.17)”, Journal of Theological Studies 59:2 (2008): 696–702.

Follett, Westley, “An allegorical interpretation of the monastic voyage narratives in Adomnán's "Vita Columbae"”, Eolas: The Journal of the American Society of Irish Medieval Studies 2 (2007): 4–27.

Nilsson, Sara E. Ellis, “Miracle stories and the primary purpose of Adomnán’s Vita Columbae”, The Heroic Age: A Journal of Early Medieval Northwestern Europe 10 — Saints and sanctity (May, 2007). URL: <http://www.heroicage.org/issues/10/nilsson.html>.

Ritari, Katja, “How should Christians lead their lives? An exploration of the image of lay people in Adomnán’s Vita Columbae”, Studia Celtica Fennica 2 — Essays in honour of Anders Ahlqvist (2005): 138–151. SFKS – PDF: <link>

Baumgarten, Rolf, “Creative medieval etymology and Irish hagiography (Lasair, Columba, Senán)”, Ériu 54 (2004): 49–78.

Fraser, James E., “Adomnán, Cumméne Ailbe, and the Picts”, Peritia 17–18 (2003–2004): 183–198.

Woods, David, “Four notes on Adomnán’s Vita Columbae”, Peritia 16 (2002): 40–67.

Enright, Michael J., “Further reflections on royal ordinations in the Vita Columbae”, in: Richter, Michael, and Jean-Michel Picard (eds.), Ogma: essays in Celtic studies in honour of Próinséas Ní Chatháin, Dublin: Four Courts, 2002. 20–35.

Picard, Jean-Michel, “Schaffhausen Generalia 1 and the textual transmission of Adomnán’s Vita Columbae on the continent”, in: Ní Chatháin, Próinséas, and Michael Richter (eds.), Ireland and Europe in the early Middle Ages: texts and transmissions / Irland und Europa im früheren Mittelalter: Texte und Überlieferung, Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2002. 95–102.

Conrad-O'Briain, Helen, “Grace and election in Adomnán’s Vita S. Columbae”, Hermathena 172 (Summer, 2002): 25–38.

O'Loughlin, Thomas, “The tombs of the saints: their significance for Adomnán”, in: Carey, John, Máire Herbert, and Pádraig Ó Riain (eds.), Studies in Irish hagiography: saints and scholars, Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2001. 1–14.

Stalmans, Nathalie, “Le jugement de l'âme dans la Vie de Columba”, in: Carey, John, Máire Herbert, and Pádraig Ó Riain (eds.), Studies in Irish hagiography: saints and scholars, Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2001. 41–48.

Borsje, Jacqueline, “Women in Columba's Life, as seen through the eyes of his biographer Adomnán”, in: Korte, Anne-Marie [ed.], Women and miracle-stories. A multidisciplinary exploration, Numen Book Series, Studies in the History of Religions 88, Leiden, Boston, Cologne: E. J. Brill, 2001. 87–122.

Herbert, Máire, “The Vita Columbae and Irish hagiography: a study of Vita Cainnechi”, in: Carey, John, Máire Herbert, and Pádraig Ó Riain (eds.), Studies in Irish hagiography: saints and scholars, Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2001. 31–40.

MacDonald, Aidan, “Aspects of the monastic landscape in Adomnán’s Life of Columba”, in: Carey, John, Máire Herbert, and Pádraig Ó Riain (eds.), Studies in Irish hagiography: saints and scholars, Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2001. 15–30.

Picard, Jean-Michel, “Adomnán’s Vita Columbae and the cult of Colum Cille in continental Europe”, Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 98 (1998): 1–23.

Picard, Jean-Michel, “Tailoring the sources: the Irish hagiographer at work”, in: Ní Chatháin, Próinséas, and Michael Richter (eds.), Irland und Europa im früheren Mittelalter: Bildung und Literatur / Ireland and Europe in the early Middle Ages: learning and literature, Stuttgart: Klett-Cotta, 1996. 261–274.

Sharpe, Richard [tr.], Adomnán of Iona: Life of St. Columba, London, et al.: Penguin Books, 1995.

Borsje, Jacqueline, “The monster in the river Ness in Vita sancti Columbae: a study of a miracle”, Peritia 8 (1994): 27–34.

Anderson, A. O., M. O. Anderson [eds.], and M. O. Anderson [rev.], Adomnan’s Life of Columba, Oxford Medieval Texts, revised ed. (1961), Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991.

Picard, Jean-Michel, “Eloquentiae exuberantia: words and forms in Adomnán’s Vita Columbae”, Peritia 6–7 (1987–1988): 141–157.

Herbert, Máire, Iona, Kells, and Derry: the history and hagiography of the monastic familia of Columba, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1988.

Enright, Michael J., “Royal succession and abbatial prerogative in Adomnán’s Vita Columbae”, Peritia 4 (1985): 83–103.

MacDonald, A. D. S., “Aspects of the monastery and monastic life in Adomnán’s Life of Columba”, Peritia 3 (1984): 271–302.

Picard, J. M., “The Schaffhausen Adomnán—a unique witness to Hiberno-Latin”, Peritia 1 (1982): 216–249.

Picard, J. M., “The purpose of Adomnán’s Vita Columbae”, Peritia 1 (1982): 160–177.

Kenney, James F., “Chapter V: The monastic churches: II. The churches of the sixth to ninth centuries; general treatises”, in: Kenney, James F., The sources for the early history of Ireland: an introduction and guide. Volume 1: ecclesiastical, Records of Civilization: Sources and Studies 11, Revised ed. (1929), New York: Octagon, 1966. 372–485. 429   [214] “Adamnán's Life of Columba”

Bullough, D. A., “Columba, Adomnan and the achievement of Iona [part 1]”, The Scottish Historical Review 43:136 (October, 1964): 111–130.

Kenney, James F., “The earliest Life of St. Columcille”, The Catholic Historical Review 11:4 (January, 1926): 636–644.

Brüning, Gertrud, “Adamnans Vita Columbae und ihre Ableitungen”, Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie 11 (1917): 213–304. Internet Archive: <link>

Fowler, J. T. [tr.], Adamnani Vita S. Columbae: prophecies, miracles and visions of St. Columba (Columcille) first abbot of Iona, A.D. 563-597, London: Oxford University Press, 1895. Internet Archive: <link>

Reeves, William [ed.], and J. T. Fowler, Adamnani Vita S. Columbae, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1894. Internet Archive: <link> Internet Archive: <link> Internet Archive: <link>

Reeves, William, Life of St. Columba, founder of Hy, written by Adamnan, 1st ed., Dublin: Irish Archaeological and Celtic Society, 1857. CELT – edition: <link> CELT – translation: <link> Internet Archive – original print: <link> Internet Archive – 1874 reprint: <link>

web page identifiers

page name: Vita sancti Columbae (Adomnán)
page url: //www.vanhamel.nl/codecs/Vita_sancti_Columbae_(Adomn%C3%A1n)
page ID: 11638
page ID tracker: //www.vanhamel.nl/codecs/Show:ID?id=11638

Contributors

Dennis Groenewegen

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