The Book of Kells is an ornately illustrated manuscript, produced by Celtic monks around AD 800. It is one of the most lavish illuminated manuscripts to survive the mediæval period. Because of its technical brilliance and great beauty, it is considered by many scholars to be one of the most important works in the history of mediæval art. It contains the four gospels of the Bible, in Latin, along with prefatory and explanatory matter, all decorated with numerous colourful illustrations and illuminations. Today it is on permanent display at the Trinity College Library in Dublin, Ireland where it is catalogued as MS 58.

Read the rest of this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Kells

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1487: The Battle of Stoke Field, the final battle of the Wars of the Roses, was fought. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Stoke_Field)

1745: During King George's War, British colonial forces led by William Pepperrell captured the French stronghold at Fortress Louisbourg on Cape Breton Island after a six-week siege. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fortress_Louisbourg)

1846: Pius IX was elected pope, beginning the longest reign of all popes since the days of the apostles. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Pius_IX)

1963: Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentina_Tereshkova)

1976: Police in Soweto, South Africa opened fire on schoolchildren protesting against the imposition of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in township schools, triggering a series of nationwide demonstrations, strikes, riots and violence. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hector_Pieterson)

_____________________ Wikiquote of the day:

"I cannot think we are useless or Usen would not have created us. He created all tribes of men and certainly had a righteous purpose in creating each." -- Geronimo (http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Geronimo)