Circle Cross
Knots Circles and Celtic cross tattoos
Cross, Circle, Knot –Celtic Tattoo Design
Perhaps one of the least known ancient cultures is that of the Celts. Today, the Irish, Scottish, Cornish, Welsh, Manx, and people of Brittany (Northern France) are considered the cultural descendants of the Celts. Much of their folklore pervades Western mythology, such as pixies, leprechauns, trolls, and fairies. Celtic tattoo design is one of the areas where we continue to see the symbols that the Celtics held dearly.
The Knot In Celtic Art
Celtic art had a fair few symbols. One of these is the “Celtic knot”. This is an arrangement in which lines were woven over and under each other on a flat plane to form complex designs. This knot motif was often combined with other elements of Celtic art, like the triquetra. In a way, the knot motif represented one part of the way the Celts saw the world – it was a complex interweaving of fates and events, with value both in the whole and in its parts.
Celtic tattoo design makes heavy use of the knot motif. If anything else, it is proof of the planning and concentration required to ink a proper tattoo. A Celtic knot is orderly despite its convoluted nature, and if a tattoo artist gets confused, well the result is nothing short of a jumble.
The Celtic Cross – Legend and Symbolism
Celtic cross tattoos are based on Celtic crosses – no surprise. But what makes a Celtic Cross different from a normal cross, or a Christian cross?
Originally, a Celtic cross was an upright cross with the arms of equal length with a superimposed circle. The ends of the crosses would extend beyond the circle. Legend has it that Saint Patrick came to convert the Celts to Christianity. The original Celtic cross, also known as the sun cross, was a symbol of the sun, light, and life. Saint Patrick combined it with the Christian cross (the bottom arm being longer than the rest) to form the Celtic cross we know today.
As a symbol, Celtic crosses can have the following virtues attached to it: honor, loyalty, balance, life, direction, balance, unity, and faith. This probably stems from what Saint Paddy synthesized from Christian teachings and Celtic values. Celtic cross tattoos carry the same connotations.
Combination And Synthesis
More often than not, Celtic tattoo design invokes more than one symbol, interweaving them to form something more aesthetically appealing. One example is the Celtic cross with embedded Celtic knot designs. Another is the use of spirals, shamrocks, and crawling vines.
A lot of planning and designing is required, and the artist’s skills and discipline will be put to the test. It’s all worth it, though!
About the Author
CIRCLE ON THE CROSS
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