Celtic tattoos were actually transmitted by the Celts. The Celts transmitted their culture orally and never written down history or facts about their culture which accounts for the extreme lack of knowledge about them prior to their contact with the classical civilizations of Greece and Rome. Whatever little that has been collected about them reveals that they were generally well educated, particularly on topics such as religion, philosophy, geography and astronomy and also were extremely superstitious. The Celts considered that the loss of King Arthurs who was an important figure in Celtic legend in the war against dark pagan hordes in England their marks the end of their civilization.
The ancient Celtic Art was full of interlacing patterns; elaborate knot work, spirals, animal forms and animal zoomorphic, and color especially displayed in metal: jewelry, weapons, figurines and pots while modern Celtic peoples have evolved symbols for themselves, and they often wear these symbols to show that they are of Celtic descent. For instance, the most common Irish symbol is the three -leaved shamrock, although the harp is often used as well which has been the national instrument for all the Celtic people. With the advent of Christianity to the Celtic lands of Britain and Ireland, two important events took place. Writing came to the Celts for the first time and the adoption of ancient Celtic art forms to the new religion took place. The most famous manuscript by the monks is the beautiful Book of Kells and the Celtic cross and the Tree of Life could be cited as the result of such event.
The symbolism that has come down through the ages is as concealed and indirect as much of the speech and literature of the Celtic people and most symbols are interpreted by archaeologists and other scholars who study the symbols in context. Assuming that many of the ancient designs certainly had some spiritually significance the different symbols were read as: for instance continual looping of the designs suggests themes of eternity and interconnectedness, and knots may have been made at one time to foil evil spirits. The Interwoven figures of people and animals are thought to represent the interdependent nature of life. Two or more knots laced together symbolize lovers, hunters and their prey, God and man, etc whereas the never ending path of the strands may represent the perpetuity and the continuum of life, love and faith.
The Celts themselves left very little records about their culture and due to the strong influence of Christianity and other cultures the original facts ancient Celtic symbols are gradually changing over time. |
