Welsh Celtic Tattoos, Part 1: Celtic Cross

Posted on September 29, 2009
Filed Under Before You Decide, Tattoo Designs, Tattoo Meanings

Welsh Celtic Tattoos, Part 1: Celtic Cross

Though Celtic tattoos are popular nowadays it’s still difficult to trace their origin as well as the origin of the Celts themselves.

The Celts never wrote about their history so it’s known very little about their life before Greeks and Romans came to the British Isles. But scientists claim they were well-educated people, especially in terms of geography, philosophy, astronomy and of course, religion. Religion played a very important role in the Celtic community as the knowledge of many generations was transmitted by Druid priests.

Though the Celts were pushed by the invaders, they influenced them adding their contribution to the newcomers’ culture. The so-called “knotwork” design was already popular in Europe long time ago.

The Celts are a legend, because they invented exceptionally complicated and striking ornaments which still cause bewilderment. The distinctive feature of Welsh Celtic tattoos is the abundance of loops, lines and spirals in them. Endless interlacing symbolizes the never-ending cycle of life. The knots may as well stand for close ties between body and soul.

The Celtic Cross and the Celtic Knot are considered to be the most popular tattoo designs. They are usually tattooed on the breast, the beck, the forearm and round the shin. There exist also Celtic tattoos depicting animals and the most widespread among them are Celtic tigers and lions.

Let us pay a closer look to the Celtic Cross.

The Celtic Cross is a Christian cross with a cycle over the lines intersection. The most ancient Celtic crosses were cut onto the huge stones lying on the ground. Later crosses were ornamented with spirals, knotwork, animal figures, plant elements and Biblical stories. Some scientists believe that the Celtic Cross originates from a “Chi Rho” symbol that was widespread during the rule of Christian Roman Emperor Konstantin. “Chi” and “rho” are the first letters of the name of the Christ in Greek. The way the letters are put over each other reminds us about the equilateral cross in the middle of the Celtic Cross.

In the next article I will tell you about Celtic Dragons, the Celtic Sun and the Celtic Knotwork. Stay in touch, the story is to be continued..

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One Response to “Welsh Celtic Tattoos, Part 1: Celtic Cross”

Welsh Celtic Tattoos, Part 2 on October 5th, 2009 8:00 am

[...] We continue to talk about Welsh Celtic tattoos which now face a real revival and are extremely popular. They are abstract, paradoxical, dreary and what’s more important - sacral. Last time we spoke about the well-known Celtic Cross. [...]

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