Celtic Symbols from ancient times
 The
triquetra (often, triqueta) is a tripartate symbol composed of three interlocked vesica
pisces, marking the intersection of three circles. It is most commonly a symbol of the
Holy Trinity (Father, son, Holy spirit) used by the Celtic Christian Church, sometimes
stylized as three interlaced fish. |
 The Celtic Knot
is one of the best known motifs in Celtic jewelry and art. The delicate twists and turns
are found in ancient stone art and tattoos, in illuminated manuscripts- in fact, just
about anywhere the Celtic people have travelled. Similar designs exist in Norse culture,
and as far as China. |
 The
Sheela-na-gig is a shocking, immediately noticable figure found in Celtic and medival
stonework. Sheela is most commonly depicted as a squat, ugly female creature using her
hands to display grotesquely large genitals. Sheelas of various ages adorn stone steles
all over the Irish countryside ; they are also found in the intricate carvings in
cathedrals and stone churches in ireland, England, and throughout Europe, often in tandem
with the Green man. |
 The Celtic
cross (Ionic cross) has it's roots in a pre-Christian variation of the Solar cross.
Examples of the Celtic cross date back as far as 5000 years BCE. Its origins are not
known, but it was known to be an early symbol of the sun god Taranis.
After the conversion of the Celtic people to Christianity, the Celtic Cross became an
emblem of the Celtic Christian Church. Irish legend holds that the cross was introduced to
Ireland by St. Columba, so it is sometimes referred to as Columba's cross, or the Ionic
cross, after his monastery on the isle of Iona.
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 The spiral is
probably the oldest symbol of human spirituality. It has been found scratched into rocks
from thousands of years ago, on every continent in the world. The religious significance
can only be guessed, but it has been found on tombs, and possibly has a connection with
the sun- the sun makes a spiral shape every three months in its travels. A triple spiral
motif found on Celtic tombs is drawn unicursally (that is, in one continuous line),
suggesting a cycle of rebirth or resurrection. (this hypothesis is bolstered by the fact
that many of these appear to be deliberately placed where they catch the first rays of the
sun on the solstice). |
 The Green
Man is a mysterious, eerie figure depicted mainly in medieval European stonework, believed
to represent an ancient vegetation deity. The Green man is nearly always depicted as a
"foliate head," that is, a face made of leaves and vines. Sometimes, it appears
as a human face peering out from leaves, other times with animal features. |
 The triqueta symbol predates Christianity and was likely a
Celtic symbol of the Goddess, and in the North, a symbol of the god Odin. Although it is
often asserted that the triquetra is a symbol of a tripartite goddess, no such goddess has
been identified with the symbol. Similar symbols do occur in some Norse and Celtic goddess
imagery, but most likely represents the divisions of the animal kingdom and the three
domains of earth mentioned above. Triplicities were common symbols in Celtic myth and
legend, one of the possible reasons Christian beliefs were so easily adopted by the Celtic
people.
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 While many of the ancient designs certainly had some
spiritually significant meaning, these have been lost to the ages. The continual looping
of the designs suggests themes of eternity and interconnectedness, and knots may have been
made at one time to foil evil spirits. Interwoven figures of people and animals may have
represented the interdependent nature of life-two or more knots laced together symbolize
lovers, hunters and their prey, God and man, etc. Some knots were used as magical
talismans for protection. |
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