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IRISHFIRESIDE E-NEWSLETTER




   Celtic Motifs

by Kat Behling


Thousands of years before the
dawn of Christianity, geometric
motifs played a prominent role in
both the ancient Celts’ religion
and artwork. The religious union
of mankind and the universal
cosmos, essential to the ancient
Celts’ spiritual beliefs, was
represented by powerful symbols integrating the two worlds.
Some of these motifs can still be seen today on stone
carvings in many parts of Ireland. Newgrange, one of the
oldest burial mounds in Europe, is highly-decorated with
carvings depicting spirals, crosses and other ancient icons.
The cross, now the universal symbol of Christianity, was
considered to be a sacred sign representing the bridge
between heaven (the universe) and earth (man). The pages
within the Book of Kells, Book of Durrow and other
illuminated manuscripts are adorned by various spirals,
patterns, ornamental letters and intricate knotwork. Other
symbols can be found on stone crosses, magnificent cloths
and jewelry, highly-decorated weapons and religious
monuments.
Here are other symbols and their ancient interpretations:


       Circle – The sun; the moon; the infinity of time; birth,
        death and rebirth; the human eye


       The Wheel of Being – four circles (the four
        elements) are unified by a fifth (balance)


       The Celtic Cross – The circle defines God’s love as
        unending, the vertical axis the spiritual world, the
        horizontal axis the earthly world


       The Single Spiral – One of the oldest motifs;
        represents growth; flowing of energy; sometimes
        used to represent the sun


       The Double Spiral – The Equinox: when day and
        night are of equal length; also a sign of balance


       Triple Spiral (aka the “triskele”) – most recurring
        element in Celtic art; 3 spirals radiating from a
        common center; often found in illuminated
        manuscripts; represents unity of the heart, mind and
        soul; later represented the Christian Trinity


       The Clockwise Spiral – The sun; cosmic energy;
        growth


       The Triquetra (Latin for “three cornered”) - the
        number 3 was an extremely powerful number; later
        the sign was adapted as the sign for the Holy Trinity
in the Christian church


   Knotwork – Longevity and continuity


   Chevrons – Resembling arrowheads, often occurs
    as a repeat pattern; represents power


   Waves – Life force flowing from the Tree of Life


   The Tree of Life – Eternal life; seasonal cycles


   Hands – Friendship; affection; love of work


   Heart – Faithfulness; charity; compassion (Note: The
    symbolic meaning of the heart and hands relates to
    the Claddaugh Ring)


   Dragon – Represents the four elements: earth,
    water, fire, air; luck and power; fertility


   Snake – Death and rebirth represented through
    shedding of skin


   Birds – Voyagers to the Otherworld; associated with
    gods and goddesses


   Dove – Peace


   Peacock – Immortality; later used to represent Christ


   Lion – Wisdom; dignity


   Fish – Cosmic; later represented Christian
    persecutions


   Cat – Guardians of the Otherworld


   Dog – Healer of body and soul; loyalty
   The Symbols of the Four Gospels:
          Matthew – Angel
          Mark – Lion
          Luke – Ox
          John – Eagle

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Celtic Motifs Irish Fireside 2007

  • 1. IRISHFIRESIDE E-NEWSLETTER Celtic Motifs by Kat Behling Thousands of years before the dawn of Christianity, geometric motifs played a prominent role in both the ancient Celts’ religion and artwork. The religious union of mankind and the universal cosmos, essential to the ancient Celts’ spiritual beliefs, was represented by powerful symbols integrating the two worlds. Some of these motifs can still be seen today on stone carvings in many parts of Ireland. Newgrange, one of the oldest burial mounds in Europe, is highly-decorated with carvings depicting spirals, crosses and other ancient icons. The cross, now the universal symbol of Christianity, was considered to be a sacred sign representing the bridge between heaven (the universe) and earth (man). The pages within the Book of Kells, Book of Durrow and other illuminated manuscripts are adorned by various spirals, patterns, ornamental letters and intricate knotwork. Other symbols can be found on stone crosses, magnificent cloths and jewelry, highly-decorated weapons and religious monuments.
  • 2. Here are other symbols and their ancient interpretations:  Circle – The sun; the moon; the infinity of time; birth, death and rebirth; the human eye  The Wheel of Being – four circles (the four elements) are unified by a fifth (balance)  The Celtic Cross – The circle defines God’s love as unending, the vertical axis the spiritual world, the horizontal axis the earthly world  The Single Spiral – One of the oldest motifs; represents growth; flowing of energy; sometimes used to represent the sun  The Double Spiral – The Equinox: when day and night are of equal length; also a sign of balance  Triple Spiral (aka the “triskele”) – most recurring element in Celtic art; 3 spirals radiating from a common center; often found in illuminated manuscripts; represents unity of the heart, mind and soul; later represented the Christian Trinity  The Clockwise Spiral – The sun; cosmic energy; growth  The Triquetra (Latin for “three cornered”) - the number 3 was an extremely powerful number; later the sign was adapted as the sign for the Holy Trinity
  • 3. in the Christian church  Knotwork – Longevity and continuity  Chevrons – Resembling arrowheads, often occurs as a repeat pattern; represents power  Waves – Life force flowing from the Tree of Life  The Tree of Life – Eternal life; seasonal cycles  Hands – Friendship; affection; love of work  Heart – Faithfulness; charity; compassion (Note: The symbolic meaning of the heart and hands relates to the Claddaugh Ring)  Dragon – Represents the four elements: earth, water, fire, air; luck and power; fertility  Snake – Death and rebirth represented through shedding of skin  Birds – Voyagers to the Otherworld; associated with gods and goddesses  Dove – Peace  Peacock – Immortality; later used to represent Christ  Lion – Wisdom; dignity  Fish – Cosmic; later represented Christian persecutions  Cat – Guardians of the Otherworld  Dog – Healer of body and soul; loyalty
  • 4. The Symbols of the Four Gospels:  Matthew – Angel  Mark – Lion  Luke – Ox  John – Eagle