Celtic Tattoo
November 3, 2009 by admin
Filed under Tattoo Designs
The Fascinating History Behind the Celtic Tattoo
The ancient Celtic people were a rather fascinating culture comprised of skilled Irish, Scottish, and Welsh craftsman whose detailed work can still be seen adorning the architecture of the country sides today. Although the Celts first began tattooing each other thousands of years ago, the basic designs and images that honor this heritage ar
Popular Celtic Tattoo Designs
e still very popular today.
Celtic knot tattoos are incredibly popular and not just among those of this particular heritage either as countless people can be seen with some type of Celtic tattoo in any one of the many beautiful, swirling designs they are associated with. A Celtic tattoo is usually comprised of loops and swirls, all of which seem to interlock together without a beginning or an end and the individual meanings behind them may be interpreted in several different ways.
The Celtic knot symbolizes the life cycle and it may also incorporate other designs such as animals like the proud lion or the mythical dragon. Within the interlaced strands of a Celtic knot may be hidden meanings represented by both spiritual and physical images and the number three, or at least a symbolic representative of such, figures prominently in Celtic tattoos.
A Celtic tattoo may also represent distinct emotions such as love, faith, and happiness. Trinity knots, or three interwoven strands are commonly used in Celtic tattoos to symbolize the relationship between the mind, body, and spirit and some designs may be used to honor religious beliefs.
Celtic tattoos also feature crosses and intricate knot-work patterns that can vary as greatly as the person getting the tattoo, and some are images of an astrological nature such as the sun, stars, and planets.
Unlike some simpler tattoos, a Celtic tattoo is certainly one that will require the expertise of an experienced tattoo artist as they will definitely take some time to be completed properly because of all the many intricacies involved. Celtic tattoos should be done professionally with every single line neatly in place and a high attention paid to detail.
We know that authentic Celtic tattoos were first done hundreds and hundreds of years ago as ancient man began permanently decorating his body in order to show their pride and an allegiance to a certain culture or even to intimidate enemies. And although there aren’t many pieces of written Celtic history to refer to, there are numerous drawings, works in stone, and plenty of architecture to use as inspiration for creating Celtic tattoos today.
A Celtic tattoo might be found adorning all areas of the body including the arms, shoulders, back, legs, ankles, and even the hands and feet as Celtic bands are popular choices for fingers and toes creating permanent “rings.” Both men and women can be seen sporting Celtic tattoos as they have a universal appeal that spans both gender lines.
Whether you’ve decided on getting a Celtic tattoo to pay testament to your heritage or simply because you enjoy this interesting type of artwork and its sheer beauty, be sure to look through several designs before making your ultimate decision as this will be a choice that will last a lifetime.
