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Each of the Symbol Categories listed on the left features carefully-selected jewelry relating to the various themes (animal symbols, Celtic knots, etc.)
and...
check out these selected
TOP SITES:
Celteshop
Celtic Shamrock
Simply Irish
Scottish Heirloom
Allcladdagh.com
Celtic Dreams
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Who were the Celts and how accurately can Celtic symbols be interpreted today?
There are a number of conflicting theories as to the actual origin of the Celts, but evidence based on archaeological finds suggests that they may have originated from the merging of two groups of people in the late Neolithic period. These two groups (named after the artefacts found in their respective burial sites) are known as the Battle-axe folk, from the Steppes of Southern Russia, and the Beaker folk, from Iberia or Central Europe.
It is not until the Iron Age, however, that we see the Celts spreading throughout Europe as distinctive group of tribes or clans, speaking a form of the Indo-European language family from which many moden-day European languages derive.
The Celts taught and passed down their laws, legends and beliefs through a strong oral tradition based on the trained memories of their poets and priests. A well-known figure of Celtic society, in fact, is the Bard, a poet/musician whose task was to record and narrate the histories, events and legends of the Celts.
This well-developed oral tradition consequently made writing unnecessary.
Today, therefore, our knowledge and understanding of Celtic symbols, tradition, religion and mythology are based almost entirely on the study of archaelogical remains and on Greek and Roman records (the earliest dating back to 500 B.C.).
The meanings of Celtic symbols thus remain subject to interpretation and, while most of these symbols are fairly evident, there are still a great many conflicting theories regarding the origin of some of them.
Despite their primitive origins, Celtic symbols are, in some ways, just as relevant and meaningful today. They are ageless and timeless archetypes that we, regardless of (and, perhaps, to balance out) the dizzying speed of modernday progress, continue to refer to in order to remain in touch with the innermost, nature-ruled and untapped energy of the Unconscious.
This website covers most of the main Celtic symbols, but since the subject is so rich and so complex each page includes suggested books on the various related themes (animal symbols, tree symbols, etc.) for further study.
As there is always more to learn and discover I am adding more features as I go along, so please bookmark me and come back often to see what's new!
There are a number of conflicting theories as to the actual origin of the Celts, but evidence based on archaeological finds suggests that they may have originated from the merging of two groups of people in the late Neolithic period. These two groups (named after the artefacts found in their respective burial sites) are known as the Battle-axe folk, from the Steppes of Southern Russia, and the Beaker folk, from Iberia or Central Europe.
It is not until the Iron Age, however, that we see the Celts spreading throughout Europe as distinctive group of tribes or clans, speaking a form of the Indo-European language family from which many moden-day European languages derive.
The Celts taught and passed down their laws, legends and beliefs through a strong oral tradition based on the trained memories of their poets and priests. A well-known figure of Celtic society, in fact, is the Bard, a poet/musician whose task was to record and narrate the histories, events and legends of the Celts.
This well-developed oral tradition consequently made writing unnecessary.
Today, therefore, our knowledge and understanding of Celtic symbols, tradition, religion and mythology are based almost entirely on the study of archaelogical remains and on Greek and Roman records (the earliest dating back to 500 B.C.).
The meanings of Celtic symbols thus remain subject to interpretation and, while most of these symbols are fairly evident, there are still a great many conflicting theories regarding the origin of some of them.
Despite their primitive origins, Celtic symbols are, in some ways, just as relevant and meaningful today. They are ageless and timeless archetypes that we, regardless of (and, perhaps, to balance out) the dizzying speed of modernday progress, continue to refer to in order to remain in touch with the innermost, nature-ruled and untapped energy of the Unconscious.
This website covers most of the main Celtic symbols, but since the subject is so rich and so complex each page includes suggested books on the various related themes (animal symbols, tree symbols, etc.) for further study.
As there is always more to learn and discover I am adding more features as I go along, so please bookmark me and come back often to see what's new!
Cernunnos panel of the Gundestrop Cauldron - 1st or 2nd Century B.C.
DO YOU KNOW......?
What is the origin of the Halloween pumpkin?
Who is Cernunnos and why was he associated with the Devil?
What is the Ogham tree alphabet?
Is the Unicorn a masculine or feminine symbol?
How is the Celtic god of thunder related to the Celtic cross?
Where does the expression 'tying the knot' come from?
Find out the meanings of these and many other Celtic symbols!
What is the origin of the Halloween pumpkin?
Who is Cernunnos and why was he associated with the Devil?
What is the Ogham tree alphabet?
Is the Unicorn a masculine or feminine symbol?
How is the Celtic god of thunder related to the Celtic cross?
Where does the expression 'tying the knot' come from?
Find out the meanings of these and many other Celtic symbols!
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Most of the images in this website are in the public domain; some, however, are my own property, so NO images and NO part of the text in this website may be reproduced elsewhere in any form without written permission from the Author.
Most of the images in this website are in the public domain; some, however, are my own property, so NO images and NO part of the text in this website may be reproduced elsewhere in any form without written permission from the Author.
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