Independent Baptist Church

History of Celtic Knots

Written by bmlengel on June 25th, 2009

Celtic knots are easily recognized but were you aware that they are not restricted to the Celts? They in fact turn up at an earlier time in history in Roman mosaics and were also used by the Vikings and Saxons. They represent patterns made by ropes, intricately woven, not necessarily in the shape of a knot. Sometimes they are unbroken, i.e. with no loose ends, and are then called Gordian knots, named after the legendary knot that Alexander the Great attempted to unravel. When he failed, as he must be for the knot had no end, he took his sword and sliced it all the way through, cutting it in two in order to make two ends.

Early Examples of Knotwork

Elaborately patterns are often found in artwork from the early Roman Empire mainly during the 3rd and 4th A.D., in particular in floor mosaics. Prior to the Christian affect on the Celts, i.e. prior to around 450 A.D., Celtic art work included key patterns, spirals and step patterns. Early Christian manuscripts from the Celts display these patterns as well as more decorative work that depicts plants, animals and other imagery from nature. Initially these patterns patterns of interlaced plaits were also seen in various other places and times. The very earliest illustrations of Celtic knots may be seen in the Gospel book which was created in Northern Britain in the 7th century and is now in the collection at Durham Cathedral.

Early Plaitwork

Plaitwork refers to an unbroken woven cord and is found in earlier art work before the emergence of genuine Celtic knots. The original designs characteristic of Celtic knots were seen in southern Gaul and northern Italy and  they reached Ireland by the seventh century. While we relate this variety of knot with the Celts they were also used in other parts of the British Isles and from there were carried to other parts of Europe by wandering monks. Nowadays Celtic knots are related to Ireland, Wales or Scotland.

The Trinity Knot

A particular type of Celtic knot, named the Trinity knot or triquetra, is often found initially in the earliest Germanic runes and coins from the northern Europe where it was used as a pagan religious symbol, probably associated with Odin the Norse god. The triquetra is related to the Insular art period of Celtic and was used in decorated manuscripts, for instance, the well-known Book of Kells, and on metal work. It was normally used beside other kinds of Celtic knots and very rarely used on its own. While we don’t know if the Trinity knot had any symbolic significance to the Celts more up to date renditions have given it a special importance as a representation of things that are threefold, for example, as mother, daughter and granddaughter, the past, present and future or the Holy Trinity.

Celtic Knots in Contemporary Jewelry

Nowadays the Celtic knot is a common design in both gold and celtic knot silver jewelry. Numerous styles are created and Celtic knots are found on bracelets, rings, wedding bands and pendants. The Trinity knot is a common design and the complicated knots so cherished by the Celts are likewise admired by those who wear Celtic knot jewelry today.

Tags: celtic knot, celtic knot jewelry, history of celtic knots, silver celtic knot jewelry, trinity knot, triquetra