Celtic Tattoo Designs From Ancient Times
If you are considering Celtic tattoo designs for your next tattoo, it is important to understand what this means, and where your Celtic tattoo designs might be placed on your body.
The Origins of Celtic Tattoo Designs
The Celts are a European people with a long history and ancient traditions. Their culture is full of icons and imagery that have a lot of meaning and, therefore, you may want to consider Celtic tattoo designs for your next tattoo.
For centuries, the Celts had a lot of influence in art, literature, and warfare. Originating in Germanic Europe, they were found in many parts of Europe throughout history. They are identified by their common Celtic languages and share a number of cultural characteristics.
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A warring tribe, the ancient Celts were known for their aggressive nature and territorial conquests. They were very adept at the use of the long sword and crafted strong iron shields. They were known for their dependence on brute force rather than strategy and tactics for their victories in battle. As such, many writers of the time depicted their style of fighting as “wild” and called them “beasts” in their exploits. Indeed, Celtic warriors could be savage.
Also adding to the image of the early Celts as brutish, was their reputation for head hunting. They believed that the head contained one’s soul and the taking of an enemy’s head was a way of obtaining absolute victory. Many literary depictions include stories of heroes and saints carrying their own heads with them after being decapitated, as a way of protecting their souls from harm.
The Celts were extremely religious and believed in polytheism, the reverence of multiple gods. Their religious leaders were called druids and, in addition to their religious duties, were responsible for many administrative functions as well. They also served as teachers, carried on historic “lore,” and performed regular sacrifices, which were common in Celtic rituals.
Choosing Celtic Tattoo Designs
With the rich Celtic history, religion, and warrior culture, there are many popular Celtic tattoo designs taken from symbols of Celtic society.
The Celtic culture is known as very mystical and spiritual in nature. One example is the tree of life, a symbol that represents the life cycle, from the beginning to the end, as well as the continuity of life. In addition, the Celtic cross was an extremely important religious symbol and was even adopted by later Christians for their own icon.
Battle shield art can also make great Celtic tattoo designs, as well as that of other armor and their famous long swords. The Celtic cross, Thor’s hammer, and the Celtic knot are other styles of Celtic tattoo designs.