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Flash Collection
Captain Bret's Tattoo Shop - 2 Collins St. Newport, Rhode Island Next door to Newport Police Department 401-846-4488
Celtic Tattoo
History & Symbolism
In recent
years Celtic Tattoos have enjoyed a revival. We specialize in historical knotwork and
Celtic ornamental style Tattooing . Our research on the subject has provided a wealth of
new and exciting knots for applications as Tattoos . Anyone who desires a Historical
Celtic Tattoo, Mythological Celtic Tattoo or a pride in their heritage Celtic Tattoo will
be pleased with our vast collection of custom Celtic art.
Buy Celtic Tattoo Designs on CD
The Celts
transmitted their culture orally, never writing down history or facts. This accounts for
the extreme lack of knowledge about them prior to their contact with the classical
civilizations of Greece and Rome. They were generally well educated, particularly on
topics such as religion, philosophy, geography and astronomy. The Romans often employed
Celtic tutors for their sons, many of these tutors were Druid priests. Religion was a
force in Celtic culture. The Druids were their priestly caste. The Celts were extremely
superstitious.
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The
history of the Celtic peoples goes back some thousands of years . At one time all of
Europe was Celtic. England was ruled entirely by Celts . Eventually the Romans, Angles and
Saxons came and pushed the Celts to the north and west. One of the great Celtic events of
history was the Fifth-Century battle between King Arthur and his Celtic army against the
dark pagan hordes in England ( as the Celts termed the non-Celtic peoples ). The Celts
considered King Arthurs loss to be the death of civilization. King Arthur himself remains
an important figure in Celtic legend. The original historic story is now much embroidered
with medieval knights and traditions.
Skin&Ink Tattoo magazine article about Captain Bret's Celtic Tattoos
The
ancient Celtic Art was full of interlacing patterns, elaborate knotwork, spirals, animal
forms and animal zoomorphics, and color. The early Celts displayed their art especially in
metal: jewelry , weapons (they were
fierce warriors ),
figurines and pots are some of the many artifacts that come to light.
Knotwork
tradition in manuscript painting spread the style from Britain and Ireland to Scotland (in those days
Pictland and Dalriada),
Wales and Northumbria and with the travels of missionaries of the Celtic church to Europe.
Viking raiders later appropriated many of the design concepts into their own personalized
, more chaotic style of animal interlace.
Modern
Celtic peoples have evolved symbols for themselves, and in the North American people of
Celtic descent often wear these symbols to show that they are of Celtic descent. For
instance, the most common Irish symbol is the three -leaved shamrock, although the Harp is
often used as well. The harp has been the national instrument for all the Celtic people
since the dawn of their history. The Scottish symbol is the Thistle, along with the
wearing of tartans. The Welsh flag is a red dragon on a green and white background . They
consider the red dragon as their most Welsh symbol, but along with the dragon they
recognize the leek and the daffodil.
When
Christianity came to the Celtic lands of Britain and Ireland, the monks of the seventh
century adapted the ancient Celtic art forms to the new religion. The Celtic cross and the
Tree of Life, for example came from this marriage. Writing also came to the Celts for the
first time. The most famous manuscript by the monks is the beautiful Book of Kells, on display in the library of Trinity College
in Dublin.
Celtic
knots are complete loops with no end or beginning. Celtic animal interlace is similar in
construction but the cords terminate in feet, heads, tails ect. Pure knots should always
be unending, unless the loose end of a strand is stylized into a zoomorphic element or a
spiral.
As
for symbolism: knotwork designs are emblematic in modern times of the Celtic
nationalities. The symbolism that has come down through the ages is as obscure and
indirect as much of the speech and literature of the Celtic people.
Knotwork’s
meaning defies literal translation and should be sought at a deeper level. The repeated
crossing of the physical and the spiritual are expressed in the interlace of the knots.
The never ending path of the strands may represent the permanence and the continuum of
life, love and faith.
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We can help you further at your visit to our Tattoo shop with more in-depth explanations and advice with other Celtic symbolism that translates well into custom Tattoos such as:The Book of Kells, the Number Three, the Three Realms, ( Sky, Sea & Land ), The Head, The Tree, In-Between Place, Cauldrons, The Triskele, The Spiral, The Circle, Stars, The Golden Wheel of Life, Druidic, Astrological, Mythological, The Horned God, Animals, Plants, Ring (
or Circle of Stones), Mandalas, Knotworks, Zoomorphics, Illuminations, Gods, Goddesses, Myths, Legends, Crystals, Key Patterns, Step patterns, Serpents, Mythical Creatures, Interwoven Motifs, Horoscope, Paganism, Druidism, Five Graals, Eye of Sarph, Dreamtime, Revolving Doorway, Celtic Tree of Life, Dark Jewel, Clans, Family Crests, Celtic and Gaelic lettering, Interlacements, Illuminated letters, Celtic Horoscope, Love Knot, Celtic Cross, Religious ect. 
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CELTIC TATTOO
Celtic tattoos are one of the most popular design choices. With their intricate weave, and such a wide variety of art to choose from, it is no wonder that such a different array of people have chosen it as their tattoo. The great majority of the designs used in Celtic tattoos come from illuminated manuscripts as well as ancient art from Ireland, Scotland and England.
Many believe that the best way to interpret Celtic artwork is as meditation or as a
prayer. Celtic tattoos are usually not strictly representational and they do not attempt
to duplicate the world and especially nature exactly as it is (nature being imperfect
anyways). They are made of sinuous lines that form an intricate interweaving formed to
complete a cycle (there is no end nor a beginning to a Celtic knot).
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For people who have a Celtic heritage, whether
they are Irish, Scots or Welsh, getting a Celtic tattoo can be a way of expressing pride
in their heritage by reaffirming an affinity the indigenous artistic style of their
ancestors. They are usually not easy designs to tattoo, and it is strongly recommended to
anyone contemplating getting one to make sure that the artist they are considering has
experience in designing Celtic tattoos. Not all tattoo artists have the eye for detail and
exacting line placement needed to draw the intricate patterns particular to Celtic art.
The Celtic Cross, an icon of Celtic Art is one of
the earliest symbols to combine the pagan and Christian traditions in one object. Based on
early Sun worship, the circle is the sun, and early respect for the Four Directions, the
combination of the two makes for a powerful early Christian symbol for Christ's cross. The
Druids of early Irish religion and art saw the circle as the eternal, unchanging way of
unity, the universal way; and the crossroads as the path on earth that each individual man
walks. The one, leads to the other and they intermix not only in pagan art and religion,
but in Christianity as well. The cross also symbolized the times of the Celtic Year and
its four great festivals, Beltaine, Lugnasadh, Samhain, Imbolc. The Celtic Cross is made
up of unending knots, the Celtic Knots that are known worldwide, as symbols of infinity,
eternity. These knots are seen most beautifully in the Book of Kells.
Three
was a sacred number in ancient Celtic mythology and religion. Riddles and
triadic phraseology are frequent in Celtic mythology. The triskel, a figure composed of
three spirals, signifies the three-layered nature of a human soul, and is itself a central
figure in ancient Celtic symbolism. The earth, sea, and sky were thought to share a
three-fold marriage in oaths and as witness to deeds, and represented sacred elements.
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The number five
signified the family unit and order in Irish tradition, because of the five provinces of
Ireland, and also the five laws imposed on provincial Irish kings.
Seventeen
was a number associated with the cycles of the visible moon, particularly the
new moon. On this day of the moon's cycle, many influential and monumental events were
thought to have taken place. The 17th generation was supposed to be the farthest reaches
of ancestral memory, putting the longevity of memories within a clan at approximately 400
years.
Twenty-seven
represented the sacred number nine tripled three times, which supposedly
triples its potency. Twenty-seven also signified the number of warriors comprising a
war-band, and the number of the members of a Celtic chieftain's royal court. The number
nine may also have been associated with a nine-day lunar week.
Thirty-three represented the royal or judicary number, signifying great honor. The courts of great gods and heroes number thirty-two, with the king of the gods making the tally thirty-three. This also represented the number of islands that Maelduin had to visit before he could find his homeland.
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Mystic River Tattoo
Sean Penn Back Tattoo
CLICK DOWNLOAD THIS TATTOO DESIGN NOW
Tattoo that Captain Bret Designed that was used in Clint Eastwood's movie"MYSTIC RIVER" staring Sean Penn as the character "Jimmy Markum" a South Boston Irish mobster with this celtic styled cross Tattooed on his back
My article and picture in Harley Davidson 100 year Anniversary Book
Order Celtic Tattoo designs CD's Order CelticTattoo designs Books
Newport, Rhode Island
401-846-4488
| Home
| Celtic Photos | Tribal Photos
| Misc. Photos |
| Celtic Tattoo History Page #1 | Page #2
| Page #3 |
| Tribal
Tattoo History Page #1 | Page #2 | Page #3 |
| Celtic Mythology Page #1| Page
#2 | Page #3 |
| Modern Tattoo History | Modern
Mutations | Current Trends |
| How Tattoos Work | Design
Service | Tattoo Shop Directions | Hours |
| Discount Coupon | F.A.Q.'s
| Care Instructions | E-Mail |
All designs and images/content/compilation herein are Copy Rite and/or Trade Mark/
Service Mark protected By Captain Bret's Tattoo Shop Inc. and www.tribal-celtic-tattoo.com
copy rite 1980
Questions or comments to Capt. Bret or Site Administrator