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Discover the origins & meanings of every Celtic knot
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Celtic knots are incredibly important symbols that are believed to promote protection, spirituality, and love…among many other powerful meanings. But what are the different types of Celtic knots, and what does each one represent? From the Trinity Knot and Celtic Cross to the Tree of Life, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about Celtic knots and their importance throughout history.
What does the Celtic knot represent?
Celtic knots are a symbol of the interdependence between the cycles of life and eternity. They also stand for protection, love, unity, balance, new beginnings, and spiritual growth. They’re symbols of the four elements of fire, earth, air, and water, along with Celtic pride.
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Section 2 of 5:
10 Types of Celtic Knots & Meanings
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Trinity Knot The trinity knot’s 3-sided design stands for the cycles of life, death, and rebirth. It has also been associated with the natural elements of earth, sea, and sky. In addition to these meanings for pagan Celtic civilizations, early Christian Celts used the trinity knot as a symbol for the holy trinity’s 3 parts: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. [3] X Research source
- Trinity knots are also called the Triquetra, which is based on the Latin word for a triangle.
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2Dara Knot The Dara knot is a symbol of strength, wisdom, and power. Its name comes from the Irish “doire,” meaning “oak.” Celtic pagans associated the oak tree (and all trees) with doorways that connected the living to the dead. The Dara knot design is meant to look like the intricate roots of an oak tree and is considered a shield knot in Celtic culture. [4] X Research source
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3Love Knot The Celtic love knot represents love in life and eternity. The interwoven knots were a symbol of love that the Celts exchanged when they got married, much like people exchange wedding rings today. [5] X Research source Its design includes 2 interlocking heart shapes with no beginning or end and dates back to 2500 BCE. [6] X Research source
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4Solomon’s Knot Solomon’s knot is a symbol of both immortality and love. It consists of 2 interlocking oval shapes that have neither a beginning nor end, like many other Celtic knots and meanings. It dates back to the Stone Age and is associated with King Solomon because it was seen in synagogues in the ancient world. The Celtic Solomon’s knot also appears on ancient Roman floor mosaics throughout the Byzantine period in history. [7] X Research source
- The 2 interlocking oval shapes of Solomon’s knot are also a symbol of love and union and have been compared to the Claddagh ring, which represents love and friendship.
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5Shield Knot The Celtic shield knot stands for protection, strength, and endurance. It’s a favorite of Celtic warriors who etched the symbol into their weapons and shields during battle. Outside of battle, ancient Celts gave the shield knot symbol as gifts and carved it into doorways to ward off evil spirits and to protect the homes of loved ones. The Celts sometimes etched them into the tombstones of those who passed away and gave them to newborns to protect them until they could protect themselves. [8] X Research source
- The Battersea Shield is one of the most well-known Celtic shield knots and dates back to 350 – 50 BCE. Made of bronze, it appears as 3 Celtic shield knots that surround 27 red glass pieces.
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6Sailor’s Knot The Celtic sailor’s knot symbolizes protection and fortitude. It’s known for having no beginning or end, which is represented by its interlocking woven lines to visually represent the waves of the sea. Sailors kept and tied Celtic knots as reminders of loved ones who waited for them while they were away at sea for months at a time. Because the Celtic sailor’s knot was a token for family and loved ones, it can stand for eternal love and friendship. [9] X Research source
- Sailor’s knots were also symbols of luck and good fortune and as a talisman for protection while sailing on the high seas.
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7Spiral Knot The Celtic spiral knot stands for the idea of eternal life. The number 3 figures heavily in many Celtic knot designs; here, it can represent the 3 stages of life (life, death, afterlife), 3 domains of earth (land, water, air), and 3 passages of time (past, present, future). The spiral knot is made up of one continuous line to signal continuity, while the spirals are signs of growth and transformation. [10] X Research source
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8Celtic Cross The Celtic cross is a symbol of the Holy Trinity. Others link it to a more traditional pagan meaning of the 3 female archetypes: maiden, mother, and crone. [11] X Research source It dates back to between the 5th and 8th centuries of the Middle Ages and features an endless interlacing knot at the center of a 4-pointed cross. The circular shape in the center of the cross is said to represent Christ’s halo, the sun, or eternity. [12] X Research source
- It’s thought that St. Patrick used the Celtic cross as a symbol to help convert pagan kings to Christianity. It can be seen as a combination of the circular symbol for the pagan sun god and a Christian cross all at once. [13] X Research source
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9Tree of Life The Tree of Life stands for harmony and balance. It’s also a symbol of strength, longevity, and wisdom, as well as resilience and rebirth. The tree of life was a powerful symbol in the ancient pagan world that connected elements of nature to the divine. The image includes branches that reach both up into the sky and down into the earth. This image is a representation of the connection between the divine and the earthly. [14] X Research source
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10Bowen Knot The Bowen knot is a symbol of union and ties. It appears as a loop with 2 overlapping arcs that act as a physical characterization of interconnectedness. The Bowen knot is associated with binding agreements and promises and is a powerful representation of any oath or bond between people. [15] X Research source
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References
- ↑ https://www.irelandbeforeyoudie.com/top-10-irish-celtic-symbols-and-their-meanings/
- ↑ https://artincontext.org/celtic-knot/
- ↑ https://irelandwide.com/celtic-knots/
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- ↑ https://www.womanaroundtown.com/contributed/what-is-the-celtic-knot-for-love/
- ↑ https://irelandwide.com/celtic-knots/
- ↑ https://irelandwide.com/celtic-shield-knot/#The_Celtic_Shield_Knot_Meaning
- ↑ https://irelandwide.com/celtic-sailor-knot/
- ↑ https://irisharoundtheworld.com/the-celtic-knot-and-meanings/
- ↑ https://irelandwide.com/celtic-sailor-knot/
- ↑ https://www.christianity.com/church/what-is-the-celtic-cross-its-origin-and-meaning.html
- ↑ https://www.christianity.com/church/what-is-the-celtic-cross-its-origin-and-meaning.html
- ↑ https://celticlifeintl.com/the-celtic-tree-of-life/
- ↑ https://spiritualmojo.com/bowen-knot-spiritual-meaning/
- ↑ https://www.irelandbeforeyoudie.com/celtic-knots-the-history-variations-and-meanings-of-these-irish-symbols/
- ↑ https://www.visittrinity.ie/blog/why-is-the-book-of-kells-important/
- ↑ https://www.irelandbeforeyoudie.com/celtic-knots-the-history-variations-and-meanings-of-these-irish-symbols/
- ↑ https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2014/11/25/366584255/the-american-origins-of-the-not-so-traditional-celtic-knot-tattoo
- ↑ https://tattmag.com/celtic-tattoos/
- ↑ https://www.irelandbeforeyoudie.com/triquetra-the-history-and-meaning-of-the-triple-knot/
- ↑ https://museum.wales/articles/1341/Who-were-the-Celts/
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