celtic cross symbolism

What's the Symbolism of the Celtic Cross? (You know, the one with the ring around the center of it)

A Celtic cross is a symbol that combines the cross with a ring surrounding the intersection.

It is the characteristic symbol of Celtic Christianity, though the symbol has older, pre-Christian origins. Such crosses formed a major part of Celtic art. This design is also referred to as the Irish Cross, or as the Cross of Iona.
In Celtic regions of Ireland and Britain many free-standing upright crosses – or high crosses – were erected, beginning at least as early as the 7th Century. Some of these 'Celtic' crosses bear inscriptions in runes. There are surviving free-standing crosses in Cornwall and Wales, in the island of Iona and in the Hebrides, as well as the many in Ireland. Other stone crosses are found in Cumbria and the Scottish Borders, however some of these are of the similar Anglo-Saxon cross making tradition. The most famous standing crosses are the Cross of Kells, County Meath, Ireland, Ardboe Auld Cross, Ardboe, County Tyrone, Ireland,the crosses at Monasterboice, County Louth, Ireland, and the Cross of the Scriptures, Clonmacnoise, Ireland

There are numerous representation of crosses combined with a circle, even before Christianity. Often called "sun cross", they can be found in Bronze Age Europe (Nordic Bronze Age, Urnfield culture).

The Old English word for cross as an instrument of torture is rood (literally "pole", cognate with rod). The word cross in English derives only indirectly from Latin crux via Old Irish and possibly Old Norse, introduced in the 10th century.

2007-02-11 20:35:23 by Ricky Ticky Tabby

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in my ongoing search for celtic designs, i recently stumbled across an image of two dragons perched/twisting around an ornate cross. they sit differently in different versions that i have found, seeing as i found several versions. i had never seen it before though. is it a common image? what is the symbolism? could it represent the battle for good and evil (sometimes one dragon is red and the other white). i dont know a whole lot about celtic legend, so i dont know what the dragon means. any insight would be appreciated. thanks!
this is one example
http://www.saw-online.com/Gallery/Projec t/Santorelli%20Robert/Celtic+dragon+cros s.jpg

In British mythology, Merlin interprets a vision of two dragons fighting in the skies of Britain - One White Dragon and One Red Dragon.

The white dragon was to represent the Saxon invaders while the red dragon is the native Britian defender. Vortigern had invited the Saxons into Britain for his own profit.

Merlin's interpretation is that the Red Dragon would kill the White Dragon (the natives would get rid fo the invaders) but that the Red Dragon would dies from the wounds suffered in the battle (Vortigern was going to lose his place as king and, possibly, his life).


The old Welsh DRAGWN (dragon) also meant leader While the Brythonic word PEN meant head.

Uther took the title PENDRAGON to mean chief leader, a term Arthur also used, using the Red dragon of Wales on his battle standard.

The cross in the middle would refer to the idea that Arthur was instrumental in bringing Christianity to Britain, thus turning the struggle between the two dragons to mean the fight to make Britain a Christian nation.

Red versus White is a popular theme in British symbolism, these being the color of two ruling and often warring houses of Britain - York(White) and Lancaster (Red) - thus the War of the Roses (depicted often with a red rose and a white rose) is the war between the houses of Lancaster and York.

Interestingly enough, the house of Tudor which supplanted both prior houses uses a Tudor rose, which is both Red and White.

More than you wanted to know.

2007-06-14 13:52:18 by Pirate

What is the symbolism behind it?
Please help I need it for homework and i have been looking for the answer for over a week now and have had no luck!

also this is not really cheating becuase I have looked for ages and there are 5 other questions.

The origins of the Celtic cross are lost to history and legends. Some feel that the circle represents time cycles; the four traditional Celtic festivals, Lughanasadh, Samhain, Imbolic, and Bealtaine; or the house for the dead. Others think that the circle and cross could have represented the moon or the sun during ancient times. In fact, the cross was symbolic of the earth, the four winds, and the four points of the compass in many ancient cultures before the introduction of Christianity.

Some think that parts of the Celtic cross are similar the Chi-Rho emblem, which may have arguably been the first “Christian cross.” The Roman Emperor Constantine (272-337), the first emperor to legalize the practice of Christianity, took the Greek letters “Chi” and “Rho,” which are the first two Greek letters in the word “Christ,” for his battle standard after having a dream before the Battle of the Milivian Bridge in 312, telling him that if he used the symbol, his armies would win.

There are also legends about St. Patrick and the Celtic cross. One has it that he created the Celtic cross himself by drawing a circle around the pagan symbol of the cross to demonstrate how God’s love would last for an eternity, or the reverse, that he drew a cross inside of a pagan circle symbol.

http://www.gardenandhearth.com/Antiquesa ndCollectibles/Celtic-Cross.htm

2008-05-06 09:05:46 by Bag o' Moose

Price: $13.95

I was wondering if it would be stupid to get a celtic cross if i was only 25% irish. Im 75% italian so i was going to get forza and onore around the cross to show symbolism of my roots. This is going to be my first tattoo. What do u think of the idea? And is the Celtic Cross a good idea?

If you need to ask strangers if it's a good idea you don't sound like you're sure enough about it to get it.

It's not stupid to get a celtic cross if you're only a quarter Irish, lots of my friends here in England have celtic crosses, it's like getting the triquerta, LOTS of girls get that as well as both sexes getting various types of celtic knotwork designs. If it's a style you like, do it. Even better that it does relate to your roots in some way!

Just be sure enough before you get it that you want it, like "100%, even if someone says it's stupid YOU still like it" sure!

2008-10-05 08:50:44 by Lou D

I was wondering if it would be stupid to get a celtic cross if i was only 25% irish. Im 75% italian so i was going to get forza and onore around the cross to show symbolism of my roots. This is going to be my first tattoo. What do u think of the idea? And is the Celtic Cross a good idea?

Hey - I think it would look great. No matter how much Irish you have in you. I just got my first tattoo yesterday - didn't hurt near as much as I thought it would (unfortunately - welcome to MY new addiction!), so I'm already thinkin' 'bout the 2nd one. Actually thinking about getting a Celtic cross or some other Celtic symbol - but I think it would be great, as long as it's done well.

2008-10-05 10:42:21 by Lou D