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History and Origins of the Celtic
Cross
By Rob Mabry
The Celtic cross is a cross whose four "arms" are
intersected by a central, circular ring - a function of
both structural form and symbolism. While the roots of
the Celtic Cross are likely in Paganism with the ring
symbolizing the sun and "renewal," it has become a
potent symbol of Christianity and Irish heritage. The
roots of the Celtic Cross can be traced back to
Prehistoric Europe where the "sun cross" - a circle with
an "x" or cross shape scratched inside began to appear
on cave drawings and burial sites. The image persisted
through the Bronze and Iron ages evolving into the
Celtic Cross. It's likely that the "cross" symbolized
North, South, East and West.
Irish folklore tells the story of how Saint Patrick
combined the Christian Cross with the "sun" to emphasize
the importance of the cross to the Pagan followers,
giving birth to the Celtic Cross. Though there is likely
little truth to the tale. Around the 7th Century, Irish
monks in the Celtic regions of Ireland and Great Britian
began to erect upright or "high" crosses, many
incorporating the Celtic Cross' characteristic ringed
structure. Many of these crosses survive today in
Cornwall, Wales and on the island of Iona along with
many others in Ireland.
Early Celtic Crosses often bore zoomorphic, or animal
imagery, carved in the stone due to the influence of the
animal style common in the Iron age. Not surprising
given that warrior-herdsmen were so dependent on
wildlife for food and clothing. This influence died off
after the Iron Age as art in Ireland and Britian moved
into the "Insular Period." Artists during the Insular
Art period produced many Celtic Crosses throughout
Ireland, Wales and Scotland in the Hiberno-Saxon style.
The "Insular Art" movement takes its name from the Latin
word "Insula" which means "island." This applied to the
Isles of Britian and Ireland, and spoke to the shared
nature of the artwork between the two regions that were
vastly different than what was being produced throughout
the rest of Europe. The Celtic crosses of this time were
ornate and often bore spiraling geometric patterns that
likely symbolized man's "twisting" journey through life.
Around the 15th century, interest in the Celtic Cross
and its influence as an art form waned. In the mid-19th
century, a Celtic Revivial began that resulted in
increased display and use of Celtic crosses in Ireland.
The Celtic cross became fashionable as a cemetary marker
in Victorian Dublin around the 1860s. This revival
continued to spread across the whole of Irland and
beyond and the symbol began to take on importance as a
symbol of Irish heritage in addition to its religious
conotation.
Today, the Celtic cross is commonly used as a
gravemarker, though this is a departure from both
medieval and Celtic revival periods when the symbol was
used mainly as a monument and had little association
with grave markings. The imagery of the Celtic cross has
expanded its influence even in modern times, often
spotted in jewelry as an expression of Irish pride and
Christianity. The symbol is also seen in everything from
T-shirts to tattoos. The Northern Ireland national
football team use the Celtic Cross imagery in their logo
and branding. The symbol has had some unfortunate
attention as well and was recently banned from display
in Germany when a prohibited neo-Nazi party co-opted the
image as a symbol of their movement.
Famous Celtic Crosses that can still be seen today are
at the Cross of Kells, County Meath, Ireland; Ardboe
Auld Cross, Ardboe, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland; the
crosses at Monasterboice, County Louth, Ireland; and the
Cross of the Scriptures, Clonmacnoise, Ireland.
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