| The history of the Celtic peoples goes back | | | | tattoos are very popular designs.Most of Celtic |
| thousands of years. The early Celts displayed | | | | tattoo designs are taken from the Irish Illuminated |
| their skills in complex artwork particularly metal, | | | | Manuscripts 'The Book of Kells', on display in the |
| jewelry and weapons as they were regarded as | | | | library of Trinity College in Dublin, my home town. |
| fierce warriors by the Romans. Evidence of celtic | | | | This is a much later time period than the height of |
| crossses and celtic artwork can still be found all | | | | Celtic tattooing. Designs from ancient stone and |
| over Ireland.Modern Celtic peoples have evolved | | | | metal work are more likely to be from the same |
| symbols for themselves, and in the North | | | | time period as Celtic tattooing.Celtic knot tattoos |
| American people of Celtic descentoften wear | | | | are usually loops with no end or beginning |
| these symbols to show that they are of Celtic | | | | symbolising the never ending cycle of death and |
| descent. The ancient Celts passed knowledge | | | | rebirth. Celtic animal (zoomorphic tattoo designs) |
| down through an oral tradition of storytelling and | | | | designs are similar in construction but the cords |
| didn't keep many written records, consequently, | | | | terminate in feet, heads, tails. Pure knots are |
| there is little evidence of their tattooing remaining | | | | usually unending, unless the end of a strand is |
| even though celtic cross tattoos and celtic know | | | | stylized into a zoomorphic element or a spiral. |