The History of Celtic Tattoos
The Celts and tattoo design:
The Celts lived as nomadic tribes throughout Western Europe from about 1200 BC to 700 BC. Around 400 BC they settled in and around the British Isles and their culture is preserved in the lands of Ireland, Wales and Scotland. This culture includes a rich history of tattoo art.
Movies like “Braveheart” show the permanent body paintings that were done with woad. This was used to create the characteristic blue spirals on the skin. One of the more iconic Celtic tattoo designs is knotwork.
They are braided and weaving lines that twist around themselves to symbolize the connection of all life and the circle of life. Another popular symbol was patterning that depicted labyrinths and mazes.
This encompassed the meaning of all the different paths a person’s life can take. Historians suggest that the word “Britannia” comes from the ancient Celtic word that stands for “land of the painted people.”
Celtic Tattoo Pictures
The Meaning of Celtic Tattoos
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