Celtic knots are well established but do you know that they are not exclusive to the Celts? They actually turn up earlier in history in Roman mosaics and were also used by the Vikings and Saxons. They symbolize patterns made by ropes, intricately woven, not inevitably in the shape of a knot. On occasion they are unbroken, i.e. without any loose ends, and are then called Gordian knots, after the well-known knot that Alexander the Great tried to unravel. When he failed, as he must be for the knot had no end, he took his sword and sliced it all the way through, cutting it in two so as to bring into being two ends.

Some Early Examples of Knotwork

Convoluted patterns are often seen in decorations from the Roman Empire particularly during the third and fourth centuries C.E., especially in floor mosaics. Before the Christian affect on the Celts, i.e. before around 450 A.D., Celtic decorative work integrated key patterns, spirals and step patterns. Early Christian texts from the Celts show these patterns in addition to more representative work that illustrates animals, plants and other images from nature. To begin with these patterns patterns of woven plaits were also found in several other countries and time periods. The earliest illustrations of Celtic knots can be seen in the Gospel book which was produced in in the 7th century in Northern Britain and is nowadays in the library at Durham Cathedral.

Early Plaitwork

Plaitwork refers to an endless woven cord and is found in earlier art work previous to the emergence of true Celtic knots. The initial designs distinctive of Celtic knots were seen in southern Gaul and northern Italy and  they reached Ireland by the seventh century. Though we correlate this style of knot with the Celts they were also used in other parts of the British Isles and from there were carried to other parts of Europe by traveling monks. Nowadays Celtic knots are associated with Ireland, Wales or Scotland.

The Trinity Knot

A well known type of Celtic knot, named the Trinity knot or triquetra, is found firstly in the earliest Germanic coins and runes from the northern Europe where it was employed a pagan religious symbol, possibly associated with the Norse god Odin. The Trinity knot is connected with the Insular art phase of Celtic and was used in illustrated texts, for example, the famed Book of Kells, and on metalwork. It was generally used by the side of other types of Celtic knots and very seldom used on alone. Although we don’t know if the triquetra had any symbolic meaning to the Celts more contemporary renditions have given it a particular importance as a symbol of things that are threefold, for instance, as the Holy Trinity, the past, present and future, or mother, daughter and granddaughter.

Celtic Knots in Contemporary Jewelry

Now the Celtic knot is a common pattern in both gold and celtic knot silver jewelry. Many designs and styles are fashioned and Celtic knots are used on on pendants, wedding bands, earrings, bracelets and rings. The Trinity knot is a popular design and the convoluted knots so prized by the Celts are similarly loved by wearers of Celtic knot jewelry nowadays.