In the middle of the first millennium BC, the Celts were one of the most numerous and powerful peoples in Europe. They created an original culture, which in the following eras was almost forgotten, surviving in Ireland, parts of Britain, France, Belgium and some other countries. Interest in Celticism flared up in the second half of the last century, and handicrafts decorated with Celtic ornaments began to enjoy particular popularity.
Instructions
Step 1
There are not so many genuine monuments of Celtic culture left. Mostly these are stone crosses. They were decorated with intricate ornamentation of intricately intertwined closed lines. French archaeologists, who discovered Celtic culture to the world in the first half of the last century, also found a number of jewelry.
Step 2
The ancient Celts believed that a person, being part of a single essence, the world Spirit, in the end would have to unite with this essence. But up to this moment, the earthly path lies before a person, and it is full of sharp turns, trials, interweaving with other destinies and events. It was believed that the pattern is able to determine fate. There were special knots of love, happiness, luck, etc.
Step 3
The main element of the Celtic pattern is thread. Look at any Celtic jewelry and try to trace the thread with the tip of a pencil. Leaving this labyrinth you will not find, as well as the entrance to it. But you can get to the center of the pattern from any point, although your path can be winding and long. The labyrinth was the most popular Celtic design. The thread symbolized life. The Celts believed that life does not and cannot have an end, since the world is infinite, everything in it is interconnected and continuous.
Step 4
Look at a piece of the Celtic pattern. Imagine that this is not a stone or gold, but a real thread. You can grab it at any two points and pull it. Several knots will be tied on the thread. But on Celtic designs, the knots were never tightened, each could be straightened.
Step 5
The second popular element among the ancient Celts is the famous Celtic cross. It has a clearly defined center. The cross is a symbol of the harmony of the world, the unity of Heaven and Earth. Therefore, a circle is usually located around the center. The ends of the cross are widened towards the ends. It was a symbol of the human soul's striving for perfection. The surface of the cross was usually decorated with small labyrinths.
Step 6
On the decorative items of the Celts, you can often see a triskel - a triangle of intertwining threads that form a spiral. It symbolizes the unity of Water, Fire and Air. At the same time, triskel is a symbol of joy. Initially, this element did not look like this. They were just three legs coming out of one point.
Step 7
For the most part, Celtic designs are composed entirely of intertwined lines. However, some of the items include images of birds and animals. These figures were given symbolic meaning. The partridge was a symbol of cunning, the dove - love, the duck - the unity of earth and water. Of the animals on Celtic products, the hare is most often found. He was considered a symbol of prosperity and immortality, moreover, capable of influencing fate. The figurine of a deer is also woven into the ornaments. Snakes are also found on Celtic ornaments, symbolizing wisdom and healing. Sometimes a dragon is woven into the ornament.
