Celtic Tattoo Photos and Meanings: Knot and Cross Designs

Celtic tattoos are one of the more popular tattoo choices. Similar to tribal tattoos, Celtic tattoos are primarily black in design but are also seen in other various shades and colors. They can be simple or very complex, depending on your preferences.

The more elaborate you get with the design, the more you'll likely spend. But, don't go cheap with your design. Make sure that it's something that you'll be happy with forever. If you can't afford your dream tattoo, wait until you can, or get an estimate from a different tattoo artist.

The history and heritage of the Celtic people goes back thousands of years. Their artwork was famous through the lands of the Irish, Scottish, and Welsh, and they were skilled in the art of complex metalwork, jewelry, and weapons.

Celtic knots and crosses were their most commonly seen designs. The symbols used in Celtic artwork were designed to tell a story—oral tradition and tales.

Traditional Tattoo Shapes

Most Celtic tattoos resemble twisted lines and geometric shapes, so whether you decide upon the Celtic cross, the Celtic knot, or a Celtic animal form, you'll more than likely see a good bit of curves and shapes within the tattoo.

Celtic knot tattoos represent the cycle of death and rebirth. They are composed of loops without an end or beginning; these knots are unending.

Celtic knots are more than mere black loops and turns. They are a means of physical and spiritual expression. The knots are a never-ending, spiraling path into the works of life—birth, growth, love, faith, and death. This symbolism makes them popular tattoos.