Graphic by Harlow Berny
By Harlow Berny
Here are 6 Celtic knot facts, because why knot?
- The Irish Celts were the people who perfected the art of the Celtic knot, but it is thought that the knots may have originated from Romans, and possibly have roots in Byzantine Constantinople.*
- True Celtic knots have absolutely no loose ends and are completely one line.
- Certain Celtic knots can have different meanings and purposes.
- The basic understanding is that they symbolize how life is an unending cycle.
- According to Irish tattoo artists, it’s mainly white Americans that get a Celtic knot tattoo.
- It’s more culturally relevant for a white person to get a Celtic knot tattoo than a “tribal” or “native inspired” tattoo.**
Editor: Shelby Armor
*Disclaimer: This does not represent the beliefs of all members of thebirdonfire.org or PVS.
**Disclaimer: This line comes from the perspective of a Native American.
Sources: http://www.gaelicmatters.com/celtic-knot-symbols.html and http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2014/11/25/366584255/the-american-origins-of-the-not-so-traditional-celtic-knot-tattoo
Interesting how the first line says these are six facts yet the disclaimers talk about “beliefs” and “perspectives.” If a line is up for debate is it really factual as the first line states?