History Of Celtic Knots
The background behind this phenomenon
Not
all of Irish history is leprechauns
and three leaf clovers. Celtic knots are a variety of endless knots used ornamentation, first known to have been used
by the Celts. Unlike the 17th century Claddagh,
Celtic knots were being created in pre-Christian times, these knots are most known for their use in the decoration of early Christian monuments and manuscripst like the 8th century Book of Kells, but they are still used today.
Not much history of the knots is available before the beginning of the Christian influence on the Celts in about 450 A.D. Some historians have theorized that early celtic religions prevented their realistic depiction of creatures, similar, then, to the Islamic prohibition, which gave rise to the development of Arabic calligraphy. Still, Chinese and Japanese calligraphy seemed to arise simply from an aesthetic sense and needed no such prohibition to encourage its development.
The same pre-Christian designs found their way into early Christian manuscripts and artwork such as the Book of Kells with the addition of depictions from life, such as animals, plants and humans. In the beginning the patterns were intricately interwoven cords, called plaits, which can also be found in other areas of Europe, like Italy in 6th century. A fragment of a Gospel Book, now in the Durham Cathedral library and created in northern Britain in the 7th century, contains the earliest example of true knotted designs in the Celtic manner.
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