Symbolic Jewelry
It’s interesting when you’re studying symbols, and symbolism. You learn what different abstract symbols and designs mean that more often than not you learn what they don’t mean. It’s very common when studying symbols and symbolism that symbols from 1000 years ago don’t mean the same thing now that they did 1000 years ago.
As an example, 800 to 1000 years ago a Celtic Triquetra knot was popular among the Celts who lived in Western Europe and especially on what we now know as the British Isles. This Triquetra knot is a three-pointed Celtic knot symbol. And in that timeframe of about 600 years give or take, there were other Celtic weeds knots and designs that were based on the symbolism of “three.’
Archaeologists have uncovered many styles and types of these three pointed Celtic knots or designs, and they have also uncovered various meanings for these symbols. The problem is trying to match the description or symbolism to the right knot because Triskelle knot may have had one meaning in 800 A.D. and a totally different meaning to the Celtic people in 1200 A.D.
It’s common nowadays for people to assign their own meaning to many of these Celtic symbols. That’s okay because symbols mean what we want them to mean. The Celtic people of the thousand years ago wanted a Celtic knot design to mean something and then 400 years later the same groups of Celtic people assign different meanings based on the evolution of their pagan religion or based on their necessities at the time.
When you study symbols and symbolism you find that the greatest symbol with an enduring meaning is the Christian cross. For over 1000 years and perhaps 1400 to 1600 years the cross has meant essentially the same thing. That meaning deals with the Christian faith and with Jesus being crucified and resurrected.
Silver Celtic Cross Necklace
For many Christians the crucifix is a symbol of his death, while many other Christians look to the empty cross as a symbol of his resurrection. There are even some Christians today who are offended by a cross with a symbol of the Savior on it. They fill like it symbolizes his death or celebrates his suffering. These are the Christians who enjoy the empty Christian cross.
One important note to consider, while talking about the cross symbol, is that the difference between the cross symbol and the crucifix symbol is, the crucifix is a cross with a symbol of Jesus on it, while the empty cross is referred to simply, as a Christian cross.
Here is where studying symbols and symbolism gets real fun and interesting. The Christian cross is a profound symbol of the resurrected Christ, and a symbol for the Christian faith. This symbolism is very deep, strong and abiding. Millions of Christians joyfully and proudly wear a cross necklace or some other type of Cross jewelry as earrings or rings brooches etc.
Celtic symbolism and Irish symbolism have a blending where it’s common to see elements of Celtic symbols and Irish symbols mixed together into one icon or one symbol. This is especially true with the Celtic cross necklace, or an Irish cross necklace. Included here is a sterling silver Celtic or Irish cross necklace as an example of how the Celtic and Irish symbolism are blended with Christian cross symbolism to create an iconic expression of different cultures adding to very important Christian symbolism in the form of a sterling silver Christian cross pendant or necklace.
Take a look at the sterling silver Celtic cross necklace picture to the left in this blog post. The Celtic cross pendant is in the form of a traditional Christian cross. However there are Celtic knots and Celtic weaves and designs along with the very popular and traditional Irish Shamrock or Irish three-leaf clover. So how do Celtic knots and Irish symbols add more Christian symbolism to the Christian cross?
At the end caps of this Celtic cross pendant reside the Celtic Trinity knot. The Celtic Trinity knot is one of those three-point symbols we talked about earlier. After Christianity was introduced to the Celts they adopted the Triquetra knot as a three-point symbol representing the holy Trinity, thus the name evolved into the Trinity knot symbol. That alone gives the Christian cross much more Christian symbolic value. The Celtic weaves through out the cross symbol or Celtic designs that represent infinity or eternity.
The infinity or eternity symbol also adds great Christian value to the Christian cross necklace. The Irish three-leaf clover is said to be a symbol that St. Patrick used to teach about the holy Trinity. Each of the three peddles of the three-leaf clover were used to represent a member of the holy Trinity. So you can see how that adds additional symbolic value to the Christian cross pendant. The Celtic cross pendant necklace shown in this blog post is the single most popular Celtic symbol in all of the Western world. It is also very popular to the Christian world. As far as Celtic jewelry or Irish jewelry is concerned, this Celtic cross pendant the second in popularity only to the Irish Claddagh symbol.
The last point to make about symbols and symbolism in regards to different cultures adding to the Christian cross is that through symbols different cultures can merge into other cultures, while retaining some of their own identity. In this case the Celts who were the ancestors to the modern-day Irish retained part of their identity by adding their symbolism to the Christian cross which is the symbol for Christianity.
Filed under: Celtic Jewelry, Christian Jewelry, Cross Necklaces, Irish Jewelry | Tagged: Celtic Cross necklace, celtic knot pendant, celtic knots, clover cross necklace, Cross necklace, irish cross necklace, irish shamrock, shamrock cross necklace, statling silver cross necklaces, trinity knot, triquetra, triskelle | Leave a comment »