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Celtic knots are well-known but do you know that they are not exclusive to the Celts? They actually can be seen at an earlier time in history in Roman mosaics and were also used by the Vikings and Saxons. They represent patterns made by ropes and threads, intricately woven, not inevitably in the shape of a knot. On occasion they are unbroken, i.e. lacking free ends, when they are called Gordian knots, named after the well-known knot that Alexander the Great tried to untie. When he failed, as he must be as the knot had no end, he took his sword and sliced it through, cutting it in half in order to bring into being two ends.

Early Uses of Knotwork

Intricately patterns are often found in designs from the early Roman Empire mainly during the third and fourth centuries C.E., chiefly in floor mosaics. Before the Christian affect on the Celts, i.e. before about 450 A.D., Celtic decorative work included key patterns, spirals and step patterns. Early Christian manuscripts from the Celts show these patterns plus more decorative work depicting animals, plants and other images from life. Originally these patterns patterns of interlaced plaits were also seen in various other places and time periods. The very earliest cases of Celtic knots may be seen in the Gospel book which was produced in in the 7th century in Northern Britain and is now in the collection at Durham Cathedral.

The Earliest Plaitwork

Plaitwork refers to a continuous woven cord and appears in earlier art work before the beginning of true Celtic knots. The first designs distinctive of Celtic knots were seen in southern Gaul and northern Italy and  they reached Ireland by the seventh century. While we associate this kind of knot with the Celts they were also used in other parts of the British Isles and from there carried to other countries of Europe by itinerant monks. In this day and age Celtic knots are associated with Scotland, Wales or Ireland.

The Trinity Knot

A famous type of Celtic knot, today called the triquetra or Trinity knot, is often seen at first in very early Germanic runes and coins from the northern part of Europe where it was used as a pagan symbol, probably related to the Norse god Odin. The Trinity knot is associated with the Insular art period of Celtic and was used in illustrated manuscripts, such as the famous Book of Kells, and on metalwork. It was usually used alongside other types of Celtic knots and very rarely used on its own. Although we don’t know if the triquetra had any symbolic connotation to the Celts more up to date interpretations have given it a special significance as a representation of things that are threefold, for instance, as the Holy Trinity, the past, present and future, or mother, daughter and granddaughter.

The Use of the Celtic Knot in Modern Jewelry

In the present day the Celtic knot is a common pattern in both gold and silver Celtic knot jewelry. Many designs are produced and Celtic knots can be seen on earrings, pendants, bracelets, rings and wedding bands. The triquetra is a common design and the convoluted knots so cherished by the Celts are likewise well-liked by wearers of Celtic knot jewelry nowadays.