The origins of the Celts dates back to prehistoric times when they emerged as a group of loosely knit tribes with a common culture and language.
Celtic settlements stretched from Turkey and the Balkans right across Western Europe. But it was the rise of the Roman Empire that would expose the lack of cohesion between the various Celtic tribes and would lead to them being overrun, expelled from their territories and being pushed back to the western fringes of the continent.
Although the ancient Celts flourished across Europe, it is in Ireland where their traditions have been most preserved.
One aspect of this culture that still survives today is the artwork and this is most commonly seen in jewellery such as celtic wedding rings.
Their artwork was believed to be very symbolic often being based on nature using images of birds and animals and fish. The Celts believed firmly in the interconnectedness of all life and produced the familiar Celtic Knots, which are interlaced patterns with no beginning and no end.
Although perhaps the true significance of these patterns has been lost over the millennia, Celtic designs remain increasingly popular in our modern world.
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