Before they adopted Christianity, the Celts believed that to obtain complete spiritual fulfillment, they had to experience continuous re-birth. Inspired by this belief their art expression was the designing of infinity knots. Sometimes the knots are symmetrical, sometimes not, but they are always pleasing to the eye.
The Trinity Knot is an ancient Celtic symbol believed to predate the crucifix by hundreds of years. The Trinity Knot takes its shape from three interlocking circles. Before Christianity, it is thought that the concept of three represented the air, water and earth. When Christianity was introduced to Celtic lands the Trinity became the symbol of The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit.
Claddagh
The Claddagh design dates back to the early 16th Century when an Irish man, Richard Joyce of Galway, designed a distinctive ring for his true love. A week before his marriage he was out fishing and his boat overturned and he was captured by pirates. He was sold into slavery to a Moorish goldsmith where he was held for twenty years. When he was finally released from slavery he returned to Ireland and discovered that his true love had waited for him. Richard Joyce designed the Claddagh to honor their love.
