The History of the Celtic Cross

welcome back to part two of the Celtic cross story

It is said that the earliest incarnations of the Celtic cross were carved into stone slabs and that these slabs lay flat on the ground.

The name given to these was recumbent cross-slabs. Over time they gradually evolved into carvings on upright slabs (Erect cross-slab), sometimes depicted with a slightly rounded top.

Both versions of the cross were and are always decorated intricately with traditional Celtic patterns for eg: spirals, knot work, foliage, keys, Biblical tales and animals.

The most recent evolution of the Celtic cros is the Tall free standing, High cross, rather than being simply a carving on a slab. The cross was effectively now "freed" from the stone, hence these versions are known as Freestanding crosses. The arms of the cross were made longer, so they extended the circle, with the inner shapes between the arms and the circle being cut away. And this cross is most commonly seen in the form of gravestones in Irish churchyards or as war memorials all over Britain.

Next will be more on the meanings of the cross by a great writer v couch so drop in and see what it is all about :-)