The Celtic Tattoo
The Celts of Northern Europe, Scotland and in the British Isles had their own system of tattooing the body with a tradition similar to other races and cultures. The Celtic tattoo has been known worldwide with a rich history that goes back to tribal times such as the European Iron Age and down to the Middle Ages. However, the history of tattooing is a little bit more exciting with the Celts than with other races or people.
In tribal history, the tattoo was an indispensable requirement of the Celtic brave. No Celtic warrior could be without a tattoo permanently drawn on his own body. This was standard practice among the Celts and the idea was to intimidate their enemies with designs that proclaimed the Celtic warrior's courage, superiority and invincibility. Also, having the tattoo meant to increase the warrior's own stamina and determination to do battle and achieve victory.
The Celtic Art In Celtic Culture
The Celtic population of Britain and Ireland as well as most of Northern Europe had their own art and language evolution. Celtic Art was how the culture of most of Europe was described in terms and the artistic continuity of the Celts flowed from around 1000 BC up to the period of the conquest by the Roman Empire of most of the territory. Then much later, during the Medieval Period artistic culture had also experienced significant growth and influence.
The Celtic cultural phenomenon continued to flourish from the 18th century up until the modern era which is sometimes known as Celtic Art Revival. Celtic art is famous for what it is. Monuments and crosses that carry designs and forms like circulars, spirals and "tiskeles" dominate the consciousness in the world of art.
Tattooing by the Celts
It is clear that tattooing in Celtic culture is an integral part of Celtic life, whether in war or peace. What this means is that tattoos are considered as artistic creation of the artistic-minded Celts whose artistry far extend into other areas like the fashioning of art objects from oil, stone, clay, iron and wood.
The early generation Celts used the woad plant (Isatis Tinctoria) to draw the tattoo on the body. The woad is common in Northern Europe and the British Isles. This plant carries a blue dye substance called indigotin, hence indigo, which is actually the color of deep blue. The design is embedded permanently on the skin using needles or other instruments such as wood sufficiently sharp enough to cut through the skin in order to penetrate the layer underneath.
