Celtic Cross: Croes Celtaidd

The earliest Celtic crosses, dating from nomadic times, were trees designated to be the connection between heaven and earth. In this handsome package, you get a beautiful pewter pendant, sometimes known as Alesia's Cross, typical of designs found throughout Ireland, Scotland, and parts of Europe around 500 c.e. The equal arms of the pendant signify a number of things: the four directions, a link between heaven and earth, the Christian cross. The pendant hangs from a black silken cord. The book Symbolism of the Celtic Cross recounts the history of Celtic crosses. Long before common usage of the modern cross, in fact even before the Christian era, Celts were using the world-axis to symbolize the link between heaven and earth. Pillar stones began to replace sacred trees when nomadic peoples settled. Derek Bryce's fascinating history of the development of the cross is complemented by line illustrations of rare, ornamental Celtic Crosses from such places as Brittany, Wales, Scotland, the Isle of Man, Cumbria, Ireland, and Cornwall.