Celtic Knots

Here are some examples of Celtic knots and how to draw them yourself.

Celtic knots are patterns representing ropes or threads tied in a knot. They are really mis-named. They appear in Roman mosaics, and were made by Vikings and Saxons as well as Celts. Many knots are continuous, with no loose ends, and these are also called Gordian knots or Gordic knots. This refers to the myth of the knot of Gordias. It was said that only a future leader of the world could undo it. Alexander the Great cut it in two with his sword, showing that he would conquer the world by force. Another term for Celtic knots is plaitwork, or interlacing patterns.

I recommend the following books: Celtic and Anglo-Saxon Painting by Carl Nordenfalk - buy UK or USA Mosaics of the Greek and Roman World by Katherine M. D. Dunbabin - buy UK or USA Design your own Celtic knots using a special technique by cutting paper - very clever!

Click here for "a program to assist the creation, design and editing of 'celtic' style braids" - free OpenSource software (outside website).
Click here to buy software for creating Celtic knots as a font (outside website).

You may also be interested in my website on mazes or mosaics or Greek keys or any of my other websites.