Celtic Hoodies
Description: In Celtic culture, the mysterious image of a horned being permeates from the Iron Age in the Gaulish La Tène culture all the way up to 19th century England in the legends of Herne the Hunter. In spite of several depictions of a “horned god” in Celtic artwork throughout the centuries, the answers to exactly who this horned being was is not clear. The name “Cernunnos” is found on an artifact known as “the Pillar of the Boatman”. It’s a carving from the first century CE, and it is the only time the name Cernunnos appears in reference to this horned being. However, the oldest image of Cernunnos is found on the Gundestrup Cauldron, an Iron Age relic of the ancient Celtic people of mainland Europe. Modern interpretation speculates that C...
Description: “Celtic War Machine” is an image depicting several implements of Celtic warfare including the mighty chariot, sword, spears, and the CARNYX (Celtic war trumpet). The Celts were known to go into battle riding chariots. The use of chariots in battle continued on in the British Isles long after their use had ceased in other parts of the world making the chariot a symbol for Celtic warfare along with the Carnyx, a tall trumpet instrument unique to the Celts used to intimidate opponents and inspire their troops. The horned helmets on the horses are based on actual archaeological finds. Imagine the image a Celtic charioteer being hauled into battle by two horned horses accompanied by a deafening blaring of war trumpets!
Description: White stags have played a role in many mythologies and legends, especially in the North. The Celts believed them to be messengers from the otherworld. The white stag’s appearance would be an omen for whoever sighted it. The legends of King Arthur indicated that the white stag had a supernatural ability to avoid capture, and pursuit of the magical beast was akin to a spiritual quest.
Description: I did this bull elk in what could be called a Neo-Celtic or Neo-Nordic style. The stippling and knots are more traditional, but the image has a modern edginess to it. Elk and other antlered species have been a popular archetype representing strength, power, and virility going back to ancient times.
Description: This is an artistic rendition of a clan of Celtic warriors on the march to battle! I leave it open to interpretation what tribe of Celts these guys are. They could be Gauls or Britons on the march to kick some Roman butt. They could be Picts on the march to battle with invading Saxons. They could be Gaels looking to put down a rival clan. Regardless of how you see it, the ogham inscription at the center sews a common thread among all interpretations. It reads, “VICTORY!”
Description: The banshee (bean sí in Irish) is a ghoulish figure from ancient Celtic fairy lore. She is said to appear as an omen of death, wailing and crying outside of the home for a loved one in the house who is soon to die. She is a pretty terrifying figure. Legend has it that the banshee only wails for five different Irish families. I am a descendant of one of those five families, so I felt compelled to portray this wailing wench in all her spooky glory!
Description: The ancient Irish writing of ogham reads “tip of the spear” on the spear shaft. The runes around the image read “all our hopes and dreams travel with you” because, as stated above, your existence represents the summation, the grand total of all the lives and actions before you.
Description: The Celtic Cross is one of the most popular and enduring symbols of Celtic identity and culture. In the Dark Ages, as the Celtic populations of Britain and Ireland were converted to Christianity, they brought some of their older, pre-Christian style to the symbols of Christianity. What was born was the Celtic Cross. A unique blend of the Old Celtic religion and the new Christian religion.
Description: Celtic warriors have been renowned for their prowess on the battlefield since ancient times. They were head hunters, displaying the heads of their slain victims in their homes as trophies, and they charged into battle adorned in blue war paint. This artwork pays homage to the Celtic warrior legacy.
Description: “Highlander Charge” depicts an army of Celtic warriors charging into battle. The artwork is not meant to accurately depict any particular Celtic group or tribe. Rather, it’s a romanticized image taking bits and pieces from different elements of Celtic culture throughout history to make one composite representation of the Celtic warrior.
Description: The Badb Catha (Battle Crow) is one of three iterations of war goddess collectively known as the Morrigna. The Morrigna are mentioned throughout Irish mythology and are said to foreshadow death and influence fate and the outcome of battles. The Battle Crow in particular is associated with striking fear and confusion in soldiers engaging in battle. The Morrigna are a prominent and terrifying motif in ancient Celtic mythology.
Description: Cú Chulainn is one of the most famous of all Celtic Irish mythological heroes. He rose to fame from his exceptional skills at the Irish sport of Hurling. He then solidified his legend by killing the monstrous hound of Culann. Cú Chulainn is most famous for his great berserker rage in battle; turning himself into a giant rage monster that would slaughter men by the hundreds!
Description: After the Celts sacked Rome in 390 BC, they agreed to leave the city only after the Romans paid a massive quantity of gold. After the Romans complained to Brennus that the Celts were cheating by weighing the gold with faulty weights, Brennus rose to his feet, threw his sword on the scale and exclaimed the now famous, “Vae victis!” which translates to, “Woe to the vanquished!” In other words, “what are you going do about it?” The sacking of Rome by the Celts left a psychological scar on the Romans which they never forgot.
