The Celtic Irish cross tattoo has a long history dating back over many centuries in the British Isles. The original Irish cross tats was designed with two equal lengths of cross beams representing the four main elements of the planet; earth, wind, fire, and water. When the this kind of tattoo is seen today it is often embellished with detailed geometric, and swirl designs of vines, or flowers, called Celtic Knots. The center circle on the cross beams of the this cross tattoo is a symbol of life revolving in an eternal plane of existence, surrounded by the four natural elements.
Modern tattoo artist love the intricate details of the Celtic knot patterns on the Irish cross tattoos. With their small patterns that are connected like amaze, the artist has a chance to shoe off his intricate detail work as a true artisan. People love the Irish cross tattoos for their beauty and variety. This tattoo is also one of the few intricate designs that can look wonderful in a small size, or a large one, and still be a complex design.
Their appeal to both men and women is their diversity as both an intimate Irish cross tattoo, and a complex bold tribal tattoo. Since the cross Irish were in existence long before the Holy Cross symbolism, became the normal connotations' of the cross design, its Pagan roots are the perfect background for other beliefs and totems. Saint Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland, and drove the snakes out, by blessing a Celtic Standing Stone, which bore the sacred symbol of the Celtic cross. This was the beginning of the crossing of the Pagan and Christian use of the this cross in Ireland.
The delicate Knot work of these has no beginning and no end, when it is applied correctly; this too represents the never-ending circle of life on earth. The Druids believed that all of life is connected through the four elements and they often placed the Irish cross on the warriors and chiefs of the clans of Ireland to protect them during battle from enemies both mortal and supernatural.
The modern tattoo o crosses is not always depicted with the four equal points of the cross; the Christian influence has almost eradicated the elemental representation. Yet the Irish Cross Tattoo remains a popular tattoo across the world.