Description
A Celtic cross is a Latin cross with a circle around the intersection of the cross-post and cross-beam. It is the defining symbol of Celtic Christianity and is a combination of the Christian cross and a pagan sun wheel. In Ireland and Great Britain: The Celtic cross originated during the Christianization of Ireland and Great Britain during the 5th and 6th centuries AD. This period was marked by large-scale conversions of the Celts due to the arrival of many Christian missionaries, such as Saint Patrick, Saint Declan, and Saint Columba. Instead of banishing the old Celtic symbols, these missionaries adopted many customs and symbols from pagan beliefs. For example, Christ was more or less equated with the Celtic sun god Lugh, and a circle (sun disk) was added to the Latin cross. According to Irish legend, Saint Columba himself introduced the Celtic cross. Hence, this cross is also called the Cross of Columba or the Cross of Iona (where he founded his monastery in 563). This is the Christian and most widespread version of the Celtic Cross, the so-called High Cross. The cross post here is longer than the crossbar.
