Art, along with language, is perhaps the best way to see the connections between the ancient peoples we label as Celts who lived in Iron Age Europe. There were great variations across time and space but common features of ancient Celtic art include sculptures of enigmatic gods and naked warriors, a love of depicting forest animals, the use of complex and swirling vegetal designs, and a desire to enhance the beauty of even the smallest and most mundane of everyday objects. Celtic art was both influenced by and eventually retreated from neighbouring cultures ranging from the Thracians to the Romans. In vogue ever since ancient and medieval pieces were rediscovered in the 19th century CE, Celtic art continues to fascinate and inspire artists and craftworkers today.
More about: Ancient Celtic ArtDefinition
Timeline
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c. 600 BCEThe Hirschlanden Warrior, a sandstone representation of a Celtic Warrior from Ludwigsburg, Germany, is made.
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c. 500 BCEThe Celtic Pfalzfeld Pillar, a stone four-sided column showing human heads, is made.
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450 BCE - 400 BCEThe 'Prince of Glauberg', a sandstone statue of a Celtic warrior, is made.
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c. 100 BCEApproximate date for the manufacture of the Gundestrup Cauldron.
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c. 100 BCEThe bronze figure known as the 'God of Bouray', likely a representation of the Celtic Cernunnos, is made.
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c. 100 BCEThe granite Turoe Stone from Celtic Galway is made.
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14 CE - 37 CEThe Gallo-Roman Nautae Parisiaci monument is made which includes a panel showing the Celtic god Cernunnos.
