Celtic Crosses

The Celtic Cross originated sometime during the 5th Century A.D by the Celts, an ancient people who inhabited parts of Europe, particularily Scotland and Ireland. 

The Celtic Cross takes its form from a combination of the Christian Cross and the pagan sun-wheel symbol (see the Gallen Priory Cross, the Pictish Cross).  The Celts, who were pagans before converting to Christianity, replaced the sun-wheel's pagan meaning with a new meaning -- the Christian God.   

The sun-wheel symbol is flanked by four suns at their quarter stages (see the Celtic Sun Cross, the Cross of Duplin).  At the center is a stone which represents the "navel" (origin) of the world.  As we can see in the High Celtic Cross of Muireadach, this is replaced by the figure of Christ.