Symbolism of the Celtic Cross [Paperback]

Derek Bryce (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1995

Did you know that the basic symbolism of the cross is that of the world-axis, or the link between Heaven and Earth? Or that the main feature of the ornamented Celtic Cross, the wheel cross, is not derived from the crucifixion, but from a more ancient symbol--the Chi-Rho monogram, which is the name of Christ in the Greek alphabet? In Symbolism of the Celtic Cross, Derek Bryce traces the pagan-Christian link of the essential symbolism of the axis-mundi from standing stones and market crosses (at crossroads and not always "crosses" in form) to the inscribed slabs and free-standing crosses of the Celtic-Christian era. He includes rare illustrations of ornamental Celtic Crosses from such places as Brittany, Wales, Scotland, the Isle of Man, Cumbria, Ireland, and Cornwall. Bryce explores esoteric aspects of the symbolism, alchemy, and the wisdom of Hermes.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The pagan-Christian link of symbolism is clarified in a collection of ornamental Celtic crosses from throughout the British Isles, and through a discussion of symbolism's aspects and importance. Descriptions of a range of symbols and images survey the changes affecting the Celtic cross over history. -- Midwest Book Review

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Red Wheel / Weiser (November 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 087728850X
• ISBN-13: 978-0877288503
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,644,490 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Excellent source of drawings of Celtic Crosses, July 21, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Symbolism of the Celtic Cross (Paperback)

The value of this book lies in its bringing together a number of drawings of Celtic Crosses - as additions to market cross, as free standing crosses, as illustrations within a paten ... etc. And the author calls attention to details within the crosses that might otherwise be overlooked.

However, if you are looking for a book to interpret the crosses, one can better spend one's time looking for better sources. Bryce feels comfortable asserting that early Christianity was estoteric (the Gnostic Christianity was), asserting that Hindu worldviews are imbedded in the Celtic symbolism (they are both IndoEuropean there could be a connection), and otherwise assuming that "universal" can be assumed - it doesn't require proof. By the end, I was unwilling to trust anything the author wrote beyond the dates, locations and other basis information associated with the crosses. On too many points I wanted to steer him to reliable sources such as Pelikan on the history of images of Christ to modify his over simplification.

Nonetheless, the book is worth its cost for the illustrations - and some of what the author writes is useful.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Enjoyable!, November 20, 1997

By 

John L. Edwards - See all my reviews

This review is from: Symbolism of the Celtic Cross (Paperback)

Mr Bryce's book was a surprisingly good read. Received as a Christmas gift, it sat on my desk for eight months before I got the chance to read it, as I thought it would require a good chunk of quiet time (it is a reference book after all). Not so! The pace of the book is fast, it lays out the history of the Celtic cross, pagan to modern, in a very concise fashion, and describes and displays examples along the way that greatly enhance the text.

Plenty of fun tidbits are included, but Mr. Bryce's text is so engaging that you find they sneak by you and you don't want to go back. I read the book three times to solve the problem! I was quite surprised to discover that both the Celtic cross and the modern cross do not have their origin in the crucifixion -- one of the more astonishing facts he presents.

Just an hour or two to read front to back, and a great primer for someone new to the subject, or soon to travel to Britain. The only drawback is that he didn't write more about it. It was my best gift last year, and at eight bucks just can't be beat.

Loved the drawings. Great detail

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Don't Even Trust the Dates, May 17, 2007

By 

Vance E. Woods - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Symbolism of the Celtic Cross (Paperback)

A previous commentator mentioned that he was unable to trust anything but the dates and locations. I'm afraid he shouldn't even trust the dates. For example, on page 40 the author lists the date of St. Aidan's ordination as Bishop of Lindisfarne as 653 AD, which is difficult since Aidan died in 642. The true date is 635 AD. Also, on the very next page, Bryce lists the date of the Synod of Whitby as 644; in actuality it took place in 664. While this may seem to be an exercise in nit-picking, since the book focuses strongly on the Celtic Christian church, and since these are quite possibly the two most formative dates in that church's history, it is disturbing that the author would offer them incorrectly. Beware of the others...