Druidic Symbols

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

There are many symbols related to Druidism and to the Ancient Druids. They did not use symbols for worship such as idols, nor did they meet in churchs or temples of any sort while performing sacred rituals. The sacred places were mostly associated with groves and streams. Circled stones, usually of vast size, enclosing an area of about thirty feet in diameter, formed their sacred ground when not in a grove of trees. Ireland and Great Britain have vast amounts of ancient Druid altars, beds, rings, cairnes, stones, and stone circles. The most common site recognized today is Stonehenge at Salisbury Plain, England.   AWEN The three rays of light known as, Awen, form a symbol of the Divine name and concenter upon the stone of speech as do the rays of the summer solstice and of the spring and autumn equinoxes upon the altar stone at Stonehenge. The Awen symbolizes the source of Light in the cosmos and in man whence come the Druidic virtues of courage, brotherhood, and selfless service. The Awen is a glyph with three vertical lines or rays converging at its apex. Awen in the Celtic language means "inspiration," and refers to spiritual illumination. The three rays of the Awen also symbolize the harmony of opposites- the left and right rays symbolizing female and male energy; the center ray, their harmonious balance. CAIRNS These were either large stones or a pile of stones that were placed on high ground, such as a hill, and used to worship their deity. CROMLECH This is a large stone placed upon two upright stones to make a table or altar. It was always placed in the center of the circle. DRUID SIGIL The origin of this is unknown, however, thought to be modern (19th Century) and is commonly seen as a leaved willow wreeth with two staves or branches running through its center. It is commonly used by many modern Druidic groups, such as RDNA, ADF and Keltria. DOLMEN Also called Portal Tombs, they consisted of three or more standing stones capped typically by a large monolith and the dead would be buried under an earthen mound. Erosion over the millenia caused these structures which were built between 4,000 and 5,000 years ago to appear like an altar or table, hense the term dolmen. SUN WHEEL A common symbol in ancient Druidry was the Sun wheel, Wheel of the Year, or Wheel of Taranis, the Celtic sun God. The wheel is identical to other solar wheels and represents the solar calendar. The Solar cross and Celtic cross are derived from this ancient symbol. TRISKEL The triskell is considered British origin, finding its way from Scotland Wales and Cornwall over to Brittany. The 3 arms are said to represent Earth, Wind, and Fire. It is often said that the triskel represents the three druidic virtues or the three stages of life to the Celts. TORC This was often a ceremonial neck piece worn by the Druids and often worn by Celtic hierarchy. The actual significance of this is unknown. Viereckschanzen These are roughly rectangular wall or ditch constructions that appear in the La Te/ne period from middle France. Inside of these rectangular wall and ditch enclosures, which also quite often had elaborate gate constructions, there often appear deep pits which in some cases still contained wooden statues of "gods" and a number of offerings. Equal pits, but without the surrounding wall and ditch constructions, have also been found on the British isles. Sometimes also small houses appear inside these Viereckschanzen, which in some cases appear to be the precedessors of later Gallo-Roman temples.

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