Celtic Initials & Alphabets

Although the early Celtic peoples had no written language, the artistic style now recognised as being traditionally Celtic became especially refined in the post-Christian era of that art form.

In the early Celtic church, the monastic life was one of isolated work, celibacy and dedication. This period saw the rise of the great religious works, which culminated in the wonderfully illuminated Gospels and illustrated great manuscripts. In their desire to produce beautiful and celebratory manuscripts, the Celtic style of art was adapted to versions of the existing universal Roman alphabet of the time - itself derived from the classic Greek script, whose first two letters, "alpha" and "beta", actually give us the word "alphabet".

In the inevitable incorporation of Celtic styles into written script, there emerged in the Celtic Gospels, and manuscripts especially, a distinctive Celtic style of lettering and of written alphabets - a style which whether written, or in typeset and printed adaptation, remains distinctive and recognisable to this day.