The Celts were a culture that developed in mainland Europe near France, which around the first century A.D. was called Gaul. During the peak of the Roman Civilization, Julius Caesar took over Gaul and the Celts migrated. Most settled in what is today Ireland, Wales and Scotland. The Celts practiced a religion that is now called Druidism. This paganistic religion's spiritual leaders (Druids) practiced not only spriritually, but were very learned in astronomy, mathematics, divination, magic, philosophy and law. Druidism was a diverse religion that affected many people in different lands. An important symbol of Druidism were the Celtic knots (example above) that were used to express the Celts religious beliefs and to decorate their manuscripts as well as their gravestones, paintings, etc... The knot represented the Celtic belief that the soul has no beginning and no end, and that the soul takes many paths. The world view of the Celts incorporated a belief in the 'Otherworld', a realm that was spiritual in the purest of sense; where life was complete and full. The Earthly realm, though in every way less than the Otherworld, was nevertheless critically important and woven inextricably with its affairs. The Celts believed that neither world existed without the other, and the destinies of both were intimately joined. The spiritual fabric of this interconnectedness was called the Nexus by the Celts, and the intricate, intertwining patterns in much of their knotwork and artwork is a representation of the border joining both worlds. The patterns consist of one or more separate threads which can be followed with the eye, but which through their contortions are bound together making up a larger whole. The triskelion was a type of these Celtic knots (also known as the triquetra). It was distinguished by three points. These points were used to symbolize the Celtic philosophy that everything has three levels: 1) the mental 2) the physical 3) the spiritual It was also used to represent the three forces of nature: earth, air and water. Later, when the Celts embraced Christianity, they used this same symbol to represent the Holy Trinity. This symbol was also something that intrigued Tom. He had the symbol of a Celtic Triskelion tattoed on his left shoulderblade. Tom was always interested and proud of his Celtic heritage. For these reasons, the triskelion symbol was included on his grave monument. 
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