*Includes pictures.
*Includes ancient accounts describing the Celts and their
religious practices.
*Includes footnotes and a bibliography.
"Throughout all of Gaul there are two classes of people who are
treated with dignity and honor. This does not include the common
people, who are little better than slaves and never have a voice in
councils. Many of these align themselves with a patron voluntarily,
whether because of debt or heavy tribute or out of fear of
retribution by some other powerful person. Once they do this, they
have given up all rights and are scarcely better than servants. The
two powerful classes mentioned above are the Druids and the
warriors. Druids are concerned with religious matters, public and
private sacrifices, and divination." - Julius Caesar
The Celts are one of the most well-known groups in Europe and
one of the least understood. Depending on which classifications are
used, the Celts are also one of the oldest civilizations in Europe.
In the centuries before Christ, the Celts were spread out across
much of continental Europe, and though they are mostly identified
with Gaul, evidence suggests they also spread as far as Portugal.
Though they were spread out across Europe before the height of the
Roman Empire, most people associate the Celts with the British
Isles today, particularly Ireland and Scotland. After they had been
relegated to those smaller regions as a result of the Romans and
other migrations, the culture of the Celts as it is currently
understood began to congeal during the Early Middle Ages, and
Celtic culture, folklore, and legend have all become inextricably
intertwined with Irish history and British history as a whole.
Historically, Celtic cultures differ from their English and
French neighbors in a number of ways, including social
organization, language, values and economic systems, but one of the
most captivating of these has always been their myths. Celtic
Myths, which can be read in translation without needing special
training in grammar, are more accessible than the Celtic languages,
and unlike the other distinctive features that have faded over the
centuries, myths still have their immediacy and power when read
today. While much has undoubtedly been lost from the ancient Celts
over time, medieval manuscripts help scholars understand how Celtic
myths have reached the form they have today. Like many ancient
belief systems, Celtic mythology shares Indo-European roots,
meaning Celtic beliefs have cousins in related societies like the
Norse, Greeks, Romans and Slavs, with a foundation of shared
mythmaking that goes back several millennia. Descriptions of Celtic
mythology by their contemporaries, including the Ancient Romans and
Greeks, provide a hazy picture, while the tales recorded by
Christian monks and undoubtedly bear the stamp of their own
religious affiliations.
Celtic Mythology: The Religion of the Ancient Celts examines
the history and legacy of the religion practiced by the Ancient
Celts. Along with pictures and a bibliography, you will learn about
Celtic mythology like you never have before, in no time at all.
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