The DruidsIn this compelling and highly reliable study of the Druids, respected Celtic scholar Peter Berresford Ellis sifts through the historical evidence and, with reference to the latest archaeological and etymological findings, gives the first authentic account of who the mysterious Druids were and what role they played in Celtic society. The Druids emerge as the intellectual caste of ancient Celtic society. They were the doctors, the lawyers, the ambassadors, the advisers to kings. They also had a religious function. Ellis describes the special Druidic training, their philosophy, their belief in auguries, and their intriguing origins. He also shows that the current "New Age" image of the Druids as benevolent wizards comes from a woefully inadequate interpretation of the facts. |
Contents
Identifying the Druids II | 11 |
The Celtic World | 23 |
Origins of the Druids | 37 |
Copyright | |
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According ancient Celts argued astrology astronomical bards battle became believed Brehon law Breton Britain British c.AD Caesar called Celtic Christian Celtic languages Celtic society Celtic world Celts century BC Chadwick chieftain Cisalpine Cisalpine Gaul claimed Colmcille concept Cúchulainn culture Dagda Danu death Dillon Diodorus divination Divitiacus Druidess Druidic Druidism Druids Dumnorix early Celtic English famous female Gaul Gaulish gods Gorsedd Greek High King Hindu human sacrifice Indo-European insular Celtic Iolo Morganwg Ireland Irish mythology knowledge language Latin law system Leabhar London Lugh magic mentioned mistletoe modern Mór mother goddess Mug Ruith myth mythology Ogham Old Irish origin Otherworld pagan Patrick Pelagius philosophy Pliny poem poet Poseidonios pre-Christian Professor Pythagoras recorded references religion religious rites ritual rôle Roman Rome sacred sagas says scholars Scotland soul Stonehenge story Strabo survived symbol Taliesin Tara texts tonsure tradition tree tribes Wales warriors Welsh women word worship writers