Celtic Tomes

The Religion of the Ancient Celts (1911) Chapter 19: Accessories of Cult by J. A. MacCulloch This chapter covers Temples, Altars, Images, Symbols, and the Cult of Weapons of the Ancient Celts.   Religion of the Ancient Celts can be found on Sacred Texts. You can find out more about J. A. McCulloch on Wikipedia. Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for a dramatic re-telling of the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or in Apple Podcasts. Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte.  You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

The Religion of the Ancient Celts (1911) Chapter 18: Festivals by J. A. MacCulloch The Celtic year was not at first regulated by the solstices and equinoxes, but by some method connected with agriculture or with the seasons. Names Used in this Section oidhche Samhain Geimredh Earrach Oimelc Samradh Beltane Cét-soman or Cét-samain Samono-s Cyntefyn Foghamar Lugnasadh Brontroghain Tille Keating  samhanach  Mongfind  Mag-tured Tuatha Dé Danann Fomorians Belenos  M. D'Arbois belo-te[p]niâ Belisama te[p]nos Beltane carline cailleach  Professor Pearson Mannhardt and Dr. Frazer Cæsar, Strabo, and Diodorus Irish as Lugnasad, in Gaelic as Lunasdal or Lunasduinn, and in Manx as Laa Luanys Lugudunum Goel-aoust, Gul-austus, and Gwyl Awst Lugh mac Ethlenn Rennes Dindsenchas Demeter and Kore Namnite women Dionysius Periegetes S. Gregory of Tours Berecynthia  Augustodunum  Professor Anwyl to be the goddess Brigindu Teutonic cult of Nerthus, the Phrygian of Cybele, the Hindu of Bhavani, and the Roman ritual of the Bona Dea.   Religion of the Ancient Celts can be found on Sacred Texts. You can find out more about J. A. McCulloch on Wikipedia. Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for a dramatic re-telling of the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or in Apple Podcasts. Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte.  You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

The Religion of the Ancient Celts (1911) Chapter 17: Tabu by J. A. MacCulloch The Irish geis, pl. geasa, which may be rendered by Tabu, had two senses. It meant something which must not be done for fear of disastrous consequences, and also an obligation to do something commanded by another. Names Used in this Section geis, pl. geasa Diarmaid Ben Gulban Oengus  Fionn Cúchulainn Conaire  Cruachan Doel The Destruction of Da Derga's Hoste síd-folk   Religion of the Ancient Celts can be found on Sacred Texts. You can find out more about J. A. McCulloch on Wikipedia. Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for a dramatic re-telling of the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or in Apple Podcasts. Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte.  You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

The Religion of the Ancient Celts (1911) Chapter 16: Sacrifice and Prayer by J. A. MacCulloch The Celts offered human victims on the principle of a life for a life, or to propitiate the gods, or in order to divine the future from the entrails of the victim. We shall examine the Celtic custom of human sacrifice from these points of view first. Names Used in this Section The Semites Marseilles  Taranis  Teutates  Esus  Diodorus  Strabo Varro  Tacitus druidarum religionem diræ immanitatis Dio Cassius Dindsenchas Cromm Cruaich Dr. Joyce Nemedian  Fomorians  Fair of Taillte Perseus and Andromeda Becuma S. Oran S. Columba Vortigern Emain Macha Pausanias  Ammianus and Livy Cúchulainn Conall Cernach Emer  oppidum  Dayak Poseidonius  Artemis  Mallius Gairloch  S. Maelrubha Eilean Maree (Maelrubha) Eilean mo righ Eilean a Mhor Righ Sir Arthur Mitchell Brianniul Gruagach Compiègne Artemidorus  Deiotaurus  Dalan  Mider Imbas Forosnai Filé  Teinm Laegha Cétnad taghairm  baile fidlanna   Religion of the Ancient Celts can be found on Sacred Texts. You can find out more about J. A. McCulloch on Wikipedia. Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for a dramatic re-telling of the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or in Apple Podcasts. Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte.  You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

The Religion of the Ancient Celts (1911) Chapter 15: Cosmogony by J. A. MacCulloch The Celts may have possessed the Heaven and Earth myth, but all trace of it has perished. There are, however, remnants of myths showing how the sky is supported by trees, a mountain, or by pillars. Names Used in this Section Uranus Gæa Kronos Dyaus Prithivi Indra Eleusinia Brigit and Patrick drochet bethad drochaid na flaitheanas Tuatha Dé Danann M. D'Arbois Senchus Mór Gargantua Partholan and Nemed Nevyd Dwyvan and Dwyfach Apollonius  Eridanus  Belenos Badb  Voluspa   Religion of the Ancient Celts can be found on Sacred Texts. You can find out more about J. A. McCulloch on Wikipedia. Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for a dramatic re-telling of the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or in Apple Podcasts. Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte.  You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

The Religion of the Ancient Celts (1911) Chapter 14: Tree and Plant Worship by J. A. MacCulloch Animal worship pure and simple had declined among the Celts of historic times, and animals were now regarded mainly as symbols or attributes of divinities. Names Used in this Section Tarvos Trigaranos Esus, Juppiter, and Vulcan Táin bó Cuailgne Cimbri Hallstadt and La Tène Donnotaurus  Deiotaros  Cúchulainn  Medros  Haguenau Meduris Boeuf Gras Moccus  Diarmaid Twrch Trwyth Cruachan  Dionysus  M. Reinach Thracian Dionysos-Zagreus Cernunnos Loeg  Berne Artioni Licinia Sabinilla Dea Artio(n) Andarta Die (Drôme) Welsh Arthgen, Irish Artigan, from Artigenos, "son of the bear." Matugenos MacMahon, Mac-math-ghamhain Epona  Rudiobus Each Labra Damona  damatos, "sheep," cognate to Welsh dafad, "sheep," and Gaelic damh, "ox." manitou Bibroci  Eburones Fir Bile Ossory Lughaid mac Con Cattraeth  Cinel Gabran, "Little goat clan," and Cinel Loarn, "Fox clan." Cruithne  Dispater Artigenos, Matugenos, "son of the bear" (artos, matu-); Urogenos, occurring as Urogenertos, "he who has the strength of the son of the urus" Cúrói Tadg  Lug mac Ethnend, Conchobar mac Nessa, Indech, son of De Domnann, Corpre, son of Etain Fer Tlachtga   Religion of the Ancient Celts can be found on Sacred Texts. You can find out more about J. A. McCulloch on Wikipedia. Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for a dramatic re-telling of the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or in Apple Podcasts. Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte.  You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

The Religion of the Ancient Celts (1911) Chapter 13: Tree and Plant Worship by J. A. MacCulloch The Celts had their own cult of trees, but they adopted local cults. This chapter also details how the Celts made their sacred places in dark groves, the trees being hung with offerings or with the heads of victims. Names Used in this Section Fagus Deus Sex Arbor Toulouse Dea Arduinna Dea Abnoba Fatæ Dervones Pliny Maximus of Tyre daur, dia Dr. Evans Marseilles The Irish bile Dindsenchas Fir Bile bile maighe Adair Maelocohlen  Borrisokane Eburones  Bituriges  Guidgen (Viduo-genos, "son of the tree"), Dergen (Dervo-genos, "son of the oak"), Guerngen (Verno-genos, "son of the alder") Cyperissa Naisi and Deirdre Bailé Mac Buain Aillinn Amator, Bishop of Auxerre S. Martin of Tours Cúchulainn  sùgh an daraich, "sap of the oak," Druidh lus, "Druid's weed." Selago  Diancecht  Mag-tured   Religion of the Ancient Celts can be found on Sacred Texts. You can find out more about J. A. McCulloch on Wikipedia. Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for a dramatic re-telling of the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or in Apple Podcasts. Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte.  You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

The Religion of the Ancient Celts (1911) Chapter 12: River and Well Worship by J. A. MacCulloch Among the Celts the testimony of contemporary witnesses, inscriptions, votive offerings, and survivals, shows the importance of the cult of waters and of water divinities. This chapter also details the many fairies and folklore creatures associated with water.   Names Used in this Section Mr. Gomme aurum Tolosanum Lake Gévaudan Bormanus, Bormo or Borvo, Danuvius (the Danube) Luxovius Acionna, Aventia, Bormana, Brixia, Carpundia, Clutoida, Divona, Sirona, Ura Icauna (the Yonne), Matrona, and Sequana (the Seine) Dubrogenos Enigenus Virdumarus Conchobar Nessa Deuona Deus Nemausus Nimes Nemausus Nemesa Moselle Nemh Tara Nimis Appian Matrona (Marne), the Moder, the Madder, the Maronne and Maronna Sirona Grannos Apollo, Æsculapius, and the Nymphs Dea Sequana Niskas Lerano, Dibona, Dea Peisgi Connla Sinend Banffshire Loch na piast Dracs Each Uisge Manannan Epona Goborchinn Eochaid Echchenn Tarbh Uisge Tarroo Ushtey Uruisg Boand Nechtain Slán Vicarello Clitumnus St. Thenew Saône Fynnon Elian in Denbigh   Religion of the Ancient Celts can be found on Sacred Texts. You can find out more about J. A. McCulloch on Wikipedia. Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for a dramatic re-telling of the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or in Apple Podcasts. Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte.  You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

The Religion of the Ancient Celts (1911) Chapter 11: Primitive Nature Worship by J. A. MacCulloch McCulloch talks about animism, where everything was a person and the greater objects of nature were worshiped for themselves alone.   Names Used in this Section Gildas Loegaire Da Derga's Hostel MacCecht Gara Morrigan Fomorians Bres meisi Milesians urtrochta guidemain siabra Táin bocânachs, banânaichs, and geniti-glinni Feast of Bricriu Dr. Johnson accouchements Lausanne Camden Manannan, Morgen, Dylan M. Jullian M. D'Arbois St. Lunaire Tuirbe Trágmar Cúchulainn Muireartach Battle of Ventry Cael Conwy Clidna's, Tuaithe's, and Rudhraidhe's Magounos Magonia Bishop Agobard   Religion of the Ancient Celts can be found on Sacred Texts. You can find out more about J. A. McCulloch on Wikipedia. Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for a dramatic re-telling of the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or in Apple Podcasts. Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte.  You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

The Religion of the Ancient Celts (1911) Chapter 10: The Cult of the Dead by J. A. MacCulloch The custom of burying grave-goods with the dead, or slaying wife or slaves on the tomb and other grave customs is the subject of this chapter. McCulloch also talks about the role of fairies and the festival of Samhain.   Names Used in this Section King Cottius brownie, lutin, or pooka M. Dechelette Lar Laribus augustis Kilranelagh Taillti Lug Tailtiu Leinstermen Carman, King Garman Tuatha Dé Danann fylgjur disir Modranicht Disablot Dr. Frazer   Religion of the Ancient Celts can be found on Sacred Texts. You can find out more about J. A. McCulloch on Wikipedia. Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for a dramatic re-telling of the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or in Apple Podcasts. Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte.  You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.