What was ancient Celtic Culture like?
• Agrarian (farmers protected by war-lords), nature-based, ritualistic. • Typically lived in small settlements, not large cities, in huts or stone dwellings. • Loosely affiliated groupsno large central government like Romans. • Skilled at war–weaponry / chariots. Sacked Rome in 369 B.C. and Delphi in 246. • We don’t know specific religious doctrines with certainty, but we do know: • Polytheistic: many gods and goddesses. Many were very localized. • Towns, lakes, rivers, valleys, etc. had spirits or gods/goddesses. Places of water were especially important. Offerings of artifacts and sacrifices have been found in many lakes, rivers, and bogs (coins in a well?). Sulis: goddess of the hot springs at Bath. • Druids and filidhs administered the practices, foretold prophecies, and judged civil and criminal cases. Their roles were formalized. Some were women. Druids studied for up to 20 years. They were targeted by the Romans and probably the early Christians in Ireland. • Oak and mistletoe
