Who were the Druids historically?
Strictly speaking, when we ask ‘who were the Druids’, we are speaking of the intellectual caste of ‘Celtic’ society, what many understand to be preRoman culture of Iron Age Europe, through the first century BCE (before the Common Era or the birth of Christ). Druids were to the Celts what Brahmins were to within Hindu society: the leaders, lawyers, poets, teachers, physicians, artists, and priests of society. In this way, ‘Druid’ is a functional term, not an ethnic or religious one, albeit within its own cultural context. Many Druids are not so specific when they look back on the history of their heritage, acknowledging that the priests of that Iron Age society would have held the legacy of their ancestors. Extend Druidry into prehistory, many feel their Druidry roots back simply into the priesthood of ancient Britain and Europe.
