The religion of the ancient Celts /
MacCulloch, J. A.(John Arnott),1868-1950.
Edinburgh : T. & T. Clark,
1911.
Scant records remain of the ancient Celtic religion beyond some eleventh- and twelfth-century written material from the Irish Celts and the great Welsh document Mabinogion. This classic study by a distinguished scholar, builds not only upon the surviving texts but also upon folk customs derived from the rituals of the old cults. A masterly and extremely readable survey, it offers a reconstruction of the essentials of Celtic paganism: fascinating glimpses into primitive forms of worship involving rites centered on rivers and wells, trees and plants, and animals; and examinations of evidence from Celtic burial mounds to explore beliefs and customs related to the culture of the dead, including rites of rebirth and transmigration.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Introductory -- The Celtic People -- The Gods Of Gaul And The Continental Celts -- The Irish Mythological Cycle -- The Tuatha Dé Danann -- The Gods Of The Brythons -- The Cúchulainn Cycle -- The Fionn Saga -- Gods And Men -- The Cult Of The Dead -- Primitive Nature Worship -- River And Well Worship -- Tree And Plant Worship -- Animal Worship -- Cosmogony -- Sacrifice, Prayer, And Divination -- Tabu -- Festivals -- Accessories Of Cult -- The Druids -- Magic -- The State Of The Dead -- Rebirth And Transmigration -- Elysium.
Scant records remain of the ancient Celtic religion beyond some eleventh- and twelfth-century written material from the Irish Celts and the great Welsh document Mabinogion. This classic study by a distinguished scholar, builds not only upon the surviving texts but also upon folk customs derived from the rituals of the old cults. A masterly and extremely readable survey, it offers a reconstruction of the essentials of Celtic paganism: fascinating glimpses into primitive forms of worship involving rites centered on rivers and wells, trees and plants, and animals; and examinations of evidence from Celtic burial mounds to explore beliefs and customs related to the culture of the dead, including rites of rebirth and transmigration.
Celts
Mythology, Celtic.
Also available as an online resource via the Internet.