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.