Celtic Religion Mythology Celtic 131 Celtic Civilization I

Celtic Religion & Mythology Celtic 131 – Celtic Civilization I

Celtic Religion & Mythology I Interpretatio Romana II Local/Tribal Gods & Votive Offerings III Druids A. Caesar’s Description B. Calendar of Coligny C. Lindow Man IV Celtic Gods A. Polytheistic B. Nature of Gods & Otherworld C. Some Celtic Gods D. Gundestrup Cauldron

I Interpretatio Romana Thieves Beware! The Goddess Sulis Minerva is on your case!

I Interpretatio Romana

II Local/Tribal Gods & Votive Offerings

• e. g. the source of the Seine, 190 pieces of woodcarvings dating ca. 1 st cent. AD & more than 20 complete statues

• e. g. Battersea Shield, River Thames

III Druids A. Caesar’s Description

III Druids B. Calendar of Coligny

III Druids C. Lindow Man

III Druids C. Lindow Man cont’d

IV Celtic Gods C. Some Celtic Gods • Cernunnos “the horned one”, Gaulish – Lord of the animals, god of the hunt perhaps – Almost always cross legged – Attributes – horns, torc (around neck/in hand), & serpent

IV Celtic Gods C. Some Celtic Gods cont’d • Taranis “the thunderer”, Gaulish – Depicted with wheel/spiral • Vulcan – the divine smith, Roman/Gaulish (Goibniu in Irish/ Gofannon in Welsh) – iron/metal-worker, magical properties • Teutates – “god of the tribe”, Gaulish

IV Celtic Gods C. Some Celtic Gods cont’d • Epona – horse goddess, Gaulish (& Roman) • Matres/Matronae – Gaulish, perhaps divine earth-mother – Often depicted in group of 3 with images of fertility (baskets, babies, cornicopia) – Probably very old in origin

IV Celtic Gods D. Gundestrup Cauldron

IV Celtic Gods D. Gundestrup Cauldron cont’d Cernunnos

IV Celtic Gods D. Gundestrup Cauldron cont’d Taranis

IV Celtic Gods D. Gundestrup Cauldron cont’d Teutates