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.