The Celts

Origins Two thousand years ago, the term Celt was used specifically for peoples inhabiting continental Europe; the denizens of England and Ireland were not to be called "Celts" until seventeenth and eighteenth-century linguistic (language) researchers began to identify the inhabitants of the pre-Roman British Isles as Celtic peoples.

The Celts were a people of about 40 different groups that shared the same language and cultural values. During the centuries between 400-200 BCE, their territory was as vast as the Roman Empire had become later on. It stretched from Ireland all the way to parts of Asia Minor, and south to parts of Italy, and also contained areas in Spain. Not until around 150 BCE when the Romans began conquering several areas did these Celtic territories and cultures start to diminish.

Evidence There are three sources of evidence to find out about an ancient civilization: Written or documentary sources (texts) Linquistics (spoken language) in the form of names or words referred to in classical Records, or place- names (locations) Archeology itself

Ogham Ogham is the first Irish method of writing, dating from the fourth century Supposed by some historians to have resulted from contact with Latin Roman numerals, the resulting ogham alphabet is unique to Ireland. http://www.watson.org/~leigh/celts.html

Archeological Evidence Archeological digs at the La Tène site in Western France have changed the way in which Celtic art and technology is viewed by the modern world. It was initially thought that a civilization with no written word could not produce the artwork that was found. (Ogham was a later addition to Celtic tradition) Examples of knotwork, metal-working, pottery, glass, and geometric circle-drawing of an extremely sophisticated nature were uncovered at La Tène .

Artwork

Armor Chain mail is of Celtic origin, the earliest known examples appearing in graves dating from the third century. Small, interlocking links of metal implementation required considerable skill on the part of the blacksmith. Because chain mail was difficult to make, and expensive, only senior warriors or royalty are thought to have made use of it initially Chain mail was soon adopted by the Romans when it proved effective in battle.

Where the Celts Lived Originally found in an area from Eastern France to Bohemia, the La Tene culture spread rapidly from about 400 BC. The La Tene Celts settled in Spain in 450 BC, in Northern Italy in 400 BC, invaded Rome in 390 BC, invaded Greece in 279 BC, invaded Galatia (in modern Turkey) in 270 BC. By 200 BC, they occupied the lands that are now Britain, the Netherlands, Brittany, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland.

Describing Celts Emotional, passionate, heroic, wild, and drunken Sensual, artistic, hospitable, instinctual Proud, inventive, battle-loving They were farmers and traders and also did some Agriculture They traded metals, salt, Pottery, glass and coin ornaments

Family The family was known as a clann Extended family of generations Group members were responsible for everyone in the clann They lived in huts that were made from arched timber with walls made of wicker and thatched roofs

Education “Beul aithris” (oral tradition) was passed down by grandparents, aunts, uncles, parents, foster parents Children would be raised by another family “foster parents” to get educated in a certain trade Foster parents were usually the brother of the birth-mother

girls cost 8 heifers or 2 milk cows – stayed till age 14 boy cost 6 heifers or 1 1\2 milk cow – stayed till age 17 In the foster-homes the children learned the skills they would need later in life. For boys from the warrior class it was important to excel in warfare skills.

Hospitality When the clann had guests, they would have to do the best they could Guests would make an offering Guests would be expected to sing, play a tune, or tell a tale

Homosexuality Homosexuality was common It is not looked at specifically as bad behavior It is acceptable if the terms of the marriage contract says so Classical writers mention the widespread homosexual practice in celtic society, especially among groups like the Gaesataerians. Gaesataerians were a kind of mercenary recruited to different war missions around Europe. This was a very popular “occupation” for young boys. Just like the spatanians in Greece they possessed a very strong “esprit de corps”, undoubtedly strengthened by bands of love between boys and older men.

Religion Believe in the “otherworld” A metaphor is the image of the dangerous journey on the sea Their lives were a dangerous journey toward death The circle on the cross is the halo of the Christ figure They built monastic communities in a circular design

Religion continued The communities were intended to be lived in communion with the earth, the sea and the Creator

Celtic Sacrifice They believed in life after death “otherworld” To be killed or to kill was not thought of as a negative act It would give honor to the victim If crops were failing or animals were falling to disease they would offer human blood to insure health of the population Human sacrifices were made to insure a successful battle They would be buried with jewelry to take to the otherworld

Druids Druids “very knowledgeable one” were important to the celtic culture They could stop a battle Responsibilities included: teaching the religious doctrine, medicine, civil justice, sacrifice, divination, and care of temples To become a druid, school would take up to 20 years because it all had to be memorized They performed animal and human sacrifices and practiced divination and other forms of magic

Nobility “The King or Queen was the central part of the social structure.” “They were responsible for harmony between the tribe and the land, and also for the prosperity of the tribe.”

Appearance The Celts impressed the Greeks and Romans with their bold dress and powerful appearance. Generally characterized by classical observers as a people of fair hair, of red or gold, and fair complexions, (although the people of the British Isles were described as small and dark-haired) most Celtic women apparently stood taller than the average Roman citizen.

Appearance (cont.) Celtic women, upon reaching maturity, adopted a complex braided style for their hair, and wore dyed and embroidered dresses. Plaids, or wrapped woven cloaks, were common for men and women alike, and gold and silver torques and armrills, as well as rings, adorned wealthy Celts. Brooches that held closed the openings of dresses and plaids were another common feature of Celtic dress.

Appearance (cont.) Gallic men commonly spiked their hair and bleached it to an almost white color with chalky water, and wore their beards long, while the Bretons and Picts tattooed their arms and faces with blue. Many Danish and English bogs have yielded archeological evidence of cloth and dress, and Roman historians such as Tacitus also document some of the customs of everyday Celtic life.

Villages

Irish Myths and Legends The myths and legends have a charisma of their own. Early myths were written down by Irish Christian scribes, who had heard them from the filids (Irish storytellers).

Ancient Tales of the Celts Scholars have categorized the ancient tales of Ireland into four main categories. 1. The Mythological Cycle 2. The Ulster Cycle 3. The Cycle of the Ancient Kings of Ireland 4. The Fenian Cycle

Mythological Cycle These early tales of romance and tragedy feature the ancient gods of Ireland, such as Dagda and his son Oenghus, the god of love. It is now known that it was the early Christian Monks who first recorded these tales.

The Ulster Cycle sometimes known as the Cycle of the Red Branch Knights, the exploits of the warrior Cu Chulainn are retold in graphic detail. These are the stories of the great warriors who guarded Ulster from Eamhain Macha - the seat of the Ulster King Conchobar mac Nessa in Armagh. The saga culminates in the epic battle during the Cattle Raid at Cooley. As the centrepiece of the Ulster Cycle, this story is said to be Irish Mythology's nearest approach to an epic work like the Iliad.

The Cycle of the Ancient Kings of Ireland is said to mix both myth and fact to tell the tales of the rulers of Ireland from 300 B.C. as far 700 A.D.

The Fenian Cycle introduces the noble champion Finn Mac Cumhal (Finn MacCool), and his band of warriors known as the Fianna- often regarded as the Irish equivalent of Arthur and the Kings of the Round Table

The Fianna were the bodyguards of the High Kings of Ireland who resided at Tara in County Meath. This important cycle has had a dramatic affect on the people of Ireland right up to the present day, for instance the title has been utilized by various political movements in recent years.

Although the tales of the Fenian Cycle are set in the early Christian period the fairy people of the Otherworld, still guide the fate of men. The stories tell us of heroes who have overcome insurmountable odds, enchanted beasts, fierce battles as well as including tales of hapless mortals sent on impossible quests. In all of these the realms of fantasy and the supernatural are never far away.

The Fenian Cycle is said to be Ireland's equivalent to the mythology of the Greek's and to the sagas of the Norsemen. Sometimes the term "Ossianic Cycle" is given to the Fenian Cycle, as Ossian was Finn MacCool's son and is believed to have been the bard who told the stories of Finn and the Fianna to Saint Patrick in the 5th century.

Cu Chulainn and Finn MacCool, emerged as great heroes from Irish mythology. From the North, Cu Chulainn with his Red Branch Knights, also compares to Arthur of England and Wales. His defense of his country continues to inspire the Irish people today. A statue commemorating Cu Chulainn stands in the General Post Office in Dublin.

References McCarthy, J., & Hague, E. (2004). Race, nation, and nature: The cultural politics of “Celtic” identification in the american west. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 94(2), 387-408. Santmire, P. (2000). Celtic saints and the ecology of death. A Journal of Theology, 41(4), 302-309. Gaelic Celtic Culture. 10-5-05. http://homepage.tinet.ie/~kthomas/gaelic/gaelic1.htm Celtic Britain. The Iron age. 600 bc – 50 ad. 10-5-05. http://www.britainexpress.com/History/Celtic_Britain.htm Mckinnon, S. Celtic Sacrifice. 10-5-05. http://gallery.sjsu.edu/sacrifice/celt.html Druids. 10-16-05. http://yahooligans.yahoo.com/reference/encyclopedia/entry/druids Powell, T. G. E.(1983). The Celts. New York: Thames & Hudson. Green, M. J. (1995). The Celtic World. New York: Routledge. http://www.irelandunveiled.com/myths-legends.cgi http://www.watson.org/~leigh/celts.html

Your final project will be to research and share with the class via PowerPoint one of the following areas:

1. Daily life of the Celts 2. Druids / Celtic Astrology 3 1. Daily life of the Celts 2. Druids / Celtic Astrology 3. Any hero myth or legend in detail. Pick tales from the Cycle of the Ancient Kings or the Ulster Cycle 4. Standing stones in Britain and Ireland 5. Any legends of the otherworldly creatures - tales from the Finian Cycle or Mythological Cycle work well 6. Celtic expansion 7. Celtic fortifications/architecture 8. Celtic Art 9. Any other topic you may be interested in learning more about

This project will be worth 200 points and will be graded on content This project will be worth 200 points and will be graded on content. Projects will be presented on 12/15, 12/16 and 12/18 (Finals day) I will have a sign up sheet the closer we get.