Cult Accessories CT054
Celtic Tomes
This chapter covers Temples, Altars, Images, Symbols, and the Cult of Weapons of the Ancient Celts.
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Festivals CT053
Celtic Tomes
The Celtic year was not at first regulated by the solstices and equinoxes, but by some method connected with agriculture or with the seasons.
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Tabu CT052
Celtic Tomes
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.
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Sacrifice and Prayer CT051
Celtic Tomes
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.
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Cosmogony CT050
Celtic Tomes
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.
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Animal Worship CT049
Celtic Tomes
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.
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Tree and Plant Worship CT048
Celtic Tomes
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.
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River and Well Worship CT047
Celtic Tomes
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.
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Primitive Nature Worship CT046
Celtic Tomes
McCulloch talks about animism, where everything was a person and the greater objects of nature were worshiped for themselves alone.
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The Cult of the Dead CT045
Celtic Tomes
The custom of burying grave-goods with the dead and other grave customs is the subject of this chapter. McCulloch also talks about the role of fairies and the festival of Samhain.
info_outlineThe Religion of the Ancient Celts (1911)
Chapter 4: The Irish Mythological Cycle
by
J. A. MacCulloch
A broad overview of all fields of Celtic mythology which aims to identify the core beliefs of the ancient Celtic religion.
Names Used in this Section
Tuatha Dé Danann
Cúchulainn
Fians
Fionn
Bishop Carsewell
Banba
Tuath Inba
Cessair
Ladru
laimh-dhia
Finntain
Tuan mac Caraill
St. Finnen
Keating
Partholan
Fomorians
Cichol Gricenchos
Mag Itha
Nennius
Nemed
Tory Island
Samhain
Milesians
Firbolgs
Fir-Domnann, Galioin
Ailill
Medb
Beltane
Magtured
Nuada
Bres
Elatha
Eri
Theocritus
Mayo, Sligo
Ishtar, Adonis, Persephone, and Osiris
Indech
Ogma
Balor
Lug
Mile, son of Bile
Ith
Amairgen
muir
Professor Rhys
foawr, famhair
Dr. MacBain
Dr. Stokes
Zimmer, D'Arbois
Cromm Cruaich
Nét
Badb
Nemaind
Brigit
Ruadan
Indech, son of Déa Domnu
Cethlenn
Tethra
Kronos
Dôn
Dagda
Fian Caoilte
Daoine-sidhe
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.