Celtic Religion

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Celtic Religion MythologyCeltic 131 Celtic
Civilization I
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Celtic Religion Mythology

• I Interpretatio Romana
• II Local/Tribal Gods Votive Offerings
• III Druids
• A. Caesars 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

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I Interpretatio Romana
Thieves Beware! The Goddess Sulis Minerva is on your case!
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I Interpretatio Romana
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II Local/Tribal Gods Votive Offerings
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e.g. the source of the Seine, 190 pieces of
woodcarvings dating ca. 1st cent. AD more than
20 complete statues
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e.g. Battersea Shield, River Thames
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III DruidsA. Caesars Description
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III DruidsB. Calendar of Coligny
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III DruidsC. Lindow Man
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III DruidsC. Lindow Man contd
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IV Celtic GodsC. 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

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IV Celtic GodsC. Some Celtic Gods contd

• 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

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IV Celtic GodsC. Some Celtic Gods contd

• 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

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IV Celtic GodsD. Gundestrup Cauldron
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IV Celtic GodsD. Gundestrup Cauldron contd

• Cernunnos

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IV Celtic GodsD. Gundestrup Cauldron contd

• Taranis

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IV Celtic GodsD. Gundestrup Cauldron contd

• Teutates