Celtic Religion & MythologyCeltic 131 – Celtic Civilization I

Celtic Religion & MythologyI 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. 1st cent. AD & more than 20 complete statues

• e.g. Battersea Shield, River Thames

III DruidsA. Caesar’s Description

III DruidsB. Calendar of Coligny

III DruidsC. Lindow Man

III DruidsC. Lindow Man cont’d

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

IV Celtic GodsC. 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 GodsC. 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 GodsD. Gundestrup Cauldron

IV Celtic GodsD. Gundestrup Cauldron cont’d

Cernunnos

IV Celtic GodsD. Gundestrup Cauldron cont’d

Taranis

IV Celtic GodsD. Gundestrup Cauldron cont’d

Teutates