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