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Celtic Religion & Mythology Celtic 131 – Celtic Civilization I. Celtic Religion & Mythology. I 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
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Celtic Religion & MythologyCeltic 131 – Celtic Civilization I
Celtic Religion & Mythology I 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
e.g. the source of the Seine, 190 pieces of woodcarvings dating ca. 1st cent. AD & more than 20 complete statues
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