Influence on Society
It is difficult to determine the influence of Celtic polytheism on society. But like other Indo-European peoples, their religion reached the highest point of the development of their influence and territorial expansion during the 4th century, extending across Europe from Great Britain to Asia Minor.
Overtime, their society has developed a number of separate cults (a system of religious respect and devotion directed towards a particular figure or object.) In earlier times, their history was more symbolic in nature and were passed on through stories, poetry, prayers and song as well as in rituals, customs and festival celebrations. For ancient Celts, their life was manifested in nature. Men and women had separate cults too but me of course were the dominant type, therefore, probably considered more important. For example, as hunters, men worshipped the animals they slaughtered but they consistently apologised for slaughtering them. In all Celtic hunters this apologetic attitude is found and is the nature of a cult. But with some other animals which were too sacred to slaughter, they would be worshipped and preserved with that particular cult. The fruitful mother was earth producing vegetation, but because the origin of agriculture was all the work of the women, the Earth cult would be practiced by the women. But as men took interest in agriculture they would join the women. There was popular superstitions and magical observances, such as human sacrifice which varied between places. Local features were embodiments and were seen to have diabolic power. The most central of their worship was the deification of the sun as an emblem of divine power. There was also the worship of the personified deity, Lugh, whom like many other deities, was conceived as representing natural forces as guardians of social laws.
The Celts had a rather extensive knowledge about the natural phenomena. The Romans were impressed by the Celtic teaching of the natural phenomena and the constitution of the universe. Some research suggests that the megalithic people, (an even earlier society before and in the early beginnings of the Celts), had certain traits about their culture that could suggest influenced the Celts into basing their culture on some aspects of the megalithic people but this theory is very speculative. There has been archaeological evidence that the number three has very powerful significance in the Celtic religion for many spiritual and social concepts of Celtic life. There was three classes of people in Celtic society (which is common in most ancient societies):
1. Elite specialists
2. Common herders
3. Slaves
There was also three main classes of gods too. There were those requiring sacrifices by fire, those by taking a breath and blood, and those by requiring sacrifices by water. This ‘threeness’ is seen as an artistic motif - The Treskele - of which a circle is divided into three equal parts. This is a part of the Celts strong spiritual connection to the soul. Evidence shows that the Celts are seekers after God, whom link themselves to the unseen. Aspects of the spirit has a strong appeal to the Celtic soul.
The Ancient Celtic religion is a rich part of Europe’s and many other countries history and its existence is still present in today’s modern life through ancient relics, monuments and artworks that have been preserved. There are many other modern day examples of the influence of the Celts such as: in Scotland, there is a football team called ‘The Celtic Football Club’ as well as musical groups across Europe called “Celtic Thunder’. But these examples aren’t just present in Europe, they are also present here in Australia. For example, Irish dancing is an activity which many young children perform as well as the Celtic music. There is a very famous singer, Enya, whom has many CD’s which are sold all over the world plus she has relatives in the Southern Highlands. This religion in particular has introduced Christianity to the Anglo-Saxons. Celtic religion shapes our views, morals, traditions and beliefs as well as providing a rich history of ancestors and origins for Europeans.
Overtime, their society has developed a number of separate cults (a system of religious respect and devotion directed towards a particular figure or object.) In earlier times, their history was more symbolic in nature and were passed on through stories, poetry, prayers and song as well as in rituals, customs and festival celebrations. For ancient Celts, their life was manifested in nature. Men and women had separate cults too but me of course were the dominant type, therefore, probably considered more important. For example, as hunters, men worshipped the animals they slaughtered but they consistently apologised for slaughtering them. In all Celtic hunters this apologetic attitude is found and is the nature of a cult. But with some other animals which were too sacred to slaughter, they would be worshipped and preserved with that particular cult. The fruitful mother was earth producing vegetation, but because the origin of agriculture was all the work of the women, the Earth cult would be practiced by the women. But as men took interest in agriculture they would join the women. There was popular superstitions and magical observances, such as human sacrifice which varied between places. Local features were embodiments and were seen to have diabolic power. The most central of their worship was the deification of the sun as an emblem of divine power. There was also the worship of the personified deity, Lugh, whom like many other deities, was conceived as representing natural forces as guardians of social laws.
The Celts had a rather extensive knowledge about the natural phenomena. The Romans were impressed by the Celtic teaching of the natural phenomena and the constitution of the universe. Some research suggests that the megalithic people, (an even earlier society before and in the early beginnings of the Celts), had certain traits about their culture that could suggest influenced the Celts into basing their culture on some aspects of the megalithic people but this theory is very speculative. There has been archaeological evidence that the number three has very powerful significance in the Celtic religion for many spiritual and social concepts of Celtic life. There was three classes of people in Celtic society (which is common in most ancient societies):
1. Elite specialists
2. Common herders
3. Slaves
There was also three main classes of gods too. There were those requiring sacrifices by fire, those by taking a breath and blood, and those by requiring sacrifices by water. This ‘threeness’ is seen as an artistic motif - The Treskele - of which a circle is divided into three equal parts. This is a part of the Celts strong spiritual connection to the soul. Evidence shows that the Celts are seekers after God, whom link themselves to the unseen. Aspects of the spirit has a strong appeal to the Celtic soul.
The Ancient Celtic religion is a rich part of Europe’s and many other countries history and its existence is still present in today’s modern life through ancient relics, monuments and artworks that have been preserved. There are many other modern day examples of the influence of the Celts such as: in Scotland, there is a football team called ‘The Celtic Football Club’ as well as musical groups across Europe called “Celtic Thunder’. But these examples aren’t just present in Europe, they are also present here in Australia. For example, Irish dancing is an activity which many young children perform as well as the Celtic music. There is a very famous singer, Enya, whom has many CD’s which are sold all over the world plus she has relatives in the Southern Highlands. This religion in particular has introduced Christianity to the Anglo-Saxons. Celtic religion shapes our views, morals, traditions and beliefs as well as providing a rich history of ancestors and origins for Europeans.