Celtic mythology is one of the most interesting areas of folk art in the whole world. Once - or rather, in the 17th century - Edward Lluid (linguist) noted that certain features of the languages spoken by the inhabitants of Brittany, Scotland, Ireland, Wales and Cornwall have similar features. And then he called all these peoples the Celts, thereby indicating a certain cultural similarity between them. Let's find out more about them.
Celts. History of peoples
In general, the very word "Celts" was mentioned by the ancient Greeks when they described certain people leading, so to speak, a closed way of life. If translated into Russian, then this term just means "secretive." What manifested such a feature? For example, the fact that Celtic legends were transmitted only by word of mouth: there are no written sources with legends of the ancient period.
The history of the people totals about 32 centuries. The first places of their settlements were in Central Europe, and more precisely - in France and Germany, some parts of the Danube River Basin, as well as in the Alps. They were engaged in agriculture, were able to get iron. Soon the relocation of the Celts began. A small part of them were now in the territories of Spain, Portugal, and Greece. However, the bulk of the Celts concentrated on the territory of the modern United Kingdom. However, after the invasion of the Romans, this civilization was almost completely destroyed (the exception is the Irish lands).
Celtic mythology and beliefs
Legends of King Arthur - perhaps the most famous that has survived to this day. They describe the history of the British Isles. Celtic mythology consists of separate blocks: British, Welsh, Breton and Scottish.
It is known that the Celts had several main gods - each of them was the patron of a certain people. Aramiks have Aramo, allobrogs have Allobrox, and so on. At the same time, there were parallels with Roman mythology: after the Celtic romanization, the pantheons of the two cultures merged. Let us single out some deities in Celtic mythology:
- Taranis is the god of thunder. Identified with Jupiter. Depicted with a wheel and a spiral.
- Kernunn is the forest god. He often presented himself with deer horns sitting in a lotus position.
- Jesus ("god of good"). He took people hanged in trees as sacrifices. He was depicted mainly next to the trees.
- Teutatus is the god of war and battles. Associated with the planet Mars. The supreme god of the Gallic Olympus.
- The meadow is the god of light. He was portrayed as a handsome, handsome young warrior. Drawing parallels with the Scandinavian mythology, it can be argued that the Meadow has similarities with Odin.
As mentioned earlier, these peoples did not record their legends, traditions, or religious views. That is why Celtic mythology is so ambiguous: many of the beliefs have come down to us not in one, but in two or even three versions.
For example, according to one source, these peoples believed in the transmigration of souls. But other researchers say that in the afterlife. Therefore, the burial ritual necessarily included the “supply” of the deceased with the things that he used during his life: dishes, a hair comb, clothes.
In general, even excavations and numerous studies are unlikely to ever give all the answers to questions regarding Celtic mythology.
