Celtic religion

Introduction
Sources
The Celtic gods
Goddesses and divine consorts
Zoomorphic deities
Beliefs, practices, and institutions
- Cosmology and eschatology
- Worship
- Festivals
- The impact of Christianity

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images

At a Glance

Celtic religion summary

Related Questions

How did John Aubrey and William Stukeley help create the popular link between druids and Stonehenge?
How did the Ancient Order of Druids influence modern ideas about druids?
How did the Universal Bond help create modern Druidry?
How do Irish voyage tales describe journeys to the otherworld?
How do modern Druidic offerings differ from the sacrifices reported for ancient druids?
How long could druid training last according to Caesar?
How was the Irish otherworld described in early Celtic tradition?
What did Celtic burial customs suggest about beliefs in life after death?
What did druids teach about the soul after death?
What do Roman writers report about human sacrifice in Gaul and Britain?
What happened to druids on the island of Mona in 59 or 60 CE?
What names were used for the otherworld in Irish tradition?
What roles did druids have in ancient Celtic societies?
What seasonal event was associated with the festival of Imbolc?
What types of evidence provide information about Celtic religious beliefs?
When did temples begin to appear in Celtic regions?
When was Samhain celebrated in the traditional Irish calendar?
Where was Tech Duinn believed to be located?
Which Roman emperors banned human sacrifice in Celtic territories?
Which crafts were associated with the Irish god Goibhniu and the Welsh god Gofannon?
Which four major festivals divided the traditional Irish year?
Which god did Caesar say was most honoured by the Gauls?
Who was Sulis and where was her cult centred?
Why did Caesar use Roman names for Gaulish gods?
Why do scholars describe modern Druidry as a new religious movement rather than a direct survival of ancient Celtic religion?
Why does Caesar’s use of Roman god names make Celtic gods difficult to identify?
Why was Beltine associated with fire and cattle protection?
What is Beltane?
What is Samhain and when is it celebrated?
How did Samhain influence modern Halloween?
Who were the ancient druids?
How were the druids described in Greek and Roman sources?
What led to the decline of druids?
How have druids influenced modern culture?

Philosophy & Religion Ancient Religions & Mythology

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External Websites

NOVA Open Publishing - Mythological Literature - Celtic and Nordic Paganism
World History Encyclopedia - Ancient Celtic Religion

Celtic religion

Written by

Myles Dillon

Senior Professor of Celtic Studies, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1949–72. Author of Early Irish Society.

Myles DillonAll

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Britannica Editors

Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....

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History

Celtic religion, religious beliefs and practices of the ancient Celts. The Celts, an ancient Indo-European people, reached the apogee of their influence and territorial expansion during the 4th century bc, extending across the length of Europe from Britain to Asia Minor. From the 3rd century bc onward their history is one of decline and disintegration, and with Julius Caesar’s conquest of Gaul (58–51 bc) Celtic independence came to an end on the European continent. In...

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