The Celtic mythology refers to the religion Celtes of the Protohistoire and to the Druidisme , which structure the Celtic companies. It treats life of the gods and goddesses in the Other World (the Sidh of Irish), of the heroes and their exploits. This civilization gradually disappeared with the romanisation then the monotheism Judeo-Christian.

Problems of the sources

As soon as the Celtic field is approached, that it is on the level of civilization, the druidism or mythology, one is inevitably confronted with the problem of the sources. The Druide S, which represent the sacerdotal class (first function of the tripartite ideology Indo-European setting in light by Georges Dumézil), systematically privileged an oral transmission to know to them, inducing the memorizing of thousands of worms. One regularly finds the argument according to which the written word is a dead word; perhaps this was as a means of preventing as their ideas are diverted. Let us note that the Celtes were not unaware of the writing since we have inscriptions using the Greek alphabet and that they invented a particular system of notation: the oghamic writing.

Two types of sources deliver general information to us. First of all, their contemporaries, among whom one can quote, as example: Diodore of Sicily ( historical Library ), Strabon ( Geography ), Pomponius Mixed ( De Chorographia ), Lucain ( Pharsale ), Pline Old the ( Natural history ), and especially Jules César with the Commentaires on the War of Gaules . These testimonys often give an negative image of the Celtic people, taking into account the quarrelsome relations which they maintained, and ignorance of their neighbors. Taking the precautions which are essential, the study proves to be instructive.

The second source is much later since it is about the consignment by the clerks of the Middle Ages, of the oral traditions in Ireland. This literature, whose drafting is spread out 8th century at the 15th century, opportunely comes to confirm and supplement the results of the studies of the ancient sources. They retranscribe the myths and epopees of Celtic Ireland, which was transmitted generations in generations orally. Always as example, one can retain: the Cath Maighe Tuireadh (Battle of Mag Tured) , the Tochmarc Etaine (Courts Tin) , the Táin Bó Cúailnge (Raid of the Cows of Cooley) , the Lebor Gabála Érenn (Book of the Conquests of Ireland) and the Mabinogion Welsh . There, the difficulty is of another nature: the collectors transcribers affublé all these myths of a Christian varnish, under which the study discovers the original Celtic substrate.

It is all the work of the philologists to give off the primitive matter of Celtic mythology, while being located in the Indo-European context.

The divine company

Theses affirmed that the religion of the Celtes was of the type Monothéiste, fascinating for principal argument the supremacy and the omnipotence of the god Lug . It is true that its nicknames: “Lamfada” (with the long arm) and “Samildanach” (the “polytechnician”, which controls all arts) reveal its place in the forefront of the divine hierarchy. Jules César in his Commentaires on the War of Gaules compares it with Mercure. But, if one notes a tendency towards the monotheism, a tightening of the number of the gods, compared to other civilizations of the Antiquité, there exist indeed distinct entities. The hierarchy and the categorization of these gods take again the diagram of the company. César, reporting its military operations, had noted that the Gaulois (the Plèbe) were directed by two classes of men, the druids and the knights ( equities ). One finds this hierarchy in the structure of the divine company of the Tuatha Dé Danann, the gods of Ireland, which reproduces the diagram of the tripartite ideology of the Indo-Europeans, such as it was exposed by Georges Dumézil.

  • the sacerdotal class which has the knowledge and makes the law; it manages crowned and the monk
  • the warlike class which manages the military businesses under the command of the king
  • the class of the producers (craftsmen, farmers, stockbreeders, etc) which must provide for the needs for the whole of the company and in priority those of the two other classes.
It is advisable however to announce that the theory dumézilienne tripartition is disputed with various titles. The producing function in particular, to which Dumézil did not devote any work, poses several problems of coherence. Moreover, certain Celtic gods remain problematic compared to the three functions, as one can note it low.

Hierarchy of Tuatha Die Danann

Same manner, the gods are defined by functions. To take again the Irish théonymes, for which documentation is most important, the classification of the Tuatha Dé Danann is the following one:

- except class:

  • Lug Samildanach (paramount god)
- sacerdotal function: - warlike function:
  • Ogme (god of the warlike magic, and the knowledge)
  • Nuada (royalty)
- artisanal function:
  • Goibniu (god blacksmith)
  • Credne (god bronzier)
  • Luchta (god carpenter)
- takes part in the three functions: - single female divinity:
  • Brigit (goddess of the poets, the blacksmiths and the doctors)

Except for the three gods of the artisanal function, the others are quoted and described by César, under the names of their Roman counterparts.

The various sources deliver to us the names of tens of gods. This shift is explained in two manners: a functional specialization and local particularisms. In the first case, such god is only one misadventure of another, which appears to take up a particular duty or to represent a precise aspect, such Mac Oc which incarnates the youth of Oengus. In the second case, it can be a question of the deification of a crowned place, a river or a hill; thus Boand, another name of Brigit, indicates the Boyne river, in Ireland.

Correspondences

It is not possible to propose equivalences between the Roman Mythologie and the principal gods of the Celts, taking into account the incompatibility of two civilizations, but of the correspondences can be noted between Rome, Gaulle and Ireland, to consider however with precautions:

Terms of Celtic mythology

With

Abarta - Abhean - Adnae Mac Uthidir - Aed Mac Ainine - Aed Mac Ammere - Àed Ruad - Aengus (Mac Oc, Oengus) - - Agnoman - Aífe - Ailill - Have Mac Ollam - Aidlinn (Ailinn) - Ailbe - Áine - Airmed - Aithirne Ailgesach - Amorgen - Anna (Anna, Dana, Dôn) - Andarta (Andrasta) - Anguipède - Ankou - Annwvyn - Arawn - Arduinna - Arianrhod - Artio - Art - Assa - Atepomaros

B

Balor - Banba - Bansidh - Bécuma - Belen - Belenos - Belisama - Beltaine - Berecyntia - Blaí Briuga - Bleiz (Blaise) - Bleunwenn - Blodewedd - Boand (Boann) - Bodb (Badba) - Borvo - Blessed Bran the - Bran Mac Febail - Branwen - Brendan - Bres - Brian - Brigantia, Brigit, (Brig , Brigid, Brighid) - the “Brown of Cúailnge”

C

Caer Ibormaith - Cai Cainbrethach - Cairbre Denied Iron - Carman - Cathbad - Catubodua - Celtchar - Cernunnos (Kernunnos) - Ceridwenn - This Mac Mágach - Cethern Mac Fintan - Cian - Cliodhna - Coirpre - Conall Cernach - Conann - Conchobar Mac Nessa - Conla - Conle - Conn Cetchathach - Corann - Cormac Mac Airt - Cormac Cond Longas - Credne - Crunnchu - Cúchulainn - Culann - Cumaill (Camulos) - Cú Roí

D

Dagda - Damona - Dana - Deichtire - Deimne - Deirdre - Diancecht - Diarmaid O' Duibhne - Dobar - Gift - Dragon - Dun Aengus

E

Eithne - Elatha - Elcmar - Elffin - Emain Chewed - Emer - Eochai - Eochaid Mac Eirc - Épona - Ériu - Esras (and the Lance of Lug) - Esus - Étain - Evnissyen

F

Failimis - Fand - Ferdiad - Fergus Mac Roeg - Fingen - Fine Mac Cumaill - Fintan - Fir Bolg - Fomoires - Fuamnach

G

Gargan - Gallisenae - Geis - Glam dicinn - Gofannon - Goibniu - Gradlon - Seed - Grannos - Gwawl - Gwenwed - Gwern - Gwydion - Gwynn ap Nudd - Gwyon Bach

H

Henwen - Herne

I

Imbas forosnai - Imbolc (festival) - Immram (voyage)

K

Karedwen - Goblin - Kulhwch - Kynon

L

Labraid - Laegaire - Lebor Gabála Érenn (Book of the Conquests of Ireland) - Leborcham - Libane - Lir (Llyr) - Llew Llaw Gyffes (Llew) - Llud - Llwyt - Log - Luaine - Luchta - Lug (Lugh, Lugos) - Lugaid Mac Idiot Roí - Lugaid Reo nDerg - Lugnasad (festival)

M

Mabinogion (four branches of Mabinogi) - Chewed - Mac Cecht - Mac Cuill - Mac Greine - Mac Oc - Manannan Mac Lir - Manawyddan Fab Llyr - Mane - Maponos - Marc' H - Math - Matholwch - Medb - Medyr (Mider) - Menw - Merlin (Marzin, Myrdhin) - Miach - Midir - Mile (Milesiens) - Mog Ruith - Momoros - Morfessa (and Pierre de Fal) - Morrigan - Chewed - Muirne - Mullo

NR

Dwarf - Nantosuelta - Nechtan - Nédé - Nemain - Nemed (Nemed iens) - Nemeton - Born - Niall Noigiallach - Nodons - Noise - Nuada

O

Oengus, (Aengus, Mac Oc) - Ogma (Ogme, Ogmios) - Olwen - Ormiach - Ossian (Osin, Ossin)

P

Partholon (Partholon iens) - Pryderi - Pwyll

R

Rhiannon (Rigantona) - Rosmerta - Ruadan - Rucht

S

Samain, Samonios (festival) - wild boar (symbol) - Scáthach - Semias (and the Cauldron of Dagda) - Setanta - Sidh - Smartellos (Smertios) - Sualtam - Sucellos

T - U

Tailtiu - Taliesin - Tared - Taranis - Teutates (Toutatis) - Tlachtga - Tristan and Iseut - Tuan Mac Cairill - Tuatha Dé Danann - Uiscias (and the Sword of Nuada)

Y

Ys - Yspaddaden

Sources & Bibliography

See also the Bibliography of Celtic mythology
  • Yann Brekilien, Celtic Mythology , Editions of the Rock, Monaco, 1993,
  • John Brough, Tripartite The Ideology off the Indo-Europeans: Year Experiment in Method in Bulletin off the School off Eastern and African Studies , University off London, vol. 22, No 1/3, 1.959, pp. 69-85.
  • Georges Dumézil, Myth and Epopée , Gallimard, coll “Fourthly”, Paris, 1995,
  • Albert Grenier, the Gallic , Small library Payot, Paris, 1970,
  • Christian-J. Guyonvarc' H, Magic, medicine and divination among Celts , scientific Library Payot, Paris, 1997,
  • Christian-Joseph Guyonvarc' H, the Dialog of both Wise , scientific Library Payot, Paris, 1999,
  • Christian-J. Guyonvarc' H and Francoise the Russet-red, the Druids , Ouest-France, coll “Of memory of man: history”, Rennes, 1986,
  • Christian-J. Guyonvarc' H and Francoise the Russet-red one, Celtic Civilization , Ouest-France, coll “Of memory of man: history”, Rennes, 1990,
  • Christian-Joseph Guyonvarc' H and Francoise the Russet-red one, the Celtic Company , Ouest-France, coll “Of memory of man: history”, Rennes, 1991,
  • Christian-J. Guyonvarc' H and Francoise the Russet-red one, Celtic Festivals , Ouest-France, coll “Of memory of man: history”, Rennes, 1995,
  • Venceslas Kruta, Celts, History and Dictionary , Gallimard, coll “Books”, Paris, 2000,
  • Jean-Paul Persigout, Celtic Dictionary of mythology , Editions of the Rock, Monaco, 1985,
  • R.I. Page, Dumézil Revisited , in Saga-Book , XX, 1978-79, pp. 49-. 69
  • Hake Renfrew, the Indo-European Enigma , coll Fields, Flammarion, Paris, 1992
  • Georges Roth, Cúchulainn , Coop Breizh, Spézet, 1995,
  • Joseph Vendryes, the Religion of the Celts , Coop Breizh, Spézet, 1997,
  • the Celts , collective work, catalog international exhibition of Palazzo Grassi in Venice. French edition by EDDL, Paris, 2001,

Related articles

External bonds

  • the Celtic Tree, site devoted to the study of ancient Celtic civilization in a historical and scientific way
  • the Gallic religion, article on line by Jean-Louis Brunaux

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