Celtic mythology is one of the most interesting areas of folk art in the world.One day - or rather, in the 17th century - Evard Lluyd (linguist) noted that certain features of the language spoken by the inhabitants of Brittany, Scotland, Ireland, Wales and Cornwall, have similar features.Then he called all the people of the Celts, thus denoting a certain cultural similarities between them.Let's learn more about them.
Celts.History of the peoples
Generally, the word "Celtic" mentioned by the ancient Greeks when they described some people leading, so to speak, an indoor lifestyle.If translated into Russian, the term that just means "secretive."In what appears such a trait?For example, in the fact that Celtic legends passed down only by word of mouth: written sources from the legends of the ancient period there.
history of the people goes back some 32 centuries.The first places were their settlements in Central Europe - or rather, in France and Germany, some parts of the Danube River Basin, as well as in the Alps.They were engaged in agriculture, we were able to obtain iron.Soon began the relocation of the Celts.Small part of them are now located on the territory of Spain, Portugal and Greece.However, the bulk of the Celts focused on the present-day United Kingdom.However, after the invasion of the Romans, this civilization has been virtually wiped out (with the exception of the Irish land).
Celtic mythology and beliefs
the Arthurian legends - perhaps the most famous, which has reached our days.They describe the history of the British Isles.Celtic mythology is made up of individual blocks: Breton, Welsh, Breton and Scottish.
known that the Celts had a few main gods - each of them is a patron of a certain nation.In aramikov - Aram at Allobroges - Allobroks and so on.At the same time there were parallels with the Roman mythology: Romanization of Celts occurred after the merger of two cultures pantheons.We select some Celtic deities mifogogii:
- Taranis - the god of thunder.I identified with Jupiter.Depicted with a wheel and a spiral.
- Cernunnos - the god of the forest.Introducing often with antlers, sitting in the lotus position.
- Esus ("God is good").I took hanged people as sacrifices.Him and represented mainly near trees.
- Teutat - the god of war and battles.Associated with the planet Mars.Supreme Gallic god of Olympus.
- Meadow - the god of light.He depicted a beautiful, handsome young warrior.Drawing parallels with the Scandinavian mythology, it can be argued that Meadow is similar to Odin.
As mentioned earlier, these people did not record any of his stories or traditions or religious beliefs.That's why Celtic mythology so ambiguous that many of the beliefs come down to us in not one but two or even three versions.For example, according to some sources, these peoples believed in the transmigration of souls.But other researchers claim - that in the afterlife.Therefore, in the ritual of burial must include "supply" dead things that he enjoyed during his life: kitchenware, comb hair, clothes.
In general, even digging and numerous studies have hardly ever give answers to all questions relating to Celtic mythology.
