The Religion of the Ancient Celts
HON. D.D.(ST. ANDREWS); HON. CANON OF CUMBRAE CATHEDRAL
AUTHOR OF COMPARATIVE THEOLOGY RELIGION: ITS ORIGIN AND FORMS THE MISTY ISLE OF SKYE THE CHILDHOOD OF FICTION: A STUDY OF FOLK-TALES AND PRIMITIVE THOUGHT
Edinburgh: T. & T. CLARK, 38 George Street
1911
Printed by
MORRISON & GIBB LIMITED,
FOR
T. & T. CLARK, EDINBURGH.
LONDON: SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, HAMILTON, KENT, AND CO. LIMITED.
NEW YORK: CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS.
ANDREW LANG
In this book I have made use of all the available sources, and have endeavoured to study the subject from the comparative point of view and in the light of the anthropological method. I have also interpreted the earlier cults by means of recent folk-survivals over the Celtic area wherever it has seemed legitimate to do so. The results are summarised in the introductory chapter of the work, and students of religion, and especially of Celtic religion, must judge how far they form a true interpretation of the earlier faith of our Celtic forefathers, much of which resembles primitive religion and folk-belief everywhere.
J. A. MacCulloch
THE RELIGION OF THE ANCIENT CELTS
J.A. MACCULLOCH
PREFACE
CONTENTS
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THE NOTES THROUGHOUT THIS WORK
INTRODUCTORY.
THE CELTIC PEOPLE.
THE GODS OF GAUL AND THE CONTINENTAL CELTS.
THE IRISH MYTHOLOGICAL CYCLE.
THE TUATHA DÉ DANANN
THE GODS OF THE BRYTHONS
COMPARATIVE TABLE OF DIVINITIES WITH SIMILAR NAMES IN IRELAND, BRITAIN, AND GAUL.
THE CÚCHULAINN CYCLE.
THE FIONN SAGA.
GODS AND MEN.
THE CULT OF THE DEAD.
PRIMITIVE NATURE WORSHIP.
RIVER AND WELL WORSHIP.
TREE AND PLANT WORSHIP.
ANIMAL WORSHIP.
COSMOGONY.
SACRIFICE, PRAYER, AND DIVINATION.
PRAYER.
DIVINATION.
TABU.
FESTIVALS.
SAMHAIN.
BELTANE.
MIDSUMMER.
LUGNASAD.
ACCESSORIES OF CULT.
THE DRUIDS.
MAGIC.
THE STATE OF THE DEAD.
REBIRTH AND TRANSMIGRATION.
ELYSIUM.
INDEX