
Transcribed from the 1906 Archibald Constable & Co. Ltd. edition by David Price, ccx074@coventry.ac.uk
CELTIC RELIGION IN PRE-CHRISTIAN TIMES
FOREWORD
CHAPTER I—INTRODUCTORY: THE CELTS
CHAPTER II—THE CHIEF PHASES OF CELTIC CIVILISATION
CHAPTER III—THE CORRELATION OF CELTIC RELIGION WITH THE GROWTH OF CELTIC CIVILISATION
CHAPTER IV—CELTIC RELIGION AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDIVIDUALISED DEITIES
CHAPTER V—THE HUMANISED GODS OF CELTIC RELIGION
CHAPTER VI—THE CELTIC PRIESTHOOD
CHAPTER VII—THE CELTIC OTHER-WORLD
Delving into the spiritual world of the ancient Celts, this study offers a fresh, modern perspective grounded in the latest archaeological discoveries. The author begins by clarifying what “Celtic” means in a linguistic and cultural sense, setting the stage for a nuanced exploration of societies that once spoke the Indo‑European tongues of the British Isles, Gaul, and beyond.
Drawing on comparative philology, the narrative traces the likely heartland of early Celtic and Italic speech in the Danube basin, showing how military aristocracies spread language, art, and belief across Europe. Listeners will encounter vivid descriptions of early rituals, sacred sites, and the complex interplay between conquerors and the peoples they ruled, revealing how religious ideas could arise from both groups.
Written with scholarly rigor yet accessible prose, the book invites curiosity about a world where myth and daily life were tightly woven together, promising a compelling journey into the foundations of Celtic spirituality.
Language
en
Duration
~1 hours (84K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2006-03-23
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1866–1914
A gifted Welsh scholar of the Celtic languages, he helped shape the study of Welsh in higher education while still in his forties. His writing ranged from language and grammar to early Celtic religion, giving modern readers a clear window into both his scholarship and his era.
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