Le cycle mythologique irlandais et la mythologie celtique Cours de littérature celtique, tome II

The book opens with a careful inspection of the earliest written evidence for Celtic religion, beginning with Caesar’s own report in De bello Gallico and the myriad Gaulish inscriptions that pair local names with Roman gods. By laying out the tangible clues—dedications to “Mercurio Atusmerio,” “Marti Belatucadro,” and others—the author shows how the Romans interpreted, and sometimes reshaped, the divine landscape of the peoples they conquered.

From this foundation the work moves into a broader, more critical analysis of myth itself. It argues that Celtic deities, like their Roman counterparts, emerged from the human need to explain the world, and that the language used by ancient writers reveals as much about political intent as about genuine belief. Listeners will be guided through the first act of the scholarly journey, gaining insight into the methods historians use to untangle myth, language, and power in early Europe.