Celts: The History and Legacy of One of the Oldest Cultures in Europe“They cut off the heads of enemies slain in battle and attach them to the necks of their horses... They embalm the heads... [and]... display them with pride to strangers.” – Diodorus Siculus Before the Vikings, before the Anglo-Saxons, before the Roman Empire, the Celts dominated central and western Europe. Today we might think of the Celts only inhabiting parts of the far west of Europe – Ireland, Great Britain, France and Spain – but these were the extremities in which their culture lasted longest. In fact, they had originated in Central Europe and settled as far afield as present day Turkey, Poland and Italy. From their emergence as an Iron Age people around 800 BC to the early centuries AD, Celts reveals the truth behind the stories of naked warriors, ritual beheadings, druids, magic and accusations of human sacrifice. The book examines the different tribes, the Hallstatt and La Tène periods, as well as Celtic survival in western Europe, the Gallic Wars, military life, spiritual life, slavery, sexuality and Celtic art. Currently the focus of a major exhibition at the British Museum in London, the Celts are ripe for rediscovery. Illustrated with more than 180 colour and black-and-white photographs, maps and artworks, Celts is an expertly written account of a people who have long captured the popular imagination. (5 / 5 stars) |
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ancient Celts areas armour attack Balor barbarians bards battle became Belgae Bran’s Britain British Isles bronze Caesar Caledonia campaign Caratacus Carthage Carthaginian Celtiberian Celtic art Celtic culture Celtic society Celtic tribes Celtic warriors Celts chariots chieftain Christianity clothing conflict conquest created Cú Chullain Dagda decoration defeated depicted druids Dumnonii Empire enemy Europe eventually expedition festival Fianna fight Fionn Mac Cumhaill Fir Bolg Fomorians fortified fought Gallic Gaul Gaulish Germanic goddess Greek Hallstatt culture Hannibal’s Helvetii heroes High King hillforts Iberia influence invaders invasion Ireland Irish Iron Age Italy killed known La Tène culture lands leader lived Lleu Lugh magical marriage mercenaries migrated Morrigan myths Nemedians Nuada perhaps probably protoCeltic Pryderi recorded region revolt Roman forces Rome satire Scotland Senones settlement shield spear status survived sword Tène territory took trade tribal confederation Tuatha Dé Danann Urnfield Veneti Vercingetorix Vikings Wales warfare weapons