Animals in Celtic Life and MythAnimals played a crucial role in many aspects of Celtic life: in the economy, hunting, warfare, art, literature and religion. Such was their importance to this society, that an intimate relationship between humans and animals developed, in which the Celts believed many animals to have divine powers. In Animals in Celtic Life and Myth, Miranda Green draws on evidence from early Celtic documents, archaeology and iconography to consider the manner in which animals formed the basis of elaborate rituals and beliefs. She reveals that animals were endowed with an extremely high status, considered by the Celts as worthy of respect and admiration. |
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accompanied animals antlers appears associated battle bear beasts birds boar bones Britain British bronze bull buried carries carved cattle cavalry Celtic Celts century BC chapter chariot close coins communities consists contained cranes creatures cult Cunliffe Danebury death decorated deer deities depicted deposits described divine dogs early especially evidence example feasting fertility figure figurine Gaul Gaulish goddess gods Grant grave Green head helmet horns horses human hunter hunting ibid iconography imagery images important indicate interesting Irish Iron Age Italy killed late later means meat Megaw Meniel natural occur offerings Otherworld particularly Paul Jenkins perceived perhaps period pigs pits plate possessed powers present probably ravens reflect remains represented ritual role Roman Romano-Celtic Ross sacred sanctuary sheep shrine snake sometimes stag stone story suggests supernatural symbolism third tradition warriors wild young