Archaeology and Celtic Myth

Archaeology and Celtic Myth PDF Author: John Waddell
Publisher: Four Courts Press
ISBN: 9781846824944
Category : Archaeology and literature
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Get Book Here

Book Description
Many people are familiar with the Irish archaeological landscapes of Newgrange and the Boyne Valley, and the royal sites of Rathcroghan in Co. Roscommon, Navan in Co. Armagh and Tara in Co. Meath. In this book, John Waddell focuses on aspects of the mythology associated with these places, demonstrating that elements of pre-Christian Celtic myth preserved in medieval Irish literature shed light on older traditions and beliefs, not just in Ireland but elsewhere in Europe as well. Their mythological associations permit the exploration of the archaeological implications of several mythic themes, namely sacral kingship, a sovereignty goddess, solar cosmology and the perception of an Otherworld.

Archaeology and Celtic Myth

Archaeology and Celtic Myth PDF Author: John Waddell
Publisher: Four Courts Press
ISBN: 9781846824944
Category : Archaeology and literature
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Get Book Here

Book Description
Many people are familiar with the Irish archaeological landscapes of Newgrange and the Boyne Valley, and the royal sites of Rathcroghan in Co. Roscommon, Navan in Co. Armagh and Tara in Co. Meath. In this book, John Waddell focuses on aspects of the mythology associated with these places, demonstrating that elements of pre-Christian Celtic myth preserved in medieval Irish literature shed light on older traditions and beliefs, not just in Ireland but elsewhere in Europe as well. Their mythological associations permit the exploration of the archaeological implications of several mythic themes, namely sacral kingship, a sovereignty goddess, solar cosmology and the perception of an Otherworld.

Archaeology and Celtic Myth

Archaeology and Celtic Myth PDF Author: John Waddell
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781846825903
Category : Archaeology and literature
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Get Book Here

Book Description
In this book, author John Waddell contends that elements of pre-Christian Celtic myth preserved in medieval Irish literature shed light on older traditions and beliefs not just in Ireland but elsewhere in Europe as well. Waddell mainly focuses on aspects of the mythology associated with four well-known Irish archaeological landscapes: Newgrange and the Boyne Valley, the royal sites of Rathcroghan in County Roscommon, Navan in County Armagh, and Tara in County Meath. Their mythological associations permit the pursuit of the archaeological implications of several mythic themes, namely sacral kingship, a sovereignty goddess, solar cosmology, and the perception of an Otherworld. *** "This is quite a worthwhile study... Recommended." - Choice, Vol. 52, No. 3, November 2014

Dictionary of Celtic Myth and Legend

Dictionary of Celtic Myth and Legend PDF Author: Miranda Jane Aldhouse-Green
Publisher: Thames & Hudson
ISBN: 9780500279755
Category : Celts
Languages : en
Pages : 246

Get Book Here

Book Description
Contains entries on Celtic myth, religion, and folklore in Britain and Europe between 500 BC and 400 AD.

In Search of the Irish Dreamtime: Archaeology and Early Irish Literature

In Search of the Irish Dreamtime: Archaeology and Early Irish Literature PDF Author: J. P. Mallory
Publisher: Thames & Hudson
ISBN: 0500773351
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 359

Get Book Here

Book Description
Ireland's oldest traditions excavated via archaeological, genetic, and linguistic research, culminating in atruly groundbreaking publication Following his account of Irish origins drawing on archaeology, genetics, and linguistics, J. P. Mallory returns to the subject to investigate what he calls the Irish Dreamtime: the native Irish retelling of their own origins, as related by medieval manuscripts. He explores the historical backbone of this version of the earliest history of Ireland, which places apparently mythological events on a concrete timeline of invasions, colonization, and royal reigns that extends even further back in time than the history of classical Greece. The juxtaposition of traditional Dreamtime tales and scientific facts expands on what we already know about the way of life in Iron Age Ireland. By comparing the world depicted in the earliest Irish literary tradition with the archaeological evidence available on the ground, Mallory explores Ireland’s rich mythological tradition and tests its claims to represent reality.

The Prehistoric Archaeology of Ireland

The Prehistoric Archaeology of Ireland PDF Author: John Waddell
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 456

Get Book Here

Book Description


The Celtic Myths That Shape the Way We Think

The Celtic Myths That Shape the Way We Think PDF Author: Mark Williams
Publisher: Thames & Hudson
ISBN: 050077255X
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 226

Get Book Here

Book Description
A fresh and revealing look at the stories at the heart of Celtic mythology, exploring their cultural impact throughout history up to the present day. The Celtic Myths That Shape the Way We Think explores a fascinating question: how do myths that were deeply embedded in the customs and beliefs of their original culture find themselves retold and reinterpreted across the world, centuries or even millennia later? Focusing on the myths that have had the greatest cultural impact, Mark Williams reveals the lasting influence of Celtic mythology, from medieval literature to the modern fantasy genre. An elegantly written retelling, Williams captures the splendor of the original myths while also delving deeper into the history of their meanings, offering readers an intelligent and engaging take on these powerful stories. Beautiful illustrations of the artworks these myths have inspired over the centuries are presented in a color plates section and in black and white within the text. Ten chapters recount the myths and explore the lasting influence of legendary figures, including King Arthur, the Celtic figure who paradoxically became the archetypal English national hero; the Irish and Scottish hero Finn MacCool, who as “Fingal” caught the imagination of Napoleon Bonaparte, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, and Felix Mendelssohn; and the Welsh mythical figure Blodeuwedd, magically created from flowers of the oak, who inspired W. B. Yeats. Williams’s mythological expertise and captivating writing style make this volume essential reading for anyone seeking a greater appreciation of the myths that have shaped our artistic and literary canons and continue to inspire today.

Sacred Heritage

Sacred Heritage PDF Author: Roberta Gilchrist
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1108496547
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 275

Get Book Here

Book Description
Forges innovative connections between monastic archaeology and heritage studies, revealing new perspectives on sacred heritage, identity, medieval healing, magic and memory. This title is available as Open Access.

Celtic Myth in the 21st Century

Celtic Myth in the 21st Century PDF Author: Emily Lyle
Publisher: University of Wales Press
ISBN: 1786832062
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 226

Get Book Here

Book Description
This wide-ranging book contains twelve chapters by scholars who explore aspects of the fascinating field of Celtic mythology – from myth and the medieval to comparative mythology, and the new cosmological approach. Examples of the innovative research represented here lead the reader into an exploration of the possible use of hallucinogenic mushrooms in Celtic Ireland, to mental mapping in the interpretation of the Irish legend Táin Bó Cuailgne, and to the integration of established perspectives with broader findings now emerging at the Indo-European level and its potential to open up the whole field of mythology in a new way.

Ireland's Immortals

Ireland's Immortals PDF Author: Mark Williams
Publisher: Princeton University Press
ISBN: 069118304X
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 608

Get Book Here

Book Description
A sweeping history of Ireland's native gods, from Iron Age cult and medieval saga to the Celtic Revival and contemporary fiction Ireland’s Immortals tells the story of one of the world’s great mythologies. The first account of the gods of Irish myth to take in the whole sweep of Irish literature in both the nation’s languages, the book describes how Ireland’s pagan divinities were transformed into literary characters in the medieval Christian era—and how they were recast again during the Celtic Revival of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. A lively narrative of supernatural beings and their fascinating and sometimes bizarre stories, Mark Williams’s comprehensive history traces how these gods—known as the Túatha Dé Danann—have shifted shape across the centuries. We meet the Morrígan, crow goddess of battle; the fire goddess Brigit, who moonlights as a Christian saint; the fairies who inspired J.R.R. Tolkien’s elves; and many others. Ireland’s Immortals illuminates why these mythical beings have loomed so large in the world’s imagination for so long.

Animals in Celtic Life and Myth

Animals in Celtic Life and Myth PDF Author: Miranda Green
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1134665318
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 312

Get Book Here

Book Description
Animals 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.