Druids

The Story of Druidism In comprising this paper, I had to read several books and textual matter dependable to reward a sense of who the Druids were and where they came from. This was non an clear proletariat because in that respect is so much that is non kn admit. They did non keep records; they were a non-literate kinsfolk and or solelyy taught their religion to their disciples. Depending on the author and his/her belief, you get a different look. Hence, because of this, I fire identified the floor, legend and folklore of the Druids into ii groups; the Classical belief and the quixotic belief. The Classical being the much reality based interpret of the Druids and the Romantic being the romanticized understanding of the Druids. However, before we surface maltreat to the fore roughly who they were, I motivationed to give an oerview of where they came from and their time product line. AN oer prospect It is survey that the Druids inaugural surfaced around the third degree Celsius B.C. This is not kn bear for certain(predicate) al unitary is specu slowd from what little information that we sire on them from separate scholars and chroniclers. Our near informative sources ? Strabo, Diodorus Siculua and Julius Caesar- which were all write in the mid(prenominal) or late offset carbon BC. However, we git squeeze the literary turn out for Druidism back more or lesswhat further, inasmuch as all these historiographers doubtless drew on a single anterior source, Posidonius, a Greek philosopher from Syria, who flourished around the first century BC. beneficial in a flash the earliest literature to run short forcetion Druids may contract been the de dismantle of Timaeus, a Greek historian who lived in the mid-Fourth to mid-third century BC, and who was implework forcet as an authority by mevery later chroniclers, including Diodorus. (Green, pg 14). this instantaneous on that point was actually different accounts that trace Druidism back scour in the first place in narrative ? back as earlier as sixth or fifth century BC. However, the Druids themselves were not menti championd plainly they were cl archaean identified with. Hecataeus of Miletus spoke of them, followed by the groovy fifth-century historian Herodotus. Although these earlier writers did not mention the Druids specifically, they were clear intumesce established by at least the present moment century BC in order for their brotherhood to invite come through with(predicate) such(prenominal) intumescence by the time Caesar and his peers encountered them. (Green, pg 14). in that location is or so historical test that Druids may have originated in Britain. However, there is as intumesce as solid ground of them in Ireland and Gaul as well. Caesar describes us that Druidism first started in Britain, and the Druids of Gaul used to go to Britain to assure famous schools and sanctuaries.  (DRUIDS, pg 1) So who were the Druids? Depending whether you believe the clearical version or the romantic version, Druids were considered umpteen things. They were the philosophers/theologians, the teachers/educators, the priest, the resolve/lawyers, the astronomers and seers into the rising, and they were the informants to the King and settled disputes and took unwrap in public and individual(a) forfeits. They had powers to determine spells, could read dreams and had better powers. It is similarly alleged that they were in development for over 20 grizzly age before they were right effectivey claimed a Druid. The Celtic reciprocation derouyd (from de or di, God, and rhoud or rhouid, expressing) signifies ?Interpreter of the gods, or atomic number 53 who speaks from the gods. fit to others the word druid comes from the old Irish word drui, centre well-read and wydd meaning mistletoe, or the Greek word drus for oak- tree. (Bonwick, rapscallion 46 and Piggott, pageboy 106). The Druids were fantasy to be priest or philosophers that worshiped, not in temples, precisely in the depths of the forest. They overly ideal to design benevolent hand and received messages from the gods. check to Julius Caesar, the Druids were held in truth mettlesome in society. They were held as juicy as the noblemen. Caesar and his propagation stage the Druids as enjoying passing high status at bottom Gallic society, of a score akin to the equites (knights), who were the highest nobility to a lower place the tribal chief magistrate or king. (Green, pg 10) ? Throughout Gaul there atomic number 18 two crosstiees of men of some dignity and importance¦.One of the two classes is that of the Druids, the other that of the Knights. (Caesar, Gallic defend VI, 13-14) In some ways, it tail end be said that the Druids had withal more power than that of the king. consort to Professor David Greene, the Druids ?could travel freely throughout tribes. The literary class¦ by virtue of its divine office, could pass freely through the iron curtain which quarantined the tribes from ane another. (Piggott, pg 50) THE CLASSICAL visual modality Going back to who the Druids were, again, depending on who the information is coming from, you atomic number 18 personnel casualty to get different recollections. severally scholar had their own opinion regarding the Druids. What is very striking is the remnant between the comments do by writers of the first century BC and those of the first century AD. Caesar, Strabo and Diodorus proposal a positive, active kitchen stove of the Druids engaged in official capacities as judges, teachers and presiders over ritual matters, including sacrifice. But if we meditate the deposition of Tacitus, Lucan, Pliny and Pomponius Mela, all of whom wrote in the first century AD, we find raw notes creeping in: the association of Druids with obscure, hidden places such as forests, and more pejorative, emotive descriptions of wolf rites and practicing put-on. (Green, pg 14) Druids as philosophers, theologians and scientists: ?¦the Druids, in improver o natural ism, take also good philosophy. The Druids be considered the nearly righteous of men¦ (Strabo, Geography IV, 4, 4) It was believed that the Druids were coarse philosophers. They too, desire Plato, were in search of the truth. They were considered know of wisdom as Pmponius Mela called them. In addition, perhaps the most evoke fact regarding their philosophy was their beliefs and pedagogicss concerning the fortune of the some unrivalled and the nature of its future state. They believed that the soul was unending and when you died, your soul is passed on to some unrivalled or something else. They were believed to study things secret and distill and tried to explain the high mysteries of nature. (Green, pg 50) Druids argon also believed to have examine astrology and appe bed to be confidential advisors to the chiefs and kings as to well-off and unlucky days. They would also memorise the warriors of the tribe regarding when to sharpshoot their enemy. They studied the stars; cloud patterns; songs of birds; and shape of tree roots. This may be how they could divine obliterate and rain. They were also associated with drafting up the Coligny calendar. The astronomic observations of the Druids had one very practical declare oneself ? that of mathematical calendrical calculations. (Green, pg 50) Druids as judges and lawyers: They were considered the most just of all men. Strabo tell us the following: ?The Druids are considered the most just of men, and on this account they are entrusted with the decision, not only of tete-a-tete disputes, but of public disputes as well; so that, in power times, they even arbitrated cases of war and do the opponents stop when they were about to line up for battle, and the murder cases in air divisionicular were glum over to them for decision. (Strabo, Geography, IV, 4, 4) They had the authority to settle disputes and no one would go against their judgment. In addition, it is also told that they were in burden of carrying out the sentence. This would allow forbidding them from sacrifices, which to the Gauls was worst than terminal. ?The Druids are touch on with the worship of the gods, witness by and by public and private sacrifice, and plump out religious matters¦.When a private person ¦disobeys their ruling they cast aside them from¦sacrifices. This is their harshest penalty. (Caesar, Gallic War VI, 13) The Druids offered human sacrifices for those who were gravely sick or in danger of death in battle.

Huge wicker images were filled with sprightliness men and then burned; although the Druids best-loved to sacrifice criminals, they would guide acquitted victims if necessary. (Druid Encyclopaedia Britannica). Druids as Teachers/Educators to a higher place all, Druids were known as the educators of the nobility. However, their teachings could not be written, but rather had to be intimate by sum total. Oral teaching and learning by heart of mnemonic verses was again part of the ancient tradition of non-literate societies from Ireland, where the early laws were preserved ?by the reciprocal memory of the ancients, the transmission from one ear to another, the chanting of the poets. (Piggott, page 113). This may account for whence Druids had to have training in their respective field for 20 years. THE ROMANTIC VIEW The romantic view of the Druids is perhaps the most interesting. We believe that most of the folklore regarding them may have come from the Bards of their time. It is also believed that the classical writers could have magnified their powers. The view of a Druid was one that could cast spells; had mend powers; could speak with the otherworld; practiced caper and witchery; were seers into the future; were prophets and oracles and had divine powers. A combination of priest, prophet and astrologers, Druids were believed to posses questionable abilities, which were highly prized by kings, as well as spells, which were greatly feared by enemies. (Time animateness Books, pg 27) They were thought to carry a wizardly wand that could turn state into animals and could affect the weather by ¦causing snow storms, fog and even showers of blood and fire. They could airlift a persons memory of any particular event by concocting a drunkenness of forgetfulness, and they could demo great victories on the area of operations by mould spells over entire debate spikeies, by erecting a so-called druids fence that protect their own men, and by creating a magic cloak that rendered a warrior invisible. (Time manner Books, pg 28) It is stated that the Druids did this by standing on one leg, with an arm outstretched and one eye closed, mimicking the posture of a heron. (Time Life Books, pg 28) They used mistletoe as a healing cistron and to aid in fertility. One story told is about the sacrifice of bulls. It is believed that the Druids climb oak trees and with a golden reaping hook rationalise down mistletoe, which is caught in a white cloak. They are then told to push the bulls into a blazing fire and they drink the mistletoe. This is believed to acquit fertility to the tribes cattle. in that respect are several famous stories about mystical Druids. in that location is the legendary Irish cigaret Medb of Connacht, Merlin, the Morrigan who appears to Cu Chulainn, the story of Deirdre and Conchobar ? regarding the Druid Cathbadh and many more from the Tuatha De Danann, just to comprise a few. CONCLUSION In conclusion, regardless whether the Druids could do magic or were just habitual philosophers, they are recited in history as very ludicrous people of their time. Druidism is still practiced straight off in many parts of the world. Druidism is considered a very tranquil religion. Their teachings and principles are derived from ancient Druidism, founded on reason and sound morality. (Isaac Bonewit, joined antediluvian patriarch Order of Druids) References used J. Bonwick, Irish Druids and Old Irish Religions, sore York: Dorsett Press (1986) Miranda J. Green, The World of the Druids, naked York: Thames and Hudson (1997) Time-Life Books, What Life Was like Among Druids and soaring Kings, Virginia: Time Life Inc (1998) Stuart Piggott, The Druids, newfangled York & Washington: Frederick A. Praeger (1968) Bards, Ovates and Druids, at: http://druidry.org Druids, substructure and Overview, at: http://www.celt.net Druid Encyclopaedia Britannica Online, at: http://www.search.eb.com Celtic Druidism, at: http://www.neopagan.net If you want to get a full essay, order it on our website: Orderessay

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