War, Women, and Druids: Eyewitness Reports and Early Accounts of the Ancient CeltsThe author of Hannibal: Rome’s Greatest Enemy delivers a comprehensive, unbiased portrait of the ancient Celts using Greek and Roman primary sources. “The ancient Celts capture the modern imagination as do few other people of classical times. Naked barbarians charging the Roman legions, Druids performing sacrifices of unspeakable horror, women fighting beside their men and even leading armies—these, along with stunning works of art, are the images most of us call to mind when we think of the Celts,” observes Philip Freeman. “And for the most part, these images are firmly based in the descriptions handed down to us by the Greek and Roman writers.” This book draws on the firsthand observations and early accounts of classical writers to piece together a detailed portrait of the ancient Celtic peoples of Europe and the British Isles. Philip Freeman groups the selections (ranging from short statements to longer treatises) by themes—war, feasting, poetry, religion, women, and the Western Isles. He also presents inscriptions written by the ancient Celts themselves. This wealth of material, introduced and translated by Freeman to be especially accessible to students and general readers, makes this book essential reading for everyone fascinated by the ancient Celts. “I know of no other work that pulls this sort of material together and groups it by such helpful categories (war, feasting, poetry, religion, women, etc.). I will certainly value it in my library and . . . as recommended reading for several of my courses. It will be a nice companion to Freeman's Ireland and the Classical World.” —Patrick K. Ford, Professor and Chair of Celtic Languages and Literatures, Harvard University |
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Aedui Agricola Alesia Ammianus Marcellinus ancient Celtic army Asia Minor Athenaeus attack Attacotti Aulerci barbarians bards battle began Boii Boudicca Britain British Britons Caesar called Camma camp captured cavalry Celtiberian Celtic languages Celts century B.C. chariot Chiomara Cisalpine Gaul Claudius Commius custom death Deipnosophistae Delphi description of Gaulish Diodorus Siculus divination drink Druids early emperor enemy Euhages Euxenos facing father fear feasts fight fourth century A.D. Gaesatae Galatians Gallic Gaulish Gaulish Inscriptions Gaulish women Geography gods gold Greek and Roman Helvetii Hercules hill historian infantry inhabitants Ireland Irish and Welsh island killed land Larzac leader legions Lepontic live Lovernius Lugus Massalia medieval Irish nearby night northern passage poet Posidonius religious ritual River Roman conquest Rome sacred sacrifice Scotti second-century B.C. shield Sinatus slaves soldiers sources Spain spears story Strabo swords Tacitus temple thousand tradition tribes troops Vercingetorix victory warriors weapons wine writers young