Page 70 - All About History - Issue 38-16

Celts: Cult of Death

SACRIFICE

M y t h o l o g y a n d t h e r o l e o f g od s m e a n t s o m u c h t o t h e C e l t s t h a t
Mythology and the role of gods meant so much to the Celts that
sacrificial ceremonies were commonplace

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he spiritual gesture of headhunting of the willow, Esus, would be hanged, those killed
in the name of Taranis, the thunder god, would be
was only one part of the cult of in the name of Taranis, the thunder god, would be
immolated while those murdered for Toutatis, the
death. Once the skulls had been immolated while those murdered for Toutatis, the
removed from the battlefield, it god of the people, were drowned. But perhaps
T was over to the druids to perform the most infamous form of sacrifice in the
elaborate rituals, including sacrificial offerings. cult of death was the Wicker Man. Featured in
one of Julius Caesar’s most well known writings
The Celts believed sacrifice encouraged the one of Julius Caesar’s most well known writings
on the Celts’ death culture in a tale that has been
supernatural world to link with the natural, and on the Celts’ death culture in a tale that has been
exaggerated over time, the large wicker structure
this is what kept them performing these rituals. exaggerated over time, the large wicker structure
While there is some debate about whether was burned as an effigy with living people inside.
was burned as an effigy with living people inside.
human sacrifice actually took place, it is referenced It was supposedly an offering to the gods, but this
It was supposedly an offering to the gods, but this
by the Roman writers of the era and druidic theory has been disputed.
This aspect of the cult of death also offered a
practice was banned under Emperor Claudius after This aspect of the cult of death also offered a
the successful invasion of Britain. It was written way of punishing criminals. Executions of this kind
way of punishing criminals. Executions of this kind
were carried out during a festival and would again
that in one form of human sacrifice, the victim’s were carried out during a festival and would again
vary depending on which god they were dedicated
head would be severed from the body and then vary depending on which god they were dedicated
the skull completely shattered. This was done to to. One popular punishment was to cut a criminal’s
prevent the ghost from wandering free after death. stomach open before hanging them from an oak
However, the Celts worshipped a number of gods, branch in a temple roof.
and each demanded a different form of sacrificial It wasn’t just humans that could be sacrificed in
offering. For instance, those sacrificed to the god the cult of death. Animals were readily slaughtered
if the Celts thought it would appease the gods,
and material goods were also destroyed by being
Both Caesar
and Posidonius thrown into lakes and rivers. One of the most
describe the important sacrificial pits ever found is at Llyn
burning of a Cerrig Bach in Anglesey, Wales, where more than
sacrificial Wicker
Man effigy in their 150 iron objects, including spears, shields and
writings swords, have been unearthed. There is also a site
at La Tène, Switzerland, where huge amounts of
weapons have been dredged from Lake Neuchatel.
Not all sacrifices required bloodshed and loss.
In an alternative to human and animal sacrifice, Sacrifices were undertaken in the hope that the
an amphora was filled to the brim with wine – offering of a soul would help others who were
representing blood – and then the top was cut off critically ill or in danger of death in battle
with a sword to emulate a decapitation.
While Roman writings are the best sources
we have on druidism and sacrifice in the cult
of death, it is well known that in order to
conquer the Celts, the Romans attempted
to limit the influence of the exceptionally
powerful druids. Therefore, their portrayal is
likely as scathing as possible.
The druids’ elevated status in society
was a precursor to what the Christian
clergy would become in the Middle Ages,
and they had the rare ability to speak before
kings while in council. As the religious class
in Celtic society, the druids would have most
likely been the ones to carry out sacrifices,
as well as other ceremonies. One of the
craziest rituals recorded by the Romans
was known as ‘Bull Sleep’, which
involved a person being fed bull flesh
and then sleeping wrapped in its
hide. When they awoke, they would
know who would be the next king.
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