Pagan Celtic Britain
Dr Anne Ross
ISBN 0-89733-435-3 Academy Press Publishers
Reviewed by J.Craig Melia - 1999
Sancturies, Temples and Cult Sites
This Chapter deals with the archaeological evidence, from both
Pre-Roman and Romano-Celtic sites. Sites linked to water are
discussed such as the temple at Lydney and Llyn Cerrig Bach.
Her work on the sites follows the excellent work done in the
field by Professor Stuart Piggott.
The Cult of the Head
The Cult of the Head describes its use in iconography and folklore.
The head was seen as the seat of the soul, it is seen in countless
carvings and in various mythological tales. Reverence for the
head is also seen in the folklore pertaining to sacred wells.
The Horned God in Britain
Sometimes linked to (C)ernunnos, sometimes linked to Mars, Mercury
or Silvanus in the interpretato Romano. This section deals mainly
with the iconography of the various cults of horned deities
in Northern Britain.
The Warrior God in Britain
The Warrior God in Britain is a difficult subject to cover,
particularly during the Roman period, as the interpreto Romano
would have been biased towards the warrior aspects of deities,
whilst in a highly volatile militarized area. Ross lists the
myriad of deities in this group including Camulos, Nodens, Segomo,
Cocidius and Belatucadros and shows how, no matter what their
'main function' all these deities have strong martial qualities,
due, no doubt, to the 'heroic' nature of Celtic Culture.
The Goddesses
Ross shows that the main functions of Goddesses within Celtic
Culture - 'Mother' Goddesses, River Goddesses, Goddesses of
Sovereignty, protectress, granter of fertility and prosperity.......
Sacred and Magic Birds
Using iconography and mythological sources Ross shows how important
birds were to the Celts. The beliefs attached to Swans, Ravens,
Geese and Cranes are all explained, as well as demonstrating
the frequency of bird-forms been used by various Deities.
Divine Animals
Animals feature a great deal in both the myths and iconography
and here Ross describes both animals linked to particular Deities
and animals venerated in their own right. The work includes
the Divine Bull, the boar, the dog, the horse and the stag.
Aspects of Native Cults in North Britain
This Chapter brings the book to a conclusion, as Ross explains
how Celtic religion in northern Britain was affected by the
Romans, and how aspects of it survived not only the Romans but
the coming of Christianity. She describes aspects of the cults
of Mabon, Belatucadros and other 'northern' Gods to provide
us with an insight into Pre-Christian Celtic religion.
Originally published in 1967, Pagan Celtic Britain
is one of the most important studies on the subject, despite the
tendancy in some circles of viewing the work as out-dated. Ross
herself says that her work is limited by the scarse material,
iconographical and vernacular, from which this literary reconstruction
is drawn. Despite this, I think that Ross provides an accurate
insight into the pre-Roman and pre-Christian beliefs and religious
practises that existed in the north of Britain.