Ancient Celtic Women

Abstract

“Celtic women” had legal rights that included their right to inherit property, which was a novel concept compared to other societies that existed at that point in time. Descent was often traced through the mother's side of the family and great importance was placed on the relationship with the mother.

Ancient Celtic Women

Introduction

Modern day people of Celtic descent in Europe are concentrated on its western shores. They predominately live in Brittany, Cornwall, Wales, Scotland, the Isle of Man and Ireland. At one time, however, the Celts were spread over a large part of the countries, and in 278 BC one roving band even penetrated as far east as Asia Minor, where they provided their title to Galatia. Until the rise of roman power, the Celts were a force to be reckoned with. They had even sacked Rome itself in 385 BC. Although largely incorporated into the Roman Empire, the Celts continued to worship their own gods and goddesses right up to the time of the adoption by the Romans of the Christian faith. Prior to the adoption of Christianity by the Celts, women were largely admired and had an important role in society. The number of goddesses evident in their myths is testament to the Celtic tradition to honour women within their society.

Discussion and Analysis

Women had an important role and were revered for their ability to give life. "Women were highly honoured, feminine symbolism formed the most sacred images in the religious cosmos, and the relationship with motherhood was the central components of the communal fabric ...the society was held simultaneously by widespread allegiance to the customs of the tribe roughly coordinated round the customs of the goddess". The Serpent and the Goddess. Celtic women had lawful rights that incorporated their right to succeed to belongings, which was a novel concept compared to other societies that existed at that point in time. Descent was often traced through the mother's side of the family and great importance was placed on the relationship with the mother. Women sometimes fought in battle, the most famous being Boudicca. Goddesses played an important part in daily life.

Morrigan, who was the goddess of fertility and sovereignty. She was considered to be a major goddess in the hundreds that existed, and so was well known when the Celts converted to Christianity. The church's mission was to establish women as inferior and so began to punish those who worshipped female goddesses and sought to blacken the reputation of those goddesses. Morrigan, then, became a violent goddess of war and death. Druantia was the "Queen of the Druids", implying that she may have been the goddess of wisdom and story-telling, an attribute the Celts highly valued. She was also the goddess of fertility, passion, sexual activities, creativity and trees. Epona was the goddess of horses, and therefore became associated with agriculture and fertility, and in some cases she is thought to be the goddess that takes the soul on the back of a horse to the ...