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The Druids
Readable and well-researched history and practices of the Druids. Illustrated.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
About the author
Peter Berresford Ellis
47 books143 followersPeter Berresford Ellis is a historian, literary biographer, and novelist who has published over 90 books to date either under his own name or his pseudonyms Peter Tremayne and Peter MacAlan. He has also published 95 short stories. His non-fiction books, articles and academic papers have made him acknowledged as an authority on Celtic history and culture. Under Peter Tremayne, he is the author of the international bestselling Sister Fidelma mystery series. His work has appeared in 25 languages.
He began his career as a junior reporter on an English south coast weekly, becoming deputy editor of an Irish weekly newspaper and was then editor of a weekly trade journal in London. He first went as a feature writer to Northern Ireland in 1964 for a London daily newspaper which had a profound effect on him. His first book was published in 1968: Wales: a Nation Again, on the Welsh struggle for political independence, with a foreword by Gwynfor Evans, Plaid Cymru's first Member of Parliament. In 1975 he became a full-time writer. He used his academic background to produce many popular titles in the field of Celtic Studies and he has written numerous academic articles and papers in the field for journals ranging from The Linguist (London) to The Irish Sword: Journal of the Irish Military History Society (UCD). He is highly regarded by academics in his own field and was described by The Times Higher Education Supplement, London, (June, 1999) as one of the leading authorities on the Celts then writing. He has been International Chairman of the Celtic League 1988–1990; chairman of Scrif-Celt (The Celtic Languages Book Fair in 1985 and in 1986); chairman and vice-president of the London Association for Celtic Education 1989–1995, and now is an Hon. Life Member); He was also chairman of his local ward Labour Party in London, England, and was editorial advisor on Labour and Ireland magazine in the early 1990s. He is a member of the Society of Authors.
Apart from his Celtic Studies interests, Ellis has always been fascinated by aspects of popular literature and has written full-length biographies on H. Rider Haggard, W. E. Johns, Talbot Mundy as well as critical essays on many more popular fiction authors. His own output in the fictional field, writing in the genre of horror fantasy and heroic fantasy, began in 1977 when the first "Peter Tremayne" book appeared. Between 1983 and 1993 he also wrote eight adventure thrillers under the name "Peter MacAlan". Ellis has published (as of January, 2009) a total of 91 books, 95 short stories, several pamphlets, and numerous academic papers and signed journalistic articles. Under his own name he wrote two long running columns: 'Anonn is Anall' (Here and There) from 1987–2008 for the Irish Democrat, and, "Anois agus Arís" (Now and Again) from 2000–2008 for The Irish Post. His books break down into 34 titles under his own name; 8 titles under the pseudonym of Peter MacAlan and 49 titles under his pseudonym of Peter Tremayne. He has lectured widely at universities in several countries, including the UK, Ireland, American, Canada, France and Italy. He has also broadcast on television and radio since 1968. With the great popularity of his 7th Century set Sister Fidelma Mysteries, in January, 2001, an International Sister Fidelma Society was formed in Charleston, South Carolina, with a website and producing a print magazine three times a year called The Brehon. In 2006 the Cashel Arts Fest established the first three-day international gathering of fans of the series which is now held bi-annually and receives the full support of the Society
He began his career as a junior reporter on an English south coast weekly, becoming deputy editor of an Irish weekly newspaper and was then editor of a weekly trade journal in London. He first went as a feature writer to Northern Ireland in 1964 for a London daily newspaper which had a profound effect on him. His first book was published in 1968: Wales: a Nation Again, on the Welsh struggle for political independence, with a foreword by Gwynfor Evans, Plaid Cymru's first Member of Parliament. In 1975 he became a full-time writer. He used his academic background to produce many popular titles in the field of Celtic Studies and he has written numerous academic articles and papers in the field for journals ranging from The Linguist (London) to The Irish Sword: Journal of the Irish Military History Society (UCD). He is highly regarded by academics in his own field and was described by The Times Higher Education Supplement, London, (June, 1999) as one of the leading authorities on the Celts then writing. He has been International Chairman of the Celtic League 1988–1990; chairman of Scrif-Celt (The Celtic Languages Book Fair in 1985 and in 1986); chairman and vice-president of the London Association for Celtic Education 1989–1995, and now is an Hon. Life Member); He was also chairman of his local ward Labour Party in London, England, and was editorial advisor on Labour and Ireland magazine in the early 1990s. He is a member of the Society of Authors.
Apart from his Celtic Studies interests, Ellis has always been fascinated by aspects of popular literature and has written full-length biographies on H. Rider Haggard, W. E. Johns, Talbot Mundy as well as critical essays on many more popular fiction authors. His own output in the fictional field, writing in the genre of horror fantasy and heroic fantasy, began in 1977 when the first "Peter Tremayne" book appeared. Between 1983 and 1993 he also wrote eight adventure thrillers under the name "Peter MacAlan". Ellis has published (as of January, 2009) a total of 91 books, 95 short stories, several pamphlets, and numerous academic papers and signed journalistic articles. Under his own name he wrote two long running columns: 'Anonn is Anall' (Here and There) from 1987–2008 for the Irish Democrat, and, "Anois agus Arís" (Now and Again) from 2000–2008 for The Irish Post. His books break down into 34 titles under his own name; 8 titles under the pseudonym of Peter MacAlan and 49 titles under his pseudonym of Peter Tremayne. He has lectured widely at universities in several countries, including the UK, Ireland, American, Canada, France and Italy. He has also broadcast on television and radio since 1968. With the great popularity of his 7th Century set Sister Fidelma Mysteries, in January, 2001, an International Sister Fidelma Society was formed in Charleston, South Carolina, with a website and producing a print magazine three times a year called The Brehon. In 2006 the Cashel Arts Fest established the first three-day international gathering of fans of the series which is now held bi-annually and receives the full support of the Society
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
February 16, 2019
Un libro muy riguroso en cuanto a datos y fechas que derriba mitos y leyendas urbanas que se suelen tener sobre los antiguos druidas. Muy recomendable!
April 22, 2022
The Celt warrior class was similar to the Japanese Samurai military class. It is also paralleled in Hindu society by the Kshatriya, the caste below the Brahmins. The Celtic Gaesatae fought naked because they believed this would release their karma to its fullest potential enhancing their prowess and, if killed, speeding them to their incarnation in the Otherworld.
The three personality god seems to have its roots in Indo-European expression. In Hindu the Trimurti consisted of the Creator Brahma, the Preserver Vishnu, and the Destroyer Shiva. Pythagoras saw three as the perfect number of the philosophers--the beginning, middle, and end--and he used it as a symbol of the deity. The ancient Greeks saw the world ruled by three gods: Zeus (Heaven), Poseidon (Sea), and Pluto/Hades (Underworld). In Greek: The Fates are 3, the Furies 3, the Graces 3, the Harpies 3, the Pythia or Sybil sits on a 3-legged stool, the Sibylline books are 3 times 3, the Muses are 3 times 3, and so on. There is also body, soul, and spirit; animal, vegetable, and mineral; red, yellow, and blue; and so much more.
The Druid Chief Poet and all poets carried a craebh-ciuil, a small branch on which were suspended a number of diminutive bells, which tinkled when shaken.
Druidic philosophy: Truth is the supreme power. Live in harmony with nature, accepting that pain and death are part of the divine plan. Professor Myles Dillon argues: "this notion of Truth as the highest principle and sustaining power of creation pervades the Irish literature." "An Fhirrine in aghaidh an tSaoil." (The Truth against the World.) Even in modern Irish one can say to express a man or woman is dead "he/she is in the place of Truth now."
Since stones were "old beyond time," they possessed an indwelling spirit.
An anonymous British Celtic writer wrote: "Overthrow the rich man and you will not find a poor man . . . for the few rich are the cause of the many poor." That is still true today. The Celts were egalitarian.
Individuals who try to escape their fate find that is the way to eventually meet it.
A tripod symbolizes the three divine attributes: love, justice, and truth.
The ArchDruid makes a ritual challenge to the assembly, "Is it peace?" The assembly shouts back, "It is peace." Three times this is done. The ArchDruid receives the Fruits of the Earth: a horn of wine and a sheaf of corn. Young girls, with flowers in their hair, dance barefoot.
Thomas Mann began his great tetralogy Joseph and His Brothers with "Very deep is the well of the past. Should we not call it bottomless? . . . The deeper we sound, the further down into the lower world of the past we probe and press, the more do we find that the earliest foundations of humanity, its history and culture, reveal themselves unfathomable."
The three personality god seems to have its roots in Indo-European expression. In Hindu the Trimurti consisted of the Creator Brahma, the Preserver Vishnu, and the Destroyer Shiva. Pythagoras saw three as the perfect number of the philosophers--the beginning, middle, and end--and he used it as a symbol of the deity. The ancient Greeks saw the world ruled by three gods: Zeus (Heaven), Poseidon (Sea), and Pluto/Hades (Underworld). In Greek: The Fates are 3, the Furies 3, the Graces 3, the Harpies 3, the Pythia or Sybil sits on a 3-legged stool, the Sibylline books are 3 times 3, the Muses are 3 times 3, and so on. There is also body, soul, and spirit; animal, vegetable, and mineral; red, yellow, and blue; and so much more.
The Druid Chief Poet and all poets carried a craebh-ciuil, a small branch on which were suspended a number of diminutive bells, which tinkled when shaken.
Druidic philosophy: Truth is the supreme power. Live in harmony with nature, accepting that pain and death are part of the divine plan. Professor Myles Dillon argues: "this notion of Truth as the highest principle and sustaining power of creation pervades the Irish literature." "An Fhirrine in aghaidh an tSaoil." (The Truth against the World.) Even in modern Irish one can say to express a man or woman is dead "he/she is in the place of Truth now."
Since stones were "old beyond time," they possessed an indwelling spirit.
An anonymous British Celtic writer wrote: "Overthrow the rich man and you will not find a poor man . . . for the few rich are the cause of the many poor." That is still true today. The Celts were egalitarian.
Individuals who try to escape their fate find that is the way to eventually meet it.
A tripod symbolizes the three divine attributes: love, justice, and truth.
The ArchDruid makes a ritual challenge to the assembly, "Is it peace?" The assembly shouts back, "It is peace." Three times this is done. The ArchDruid receives the Fruits of the Earth: a horn of wine and a sheaf of corn. Young girls, with flowers in their hair, dance barefoot.
Thomas Mann began his great tetralogy Joseph and His Brothers with "Very deep is the well of the past. Should we not call it bottomless? . . . The deeper we sound, the further down into the lower world of the past we probe and press, the more do we find that the earliest foundations of humanity, its history and culture, reveal themselves unfathomable."
September 30, 2016
This book is pretty good at saying "there's not a lot of evidence this happened but we're pretty sure this is what happened".
May 15, 2012
This is a survey of the historical sources and main myths about Druids highlighting the paucity of primary material, and showing the links between early writers and later (now ‘classical’) writers (such as Caesar) who get taken for historical proof. The author takes some pains in some sections to show supporting material when arguing a point (eg Pliny never went anywhere that he would have had first hand information to base his description on, so it must have been hearsay) but then in other parts he’ll take what he likes without the same level of authentication. So although I feel that some historical parts of it need to taken with a grain of salt, there’s good value in it from a different direction as subsequently it becomes an excellent overview of Celtic culture using the druids as a means of interrogating and organising a broad range of material.
I found it to be quite slow in spots but with enough interesting titbits and links to bring me though it. If you can, get the trade paperback or hardcover editions as the image plates are worth viewing and I don't know that they'd be included in the paperback - sometimes they get left out of the cheaper reprints.
Recommended for buffs of Celtic culture.
I found it to be quite slow in spots but with enough interesting titbits and links to bring me though it. If you can, get the trade paperback or hardcover editions as the image plates are worth viewing and I don't know that they'd be included in the paperback - sometimes they get left out of the cheaper reprints.
Recommended for buffs of Celtic culture.
September 10, 2017
Drawing on a wide variety of sources (not just Caesar and other contemporary Romans), the author makes a broad case for the Druids as the intellectual class of ancient Celtic society, tending its philosophical, legal, medical, and historical wisdom. Aimed at the general reader and thus without footnotes, the book has a good bibliography and detailed citations in the text providing many avenues for further study. Of particular note is the attention given to the recurring waves of borrowing of the Druid archetype by both detractors and co-opters down through history. Of course, much of his description is speculative, because we lack the kind of primary sources that would allow the Druids to speak in their own words, but it is at least reasoned speculation pulling together some intriguing threads.
March 24, 2018
There's a LOT of information in this book. And it is factual, which is great. My knowledge of the druids- and the celts- increased hugely. There's lot of old Irish places mentioned, and it would have been nice to have a few maps. At least the German paperback version didn't have any. I read this in the evening, and I have to say sometimes tired, I just couldn't keep up with Irish names with German sophisticated words. There seems to be all aspects covered here, even the neo-druids in the end.
I had to add to my stump of a review that I reall think that Europe could take the druids/celts as the basis of European value system and example. The druids were known for their truthfulness. They were mediators in squabbles, known for their medical skills, they even had laws that the poor had the right for medical treatment, the women were a valued and equal members of the community. This is what we need in this times of turmoil!
I had to add to my stump of a review that I reall think that Europe could take the druids/celts as the basis of European value system and example. The druids were known for their truthfulness. They were mediators in squabbles, known for their medical skills, they even had laws that the poor had the right for medical treatment, the women were a valued and equal members of the community. This is what we need in this times of turmoil!
June 18, 2015
One of the best fact-based books on the Druids in print. Ellis is cited in nearly every work written about the Druids since the publication of this book; it is thoughtful and an easy read while maintaining a high level of scholarship. Ellis also makes the best and clearest argument for the ancient Indo-European connections claimed by other scholars. A classic, not to be missed by those interested in the subject.
January 26, 2014
I devoured this book - Ellis handles a much-mismanaged topic with great clarity and scholasticism. Although his passion for Celtic culture is apparent, he meticulously presents all available evidence for consideration. I look forward to finding and reading more of his books in the near future!
January 11, 2022
I wish I had owned this book when I did a college paper on the Druids. Through out time the Druids have gotten a bad rap but this book, that was written by Peter Berresford Ellis, lifts the veil from this Celtic society. This book is not a light read but more through a scholarly approach while being informative. Unbiased the author takes on several myths from those that consider themselves Celtic scholars. Peter Berresford Ellis research and conclusions on the Druids is like no other historian that I have read and reveals a fresh look on who the Druids were and their true approach to life.
November 20, 2017
Very engaging, informative book. About not just the Druid aspect of ancient Celtic Culture. But also concerning other aspects of ancient Celtic Culture. And how they influenced not just the ancient world around them. But the modern world as well.
October 28, 2020
This book was a bit above my head, not being well acquainted with Celtic history and anthropology; not being familiar with the Gaelic, the Manx and the other tongues of those peoples; never having visited Brittany, Ireland, Wales or Scotland where the 2.5 million speakers of those languages dwell. Still, as an introduction to the field of Celtic studies this is well regarded.
Ellis states that "I write as someone who fully supports Celtic cultural, political and economic independence. Nor do I disguise the fact that I am a socialist." And, indeed, his book, as reflected in its last chapter about the history of the various (generally misapprehensive) appropriations of 'Druidism' demonstrates that his concerns extend beyond the scholarly. There is little conclusive to be found in his work, the sources being overlaid, if not actively suppressed, by Christian and, before that, Roman cultures.
One hypothesis, however, runs throughout. That is that Celtic culture and language derives from a common Indo-European source, the same that informs Sanskrit and ancient Indian society.
Ellis states that "I write as someone who fully supports Celtic cultural, political and economic independence. Nor do I disguise the fact that I am a socialist." And, indeed, his book, as reflected in its last chapter about the history of the various (generally misapprehensive) appropriations of 'Druidism' demonstrates that his concerns extend beyond the scholarly. There is little conclusive to be found in his work, the sources being overlaid, if not actively suppressed, by Christian and, before that, Roman cultures.
One hypothesis, however, runs throughout. That is that Celtic culture and language derives from a common Indo-European source, the same that informs Sanskrit and ancient Indian society.
May 30, 2010
Loved this book, wonderful insight to the Ancient Ways, recommended !
September 28, 2011
Not the best account of the sect but revealing on some aspects not covered by others
December 2, 2018
4 1/4 stars
September 24, 2023
Rating: 2.5 out of 5
The Druids serves as a casual introduction to the history of the ancient Druids and their influence which stretched throughout the centuries. This book can be read as a casual introduction and as nothing more than that, due to continual structural flaws (for example, the total omission of footnotes and clear citations). I struggled through the irritated (and to use a word a friend recently reminded me of) curmudgeonly historiographical introduction, but after pressing on I found that the rest of the book was tolerably engaging and readable. The Druids contains enough information to get your feet wet and provides many hints at subjects for further study. There are more than a few leaps of logic and reason that make me uncomfortable with taking most anything mentioned in this book without a grain of salt, I certainly won't be citing it is an authority on any of the subjects that it addresses. If you're interested in the history of the Druids, I would recommend looking at Ronald Hutton's Blood and Mistletoe rather than this book. Hutton provides a much more solid viewpoint. While the scope of The Druids and Blood and Mistletoe are not entirely analogous, Hutton is considerably more credible, logical and thorough.
Ellis is not a historian. Plain and simple. There are plenty of excellent popular historians who make up for their 'lack' of a degree with attention to detail, logic, and close adherence to source material. Ellis lacks the rigor, good writing style, or credibility to make any of his more controversial points stick. The cherry on top for me is the complete lack of footnotes in this book. He writes:
For example, Ellis proclaims:
I came across several interesting subjects that I am excited to investigate further, and I am grateful that Ellis mentioned them. However, I won't directly quote The Druids to make anything but the most mundane points.
The Druids serves as a casual introduction to the history of the ancient Druids and their influence which stretched throughout the centuries. This book can be read as a casual introduction and as nothing more than that, due to continual structural flaws (for example, the total omission of footnotes and clear citations). I struggled through the irritated (and to use a word a friend recently reminded me of) curmudgeonly historiographical introduction, but after pressing on I found that the rest of the book was tolerably engaging and readable. The Druids contains enough information to get your feet wet and provides many hints at subjects for further study. There are more than a few leaps of logic and reason that make me uncomfortable with taking most anything mentioned in this book without a grain of salt, I certainly won't be citing it is an authority on any of the subjects that it addresses. If you're interested in the history of the Druids, I would recommend looking at Ronald Hutton's Blood and Mistletoe rather than this book. Hutton provides a much more solid viewpoint. While the scope of The Druids and Blood and Mistletoe are not entirely analogous, Hutton is considerably more credible, logical and thorough.
'There are no final truths. The scientific mind does not so much provide the right answers as ask the right questions'.The Druids opens with this auspicious quote from French Anthropologist Claude Levi-Strauss, seeming to indicate an inquisitiveness into the subject, an open mind, and a deep familiarity with the matter at hand. Sadly, Ellis largely ignores his introductory quote, rarely pausing to question and demonstrate solid analysis.
Ellis is not a historian. Plain and simple. There are plenty of excellent popular historians who make up for their 'lack' of a degree with attention to detail, logic, and close adherence to source material. Ellis lacks the rigor, good writing style, or credibility to make any of his more controversial points stick. The cherry on top for me is the complete lack of footnotes in this book. He writes:
"Because my purpose is to present a book for the general reader, I have, as in some of my previous works, dispensed with copious footnotes. Where sources obviously need crediting, I have made this clear within the body of the text".Of all the things that make academic history a slog, the historiographic argument, the absurdly clunky prose, attention to minutiae, perhaps the least obnoxious is footnotes and proper citations. There are a ton of things that were stated in this book that I would love to follow up on, but cannot because proper footnotes and citations weren't used.
For example, Ellis proclaims:
"From the Old Irish texts one gathers that the Druids were concerned, above all things, with Truth and preached 'An Fhirinne in aghaidh an tSaoil (The Truth against the world)".Pray tell, what 'Old Irish' texts? Where can I find this information? There is literally no way that I can verify this. An internet search for the saying in its Irish form returns nothing of value, and a search for its English translation all leads to Iolo Morganwg (who wrote the saying in Welsh, not Irish). So I am left to wonder what the source of the Irish saying is, and if it is legitimate.
I came across several interesting subjects that I am excited to investigate further, and I am grateful that Ellis mentioned them. However, I won't directly quote The Druids to make anything but the most mundane points.
August 12, 2022
This book was an interesting read for those with an interest in Druids, but at times questionable. Just as the author accuses fellow commentators of extrapolating too little evidence as proof of ritual human sacrifice, so does he belittle those instances of proof to further his argument that the practice was nonexistent among the Druidic Celts. It's obvious that the author wrote this book with the preconception of human sacrifice being a wrongful accusation against the Celts by their Roman conquerors and Greek enemies. While he does provide ample evidence to support this theory, he also shirks aside hard evidence to the contrary; he mentions bodies found in Celtic regions buried with hands tied behind their backs or even having suffered the Threefold Death, then reasserts that these instances provide no real proof of human sacrifice (I'm pretty sure they do). While I agree with his point that the practice wasn't as rife among the Celts as Greco-Roman authorities would have as believe, those exhumed corpses among other things suggest that it wasn't unheard of either.
All in all I'd recommend it as a starting point for general readers, but it definitely isn't a source to look to for definitive answers. On anything. The author admits that his book is more about asking the right questions than answering them, but still, he spends pages explaining why certain theories are incorrect only to dedicate a few sentences suggesting a theory which might maybe possibly be better. I can't help feeling like I came away not having actually learned much about the subject matter.
PS. The chapter "Reviving the Druids" made me want to die of second hand embarrassment. I was already extremely skeptical of 'modern Druids', and the author validates my skepticism by explaining that they call themselves inheritors of 'Celtic witchcraft', which doesn't even exist akdjfkdjfjf It's all made-up cringe
All in all I'd recommend it as a starting point for general readers, but it definitely isn't a source to look to for definitive answers. On anything. The author admits that his book is more about asking the right questions than answering them, but still, he spends pages explaining why certain theories are incorrect only to dedicate a few sentences suggesting a theory which might maybe possibly be better. I can't help feeling like I came away not having actually learned much about the subject matter.
PS. The chapter "Reviving the Druids" made me want to die of second hand embarrassment. I was already extremely skeptical of 'modern Druids', and the author validates my skepticism by explaining that they call themselves inheritors of 'Celtic witchcraft', which doesn't even exist akdjfkdjfjf It's all made-up cringe
July 7, 2018
Il testo è sulla falsariga della "Dea bianca" di Robert Graves, o dei testi di MacCulloch, che citano altre dozzine di fonti e di nomi celtici/irlandesi.
Ho tuttavia apprezzato il riferimento concreto ai modi e ai costumi dei celti antichi (che a quanto pare rappresentavano una società più aperta e più libera del mondo greco e romano, in particolar modo per i diritti della donna - diritti molto simili se non identici all'Egitto antico).
Ancora, compare la radice indoeuropea del popolo, nella lingua e nei costumi religiosi.
In generale comunque, emerge la figura del druido, come erede di una sapienza antica, che veniva tramandata ai propri allievi; un ambasciatore e un arbitro imparziale in battaglia (che poteva fermare due armate celtiche dallo scontrarsi). Ma anche un guaritore e soprattutto depositario della storia antica (ancora 300 anni dopo Brenno e il Sacco di Roma, i celti ricordavano i tratti fondamentali della storia) nonché astronomo/astrologo.
Attraverso l'evoluzione della storia della concezione dei druidi (passando dai bardi), fino a quella di figura mistica vestita di bianco, con la lunga barba, à la Asterix e Obelix e il calderone magico prototipo del Graal, di sfuggita si fa riferimento ai grandi siti megalitici delle isole britanniche. Personalmente ritengo che Stonehenge sia contemporaea a siti come Göbekli Tepe, quindi di una civiltà antecedente.
Interessante il riferimento al "tempio del serpente" di William Blake.
Ho tuttavia apprezzato il riferimento concreto ai modi e ai costumi dei celti antichi (che a quanto pare rappresentavano una società più aperta e più libera del mondo greco e romano, in particolar modo per i diritti della donna - diritti molto simili se non identici all'Egitto antico).
Ancora, compare la radice indoeuropea del popolo, nella lingua e nei costumi religiosi.
In generale comunque, emerge la figura del druido, come erede di una sapienza antica, che veniva tramandata ai propri allievi; un ambasciatore e un arbitro imparziale in battaglia (che poteva fermare due armate celtiche dallo scontrarsi). Ma anche un guaritore e soprattutto depositario della storia antica (ancora 300 anni dopo Brenno e il Sacco di Roma, i celti ricordavano i tratti fondamentali della storia) nonché astronomo/astrologo.
Attraverso l'evoluzione della storia della concezione dei druidi (passando dai bardi), fino a quella di figura mistica vestita di bianco, con la lunga barba, à la Asterix e Obelix e il calderone magico prototipo del Graal, di sfuggita si fa riferimento ai grandi siti megalitici delle isole britanniche. Personalmente ritengo che Stonehenge sia contemporaea a siti come Göbekli Tepe, quindi di una civiltà antecedente.
Interessante il riferimento al "tempio del serpente" di William Blake.
September 24, 2022
Most informative, most researched take on the druids I've read so far, presenting multiple viewpoints when available but taking stances only when well supported by the evidence available. The final chapter addresses the druid revivals of the last few centuries and ends with the sobering reality of the "New Age Druid" existing alongside the presently dying Celtic culture. Would recommend for anyone interested in all we have available on the class of the Druids.
July 22, 2018
While filled with interesting and useful information. I found it to be poorly written, repetitive and, dare I say it, boring. I quit a little over halfway through and will use it for research purposes in the future.
March 9, 2018
Bit hard to get into at first but once you get going you get a thoroughly well researched book on the history of Druids, you can finally read fact from fiction
November 25, 2018
Lots of interesting information on the Druids. The author's view is that the Druids were basically a priestly caste of the Celts, like the Brahmins of India.
March 2, 2019
Great source book for what we know and don't know about the Druids. While it is a dry read it is well worth the time.
August 20, 2019
Well written and interesting, but after reading the Sister Fidelma series I felt like I already knew most of this information.
September 15, 2019
Very interesting subject, and the author knows what he's talking about, but the book is tough to get through due to clunky writing and pointless (to general readers like me) academic kerfuffles.
December 28, 2019
A very thorough and detailed book on the beliefs,the lifestyle and the myths/facts about druids. It is written in a scientific-research tone but it doesn't get boring.
August 30, 2020
While the book was well written, there was too much reference made to the Christian sources for the Druids.
September 14, 2021
Very interesting, mostly based on textual study, very little archeological information. I wish I knew how to pronounce Irish, Scottish, and Welsh names.
May 1, 2022
Excelente libro✨ me costó un poco leerlo porque es una lectura un poco pesada, pero para los que nos gusta aprender sobre esta civilización es una joya👌
January 28, 2023
Fascinating and informative. Contrary to popular belief, Druids were not wizards or sorcerers, but scholars and bards. They practiced advanced surgery, including brain surgery beyond trephining. So much of Christian rituals stem from Celtic and Druidic practice. Druids never practiced human sacrificed as claimed by Caesar at the time of the Roman conquests In fact, they didn't even condone corporal punishment which the Romans favored. I'm proud to be of Scottish descent, associated with such a richly intelligent culture.
June 1, 2023
VERY academic. Wasn’t what I was expecting but I enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews