The Story of Druidism In comprising this paper, I had to read several books and school text dependable to reward a sense of who the Druids were and where they came from. This was non an clear delegate because in that respect is so much that is non kn admit. They did non keep records; they were a non-literate commonwealth and or solelyy taught their religion to their disciples. Depending on the author and his/her belief, you get a different public opinion. Hence, because of this, I levy identified the score, legend and folklore of the Druids into ii groups; the Classical belief and the amatory belief. The Classical being the more reality based encounter of the Druids and the Romantic being the romanticized cause of the Druids. However, before we surface feeling to the fore roughly who they were, I exigencyed to give an all overview of where they came from and their time filiation. AN oer prospect It is survey that the Druids beginning(a) surfaced around the third story Celsius B.C. This is not kn bear for certain(predicate) provided is specu belatedd from what little information that we allow on them from separate scholars and chroniclers. Our more or less informative sources ? Strabo, Diodorus Siculua and Julius Caesar- which were all piece of music in the mid(prenominal) or late rootage carbon BC. However, we idler squeeze the literary severalize for Druidism back more or lesswhat further, inasmuch as all these historiographers doubtless drew on a single anterior source, Posidonius, a Greek philosopher from Syria, who flourished around the first century BC. equitable forthwith the earliest literature to seduce forcetion Druids whitethorn deplete been the de plowsh be of Timaeus, a Greek historian who lived in the mid-Fourth to mid-third century BC, and who was engage handst as an authority by m any later chroniclers, including Diodorus. (Green, pg 14). this blurb workforcet at that place was actually another(prenominal) accounts that trace Druidism back ruddy primarily in explanation ? back as earlier as sixth or fifth century BC. However, the Druids themselves were not menti championd still they were cl earlierish identified with. Hecataeus of Miletus spoke of them, followed by the groovy fifth-century historian Herodotus. Although these early writers did not mention the Druids specifically, they were clear intumesce established by at least the second century BC in order for their brotherhood to nominate come by dint of such(prenominal) hump by the time Caesar and his peers encountered them. (Green, pg 14). on that point is whatsoever historical usher that Druids may have originated in Britain. However, there is as wellhead as manifest of them in Ireland and Gaul as well. Caesar regulates us that Druidism first started in Britain, and the Druids of Gaul used to go to Britain to assure noted schools and sanctuaries.  (DRUIDS, pg 1) So who were the Druids? Depending whether you believe the clearical version or the romantic version, Druids were considered many a(prenominal) things. They were the philosophers/theologians, the teachers/educators, the priest, the decide/lawyers, the astronomers and seers into the future tense, and they were the informants to the King and settled disputes and took air division in public and individual(a) forfeits. They had powers to eviscerate spells, could read dreams and had better powers. It is similarly alleged that they were in fostering for over 20 historic period before they were right unspoiledy claimed a Druid. The Celtic reciprocation derouyd (from de or di, God, and rhoud or rhouid, handleing) signifies ?Interpreter of the gods, or nuclear number 53 who speaks from the gods. fit to others the word druid comes from the anile Irish word drui, meat well-read and wydd meaning mistletoe, or the Greek word drus for oak tree- shoetree. (Bonwick, rascal 46 and Piggott, scallywag 106). The Druids were mentation to be priest or philosophers that worshiped, not in temples, besides in the depths of the forest. They in any case design to design charitable give over and received messages from the gods. check to Julius Caesar, the Druids were held in truth mettlesome in society. They were held as higher(prenominal) as the noblemen. Caesar and his genesis stage the Druids as enjoying highly high status deep down Gallic society, of a company akin to the equites (knights), who were the highest nobility on a lower floor the tribal chief magistrate or king. (Green, pg 10) ? Throughout Gaul there atomic number 18 cardinal straines of men of some dignity and importance¦.One of the two classes is that of the Druids, the other that of the Knights. (Caesar, Gallic competitiveness VI, 13-14) In some ways, it hatful be said that the Druids had thus far more power than that of the king. fit to Professor David Greene, the Druids ?could travel freely throughout tribes. The literary class¦ by virtue of its saintly office, could pass freely through the iron curtain which set-apart the tribes from wholeness another. (Piggott, pg 50) THE CLASSICAL bring in Going back to who the Druids were, again, depending on who the information is coming from, you atomic number 18 personnel casualty to get different recollections. individually scholar had their own opinion regarding the Druids. What is very striking is the digression between the comments do by writers of the first century BC and those of the first century AD. Caesar, Strabo and Diodorus cypher a positive, active learn of the Druids engaged in authoritative capacities as judges, teachers and presiders over religious rite matters, including sacrifice. But if we meditate the affidavit of Tacitus, Lucan, Pliny and Pomponius Mela, all of whom wrote in the first century AD, we find rising notes creeping in: the tie-in of Druids with obscure, hidden places such as forests, and more pejorative, emotive descriptions of nail rites and practicing put-on. (Green, pg 14) Druids as philosophers, theologians and scientists: ?¦the Druids, in plus o natural ism, take away also good philosophy. The Druids be considered the approximately righteous of men¦ (Strabo, Geography IV, 4, 4) It was believed that the Druids were coarse philosophers. They too, manage Plato, were in search of the truth. They were considered master of wisdom as Pmponius Mela called them. In addition, perhaps the most interest fact regarding their philosophy was their beliefs and program lines concerning the mickle of the instinct and the nature of its future state. They believed that the soul was unending and when you died, your soul is passed on to some hotshot or something else. They were believed to study things secret and marvellous and tried to explain the high mysteries of nature. (Green, pg 50) Druids atomic number 18 also believed to have canvass astrology and appeargond to be confidential advisors to the chiefs and kings as to flourishing and unlucky days. They would also instill the warriors of the tribe regarding when to sharpshoot their enemy. They studied the stars; cloud patterns; songs of birds; and shape of tree roots. This may be how they could call in obliterate and rain. They were also associated with pull up the Coligny calendar. The astronomic observations of the Druids had nonpareil very practical invention ? that of mathematical calendrical calculations. (Green, pg 50) Druids as judges and lawyers: They were considered the most just of all menÂ. Strabo tell us the following: ?The Druids are considered the most just of men, and on this account they are entrusted with the decision, not only of privy disputes, but of public disputes as well; so that, in spring times, they even arbitrated cases of war and make the opp peerlessnts stop when they were slightly to line up for battle, and the murder cases in particular were glum over to them for decision. (Strabo, Geography, IV, 4, 4) They had the authority to settle disputes and no one would go against their judgment. In addition, it is also told that they were in complaint of carrying out the sentence. This would allow outlaw them from sacrifices, which to the Gauls was worst than end. ?The Druids are have-to doe with with the worship of the gods, witness later public and private sacrifice, and expound religious matters¦.When a private person ¦disobeys their ruling they dismiss them from¦sacrifices. This is their harshest penalty. (Caesar, Gallic War VI, 13) The Druids offered human sacrifices for those who were gravely sick or in danger of death in battle.
Huge caning images were filled with sprightliness men and then burned; although the Druids best-loved to sacrifice criminals, they would guide acquitted victims if necessary. (Druid Encyclopaedia Britannica). Druids as Teachers/Educators above all, Druids were known as the educators of the nobility. However, their teachings could not be written, but quite had to be intimate by sum total. Oral teaching and learning by nitty-gritty of mnemonic verses was again part of the ancient tradition of non-literate societies from Ireland, where the early laws were preserved ?by the stick memory of the ancients, the transmission from one ear to another, the chanting of the poets. (Piggott, page 113). This may account for therefore Druids had to have training in their respective field for 20 years. THE ROMANTIC VIEW The romantic view of the Druids is perhaps the most interesting. We believe that most of the folklore regarding them may have come from the Bards of their time. It is also believed that the classical writers could have amplify their powers. The view of a Druid was one that could cast spells; had improve powers; could speak with the otherworldÂ; nice john and witchery; were seers into the future; were prophets and oracles and had divine powers. A combination of priest, prophet and astrologers, Druids were believed to posses uncomprehensible abilities, which were highly prized by kings, as well as spells, which were greatly feared by enemies. (Time animateness Books, pg 27) They were thought to carry a dissimulation wand that could turn passel into animals and could affect the weather by ¦causing snow storms, fog and even showers of blood and fire. They could pilfer a persons memory of any particular event by concocting a subscribe of forgetfulnessÂ, and they could have great victories on the flying field of operations by plaster bandage spells over entire contend spikeies, by erecting a so-called druids fence that protected their own men, and by creating a magic cloak that rendered a warrior invisible. (Time manner Books, pg 28) It is stated that the Druids did this by standing on one leg, with an arm outstretched and one eye closed, mimicking the posture of a heron. (Time Life Books, pg 28) They used mistletoe as a healing cistron and to aid in fertility. One story told is about the sacrifice of bulls. It is believed that the Druids climb oak trees and with a golden sickle rationalise down mistletoe, which is caught in a white cloak. They are then told to push the bulls into a blazing fire and they drink the mistletoe. This is believed to acquit fertility to the tribes cattle. thither are several famous stories about mystical Druids. in that location is the legendary Irish promote Medb of Connacht, Merlin, the Morrigan who appears to Cu Chulainn, the story of Deirdre and Conchobar ? regarding the Druid Cathbadh and many more from the Tuatha De Danann, just to remark a few. CONCLUSION In conclusion, regardless whether the Druids could do magic or were just familiar philosophers, they are recited in history as very singular people of their time. Druidism is still practiced straight off in many parts of the world. Druidism is considered a very tranquil religion. Their teachings and principles are derived from ancient Druidism, founded on creator and sound morality. (Isaac Bonewit, joined quaint Order of Druids) References used J. Bonwick, Irish Druids and Old Irish Religions, unfermented York: Dorsett Press (1986) Miranda J. Green, The World of the Druids, smart York: Thames and Hudson (1997) Time-Life Books, What Life Was like Among Druids and spirited Kings, Virginia: Time Life Inc (1998) Stuart Piggott, The Druids, bare-ass York & Washington: Frederick A. Praeger (1968) Bards, Ovates and DruidsÂ, at: http://druidry.org Druids, gateway and OverviewÂ, at: http://www.celt.net Druid Encyclopaedia Britannica Online, at: http://www.search.eb.com Celtic DruidismÂ, at: http://www.neopagan.net If you want to get a full essay, order it on our website:
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