Basic Celtic Reading Lists
Searles

Fri May 29 14:31:24 1998
This list was provided by Rowan Fairgrove on a discussion list that I once frequented ... Searles*p*Here is a basic annotated bibliography on Romano-Celtic archaeology and religion that I give my students. Sorry for taking up so much bandwidth. :-)*p*Brunaux, Jean Louis, 1988 (Eng trans.) The Celtic Gauls: Gods, Rites and Sanctuaries, London: B. A. Seaby Ltd. Table of Contents: Territory; Sacred Space; Time; Society; Priests; The Gods; Rites; Rites of Life and Death; Cults of Nature; Rites of War; Public Cults; Historical Evaluation. A good overview of Religion in late Iron Age France.*p*Caesar, Julius, 1980 (new trans.) The Battle for Gaul, Boston: David R. Godine, Publisher The eight books of Caesar's Commentaries on the Gaulish campaign*p*Chadwick, Nora (1970) The Celts, New York: Penguin Books Overview of Celtic kingdoms both insular and continental, religion, Christianity, art and literature.*p*Cunliffe, Barry (1988) Greeks, Romans and Barbarians: Spheres of Interaction, London : B. T. Batsford A meticulously footnoted study of the interactions between the Mediterranean world and the "barbarians". Details economic ties which greatly influenced the culture of the Celts*p*----- (1985) The Temple of Sulis Minerva at Bath (Vol. 1 - The Site), Oxford, Eng.: Oxford U. Committee for Archaeology Archaeological report on the excavations at Bath between 1978-1984. Extensive detail on geomorphology of area, temple construction, artifacts and human and animal remains.*p*Fry, Plantagenet Somerset, (1984) Roman Britain, New Jersey: Barnes & Noble Books The first third of the book is an overview of Roman involvement in The British Isles. The rest is a gazetteer of over 1,000 British Roman sites.*p*Green, Miranda, (1992) Dictionary of Celtic Myth and Legend, London: Thames & Hudson Ltd. Dictionary entries on Celtic myth, legend and folklore in Britain and Europe between 500 BCE and 400 CE.*p*------ (1991) The Sun-Gods of Ancient Europe, London: B. T. Batsford Ltd. Comprehensive survey of solar worship in Europe from 2000 BCE to 400 CE.*p*------ (1989) Symbol and Image in Celtic Religious Art, London: Routledge Detailed study of Celtic religious imagery between 500 BCE to 400 CE, primarily Continental but with extended references to Insular practice.*p*------ (1986) The Gods of the Celts, Totawa, N.J.: Barnes & Noble Books An integrated look at the Celtic Gods of Britain and the Continent based mainly on the archaeological record with reference to vernacular and classical writings; this updates Anne Ross on Britain.*p*------ (1983) The Gods of Roman Britain, Aylesbury, Bucks, Eng: Shire Publications, Ltd. Romano-British religion from its origins through various imported deities to Christianity. The discussion of deities imported from The middle east and the syncretic nature of Romano-Celtic religion is particularly interesting.*p*MacCana, Proinsias (1968, py 1991) Celtic Mythology, New York: Peter Bedrick Books Overview of Celtic Mythology. TC: Gaulish Gods and Insular Equivalents; The Tuatha de Danaan; The Gods of Britain; The Goddesses of the Insular Celts;The Heroic Tradition; The Otherworld; The Integral Tradition*p*Ross, Anne (1967) Pagan Celtic Britain: Studies in Iconography and Tradition, London: Routledge and Kegan Paul Classic treatment of the Gods of Britain based mainly on the archaeological record with reference to vernacular and classical*br*writings.*p*------ (1970) The Everyday Life of the Pagan Celts, London: Transworld Publishers Ltd Comprehensive discussion of both insular and continental life, drawing on both archaeology and contemporary literature for information.*p*Ross, Anne and Don Robins (1989) The Life and Death of a Druid Prince: The story of an archaeological sensation, London: Random Century Group Ltd Analysis of Lindow Man and his a bog burial in Lindow Moss near Manchester, Eng. Surrounded by controversy in the field.*p*Rutherford, Ward (1987) Celtic Mythology: Nature & Influence of Celtic Myth - Druidism to Arthurian Legend, Wellingborough, Eng.: The Aquarian Press Scholarly discussion of Celtic myth and thought. The author has also written books on druids and on shamanism and this allows insights on subjects such as prophesy. He then carries the influence of the Celts up into Arthur and other later manifestations.*p*Stewart, Robert J. (1990) Celtic Gods, Celtic Goddesses, London: Blandford Detailed look at the magic, mythology and religion of the Celts using archaeological evidence plus folklore and Celtic and Medieval literature.*p*Webster, Graham (1986) The British Celts and their Gods under Rome, London: B. T. Batsford Ltd. Survey of the beliefs and practices of the Celtic religion and the adjustments and integration experienced under Roman rule. He tends To make leaps of logic which he does not footnote.