Celts and Germans: The Elusive Religions

Mario Ferrero

Chapter Chapter 3 in The Political Economy of Indo-European Polytheism, 2022, pp 41-56 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract This chapter first examines the little we know about Celtic religion in Gaul and Ireland. The pantheonPantheon described by Roman writers was relatively small but then the gods’ attributes tended to shift and expand and their jurisdictions to overlapOverlap, of gods’ jurisdictions. The druidsDruids were a learned, centrally organized priestly class overseeing all sacrifices, reminiscent of the Vedic BrahmansBrahman. Turning to the Germans, the pantheonPantheon described by Roman writers was small and well-defined; in the VikingVikings period it did not grow but evolved toward a freedom for men to choose a god as personal protector for all purposes. ProfessionalPriesthood/priestprofessional priesthood was little developed; most ritualRituals functions were carried out by chieftains and aristocrats alongside their secular functions.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-97943-0_3

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