Free Essay

Weapons of Ancient Celtic

In:

Submitted By barbeth
Words 1068
Pages 5
The Weapons of the Ancient Celtic People

The Celts are warlike people. They are considered barbarians, and they are being feared by other European cultures because of their fierceness and tenacity when engaging in a battle. They have fought a number of famous battles that have been recorded in history. They won numerous battles because they used different weapons against their enemies. Body and mind, equipment such as the sword and enchantments are some of the weapons they have used to gain victory.

The early typical Celtic warriors are fearsome warriors because some do not fight with any armor of any kind. They use their body as a weapon, but it is not similar to karate body punch or some sort of martial art. Diodous Siculus, a historian, says, “Some use iron breast-plates in battle, while others fight naked, trusting only in the protection which nature gives” (Gregory, 9a). There must be several reasons for their nudity during a battle. They probably fight naked because they want to unnerve or to disrespect the enemy. Another possibility is to show off their tattoos, war paints and scars as an open evidence of courage and superiority among others. It can also be a part of an ancient religious ritual. It is probable that they believe in their tattoos and painted symbols as protections against danger. When engaged in warfare, the Celts will paint their faces and bodies in order to appear grotesque, scream and yell when attacking. This group of people does not only use their body, but also their intelligence in order to capture and defeat their enemies. Although most Celtic leaders are male, there is a famous female leader named Bouddica. She led the Celtic tribes to expel the Romans. She plans everything from the beginning before attacking the enemy. While governor Paulinus was leading a campaign in North Wales, she persuaded the other tribes to join with them. Then, they attacked the enemy and defeated them. When her army was losing, she committed suicide by taking poison because she knew that the Romans wanted her alive. Although she failed in her quest, her intelligence and courage were never forgotten.

Different sorts of weaponries are also used by the Celts to attack and defend their places. Strabo, a historian, claims, ``The war-gear corresponds in size to the size of their bodies" (Freeman, 11). It includes a long sword, an oblong shield, a dimensional spear and sometimes bows and slings. Some claims that the sword is constructed from cast bronze with a hammered edge providing a sharp and hardened cutting blade. The leaf shaped blade incorporates a handle plate with rivet holes. Bronze rivets are used to attach a shaped handle of wood or bone. The shape of the blade provides a sharp point for piercing thrusts and a sharp curved edge for slicing at opponents. These weapons are considered valuable to these people. For the Tuatha de Danann, swords and spears are prestige treasures because when they landed in Ireland, they brought a sword from Gorias and a spear of victory from Finias. Another example is Manannan’s sword, the Freagarthach, which is a powerful tool because no one survives when he is strucked off by this sword. They also use two-horse chariots. Training and breeding horses are one of their strengths. The Celtic chariot is a simple and light construction for the charioteer and a fighting companion to attack and retreat. Two small ponies are harnessed to an axle and framework supporting it. The surrounding construction provides a little protection and a secure location to hold onto. At the end of war, the Celts would attach the heads of their enemies to a fence or pole near their houses. They believe that the possession of an enemy’s head is a prestigious conquest for any Celtic warrior. They preserve the heads of their honorable enemies with cedar oils. This is an important point as we see that today’s tank and cannon must all have been derived from the chariot and sword. Furthermore, the preservation of a body with the use of a certain chemical is also a derivation from the preservation of heads using cedar oils.

Enchantments are also used by the Celts during a battle. To them, magic is as common as eating and breathing. It is considered as a part of their life. In “The Great Battle of Magh Tuireadh”, Lugh, a Tuatha De Danann battle leader, asked for the Druids’ help to defeat the Fomorians. He asked for the cupbearers’ help to make the enemies thirsty during the battle, while his warriors will be provided with water till the end of the battle. Then, another Druid put sickness on the Fomors’ bodies together with their horses, while his people would gain more strength and bravery. Furthermore, two witches pronounced a spell on the trees, the stones and the sods of the earth in order to put terror on them. Diancechth, the physician, healed every warrior that was wounded. In addition, they also sang a spell over the well to revive those who were deeply wounded and to increase their strength. The Tuatha de Danann, led by Lugh, was able to attain their victory. In this story, it can be seen as a one-sided fight because they used enchantment towards the opposite. However, using magic to help can be considered fine as long as the overall result is positive and the aim is positive as well.

War and warfare definitely played an important role in ancient Celtic society. For them, fighting and raiding were quite common occurrences. Their strong body and intelligence, their powerful equipment and their magical enchantment allow them to rule over their world and to be superior against their enemies. Even though the armaments of today are more advanced than theirs, people should never forget that there is a lesson that surrounds the idea of war. War is incorrect because there are many other ways to solve conflicts without losing people’s lives. Without it, peace can be obtained as it is a symbol of a society that operates harmoniously.

Bibliography:

Gregory, Lady Augustra, trans. “ Gods and Fighting Men: The Story of the Tuatha De Danann and of the Fianna of Ireland.” Forgotten Books, 2007. HYPERLINK "http://www.forgottenbooks.org" www.forgottenbooks.org (In the public domain)

Bowring, Mark. “Celtic Weapons.” Online posting. 29 December 2005. Scottishmist. 11 July 2011.

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Celtic Warfare

...the battle . . .” (Caesar, De Belli Gallico VI – 15,1) Caesar may be a biased source, but his statement tells us a lot about the role of war in ancient Celtic society: it was an important part of life, primarily for the nobility, but, to a lesser degree, also for the average man. We see a similar picture if we take a look at the Irish or Welsh legends, where the heroes go off to fights, most often one at a time or in small groups, but often in the company of their followers and clients to fight mass battles. A Short, Short History of Celtic Expansion and Retreat Before we look into ancient Celtic warfare itself, it is necessary to define what time and geographical region I will be talking about. Even though Celtic culture developed probably some centuries earlier, the oldest material I’ll be discussing dates to the beginning of the 5th century BC in central Europe. From that point, the culture expanded until, in the 3rd century BC, it reached its greatest extent with Celts living in Ireland and Spain in the West and as far as Galatia in Asia Minor in the East. This was partly due to cultural exchange and peaceful transmission of ideas, partly due to massive military campaigns like that in northern Italy. From then on, however, the Celts began to lose ground. Starting even in the 3rd century BC, the Romans began to conquer the Celtic lands From the South . Only a little later, Germanic pressure increases from the Northeast. By the end of the 1st century BC, all the...

Words: 2666 - Pages: 11

Free Essay

The Harp

...Classically Ancient From religious rituals to pure entertainment, the harp has captivated many with its beautiful sound and unusual structure and mechanics. With its rich history, the harp is one of the oldest musical instruments known to man. As noted in The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, the earliest documentation on the harp dates back to the “3rd millennium BCE in the Middle East and Egypt” (882). From this period on, the harp has evolved tremendously. Whether it is the shape, size or type of material used, the harp has endured many changes. The earliest form was the arched harp. It was bow-like in shape, which leads many to believe the harp was invented based on the structure of an ancient weapon, the bow and arrow. One most likely realized the string on their bow made a sound when plucked and so they created an instrument with more strings to create different pitches. The rest is history. The earliest type of harp was arched, known as an ‘open’ harp, which made way to the ‘framed’ harp. The framed harp did not become in existence until the Middle Ages. It was stated in the work of Roslyn Rensch, The Harp: From Tara’s Hall to the American Schools, “the [open] harp of ancient civilizations lacked the column, or fore-pillar, that is an important part as we know it [today]” (4). As Rensch has pointed out, the open harp only consisted of a body and neck, between which were strung various lengths of gut, the primary material used for strings in ancient times...

Words: 1825 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Anglo Saxon Fighting Research Paper

...Have you ever wondered what the differences and similarities between Anglo-Saxon fighting, also known as Teutonic fighting, and Celtic fighting are? Well I am about to tell you. The Teutonic style of fighting was used by the Union, and the Celtic style of fighting was used by the Confederacy. So the differences and similarities are the Union wore body armor while the Confederacy did not worry about wearing body armor, they both fought with swords and spears, also they had shields to protect themselves other than just armor. Lastly the Celtic style of fighting was wild and savage-like, while the Teutonic style of fighting was more civilized. Tacitus, an Ancient Roman senator, has told us “They choose their kings for their noble birth, their...

Words: 1036 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Ancient Thracians

...The ancient Thracians (Ancient Greek: Θρᾷκες, Latin: Thraci) were a group of Indo-European tribes inhabiting areas including Thrace in Southeastern Europe.[1] They spoke the Thracian language – a scarcely attested branch of the Indo-European language family. The study of Thracians and Thracian culture is known as Thracology. Contents 1 Etymology 2 Mythological foundation 3 Origins and ethnogenesis 4 Identity and distribution 5 History 5.1 Archaic period 5.2 Classical period 5.3 Hellenistic period 5.4 Roman rule 5.5 War 5.6 Barbarians 6 Religion 7 Physical appearance 8 Extinction 9 Famous individuals 10 Archaeology 11 Gallery 12 See also 13 References 14 Sources 15 External links [edit] EtymologyThe first historical record about the Thracians is found in the Iliad, where they are described as allies of the Trojans in the Trojan War against the Greeks.[2] The ethnonym Thracian comes from Ancient Greek Θρᾷξ (plural Θρᾷκες; Thrax, Thrakes) or Θρᾴκιος/Ionic: Θρηίκιος (Thrakios/Thrēikios), and the toponym Thrace comes from Θρᾴκη/Ion.: Θρῄκη (Thrakē/Threkē).[3] Both names are exonyms developed by the Greeks.[4] [edit] Mythological foundationIn Greek mythology, Thrax (by his name simply the quintessential Thracian) was regarded as one of the reputed sons of the god Ares.[5] In the Alcestis, Euripides mentions that one of the names of Ares himself was Thrax since he was regarded as the patron of Thrace (his golden or gilded shield was kept in his temple...

Words: 1757 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

Hannibal & the Battle of Cannae

...HANNIBAL AND THE BATTLE OF CANNAE The battle of Cannae was a major battle of the Second Punic War near the town of Cannae, an ancient village in southern part of Italy. The battle took place between the outnumbered Carthaginian army under Hannibal against the Romans under the command of Lucius Aemilius Paullus and Gaius Terentius Varro. For the most part, the Romans were overpowered by the undermanned Carthaginian forces. Many historians agree that the battle of Cannae is one of the greatest strategic victories in military history. Numerous historians have examined the possible route Hannibal took from New Carthage to the Pyrénées and then over the Alps to Rome. Along with using scientific data, these historians and scientists allege that there are three possible routes Hannibal may have taken from New Carthage in Iberia across Europe to get to Italy. Scientists and historians do disagree on which route is most accurate do to the fact that the only historical accounts of Hannibal’s journey are that of Livy and Polybius. Neither historian leaves a very detailed account of the surroundings for Hannibal and his troops. Through paleobotanical reconstruction, attempts have been made to more clearly identify if the places noted by Livy and Polybius resemble any of these places today1. Hannibal came from the very well-known Carthaginian Barca family. His father, Hamilcar Barca was the military leader of Carthage during the first Punic War. At the conclusion of the First Punic...

Words: 3016 - Pages: 13

Free Essay

Anth 100

..."change over time". In terms of physical anthropology, evolution is changes over time in living organisms. This means that living things have passed their traits from one generation to the next. There are very little changes that occur with each generation, but over time these changes accumulate in each living organism. It is believed that all life on Earth has common ancestry that lived more than 3.5 billions of years ago (Park, 2008). Discuss how physical anthropologists examine/investigate evolution Paleoanthropology is a branch of paleontology that falls under physical anthropology. Paleoanthropologists study extinct primates and fossils. They use these examinations to further investigate the evolution of humans. They examine ancient humans, like the anthropoids. Anthropoids are considered humans closest relative and have been linked to human evolution (Coyne, 2009). 3) Find at least one outside source related to your answer for Question 2 (e.g. the genome project for DNA). Conduct original research, do not use the genome project because that example is given in...

Words: 1159 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Myrmidon of Motif, Myth & Mysticism

...Tris-tridha Myrmidon of Motif, Myth & Mysticism ‘9 is the number of the mythic Lords of Time.’ - Arguelles, The Mayan Factor The Ennead, or nine pointed star, is an ancient and sacred symbol. It comprises three trinities. The Egyptian, Celtic, Greek and Christian myths all have an ennead of nine gods and goddesses, representing the entire archetypal range of principles. In Hinduism - 3 is a symbol of both the unification of the mind, body and spirit and the triad or the trinity, represented by the Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva or the Supreme Mother in the form of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi. 9 is said to be the magic number of Maya. Indian classical dance, often refers to the ‘rasas’ that are also nine in number, having been derived from the three basic gunas: Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. Tristridha or 3 * 3 (3 times 3), assumes even more significance as it represents both the number nine as well the triple triad. Tristridha also signifies an arithmetic progression: though we have chosen to characterize just 5 of Her manifestations, typifying the myths we believe in and the motifs and mystical practices that we abide by; the Supreme Mother in Her infinite manifestations knows no boundaries. Tris-tridha, : Myrmidon of Motif, myth & mysticism represents us, the followers who carry the recurring & unifying idea with conviction through symbols, traditional & mythological stories and numinous practices; with religious tendency and desire of a union with the Divinity...

Words: 957 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Creation of Money in Slovakia

...Introduction Money is nothing and money is everything. Money takes very important role in our society. People cannot imagine life without them. Even little kid knows that he can buy most desired thing for money. Money is a special good which performs a role of global equivalent by expressing value of all other goods. Nowadays we can pay for services in cash, checks, and bank cards. In Slovak republic, like everywhere else, real circulation represents notes, coins and paper money. In this work is analyzed where did the money come from, evolution, what caused their appearance, how they have been accepted in society then. What factors influenced the development of trade exchange and measure as it is today. So, where did the money which is so important in our lives come from? Contents Definition of money 3 Theories of money origin 4 Prehistoric material money 5 Prehistoric metal money 7 First coins 8 Money in Slovakia 10 Money before 1993 10 Money in Slovakia after 1993 11 Slovakia and Euro 11 Conclusions 13 References 14 Definition of money In essence, to satisfy our need we produce goods and provide services (or just do what we need to do). And papers which are called money do not bring any direct benefit. Doubled company’s products, we become richer, but if we print more money we do not become richer at all. With this example we can show that money is totally irrelevant thing. On the other hand, money and financial institutions related...

Words: 3965 - Pages: 16

Premium Essay

Comparing Pantheism And Panentheism

...truth, or wise man.” Anonymous We mostly tend to remember druids as religious figures. A classic vision of a Druid is a forest priest. The word Druid, itself is rooted in trees. The word is “dru” which means oak, sometimes rowan or hazel; and “Wid”, or “Vid” in Sanskrit, means “wisdom” to “know” or to “see”. These words show the Proto-Aryan roots of both the Celtic and Sanskrit languages. They venerated the tree as a symbol of unity between water earth and sky. They were said to demonstrate reverence for specific types of trees like the oak and rowan. This recalls our very ancient beginnings; when trees were an acknowledged source of sustenance, a protection from predators, and even the symbolic boundary with the Divine. Druids believed in the eternal nature of the Soul and saw living spirit in all forms of creation. God wedded with Maya. Rituals were performed to honor nature and to build a bond between God, and the souls of men and the earth. Like many shamans Druids were skilled with herbalism and holistic remedies.” (http://www.ehow.com/about_5402033_history-druids.html) Very little is known about the ancient druids in literature. They were somewhat secretive, mystical and left no written accounts of themselves. We are left with later descriptions by Greek, Roman, and medieval Irish writers, and there are very few Druidic images. They have been called sorcerers, healers, seers, and professionals. Pliny the Elder, a Roman historian mentions that the Gauls have a lot...

Words: 4128 - Pages: 17

Free Essay

History Irish

...Ireland United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Republic of Ireland · Northern Ireland Topics Battles · Clans · Kingdoms · States Gaelic monarchs · British monarchs Economic history · History of the Irish language Ireland Portal v · d · e The first known settlement in Ireland began around 8000 BC, when hunter-gatherers arrived from continental Europe, probably via a land bridge.[1] Few archaeological traces remain of this group, but their descendants and later Neolithic arrivals, particularly from the Iberian Peninsula, were responsible for major Neolithic sites such as Newgrange.[2][3] On the arrival of Saint Patrick and other Christian missionaries in the early to mid-5th century AD, Christianity began to subsume the indigenous Celtic religion, a process that was completed by the year 600. From around AD 800, more than a century of Viking invasions brought havoc upon the monastic culture and on the island's various regional dynasties, yet both of these institutions proved strong enough to survive and assimilate the invaders. The coming of Cambro-Norman mercenaries under Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, nicknamed Strongbow, in 1169 marked the beginning of more than 700 years of direct Norman and, later, English involvement in Ireland. In 1185, Prince John Lackland was created Lord Of Ireland Ireland by Pope Alexander III. The Crown did not begin an attempt to assert full control of the island until after the Henrician schism with Rome, and subsequent Reformation...

Words: 11293 - Pages: 46

Premium Essay

Jc and Vp Comparison

...Caesar was one of the greatest in history, many say. Even though he was not the first emperor of Rome, becoming the emperor he showed all victories achieving it. He conquered many city-states and give the peoples much better lives. He started in Spain with great lessons he learned personally and for his career. But how would Caesar have lived in the 21st Century and are their any leaders alike nowadays? From early age, Caesar understood that Rome was corrupted in the 80’s BC and that he needed a network in the higher sits to prosper and become a leader. To achieve higher position he got in high debt by organizing events and bribed officials to make political friends. By the time he was 40 in 60 BC he had achieved the title of praetor (in Ancient Rome this was the positions as commander of one army) of the troops in Spain that was struggling until Caesar arrived. With a lot of hard work and learning experience of discovering his new talents, Caesar acknowledged to himself that war and victory is the path to money, power, and emperorship. In Plutarch, “I’d rather be first here than second in Rome” and “Don’t you think it’s sad that while Alexander was already ruling over a vast empire at such young age, I haven’t yet achieved anything remarkable (p.310-311)?” These statements show his drive to power and leadership with one goal of being number one. Thus, from some victorious battles in Spain Caesar paid all his debt and headed back to Rome for some more glory and fame. First thing...

Words: 1187 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Apple

...Pride, Beowulf's Most Cherished Possession and His Greatest Enemy Beowulf is an epic poem created by the the ancient Anglo-Saxons of Britain. For a poem to be an epic, it has six requirements: long and narrative, involves a long journey for the hero, the hero must overcome obstacles, long prideful speeches, the poem takes place over a long period of time, and the hero reflects the culture from which he comes. The poem was recited as early as the sixth century when stories were passed along orally by scops who were traveling storytellers. Since stories were passed on orally, the authors of many Anglo-Saxon poems are unknown. Beowulf was passed on orally for centuries until the eleventh century, it was finally written down by scholars. Since then the story about the mighty Beowulf has become a polyglot epic poem translated by hundreds of people such as Burton Raffel who translated the poem into modern day English. The poem grew from past traditions such as the monsters, loyalty to the chief, and the decent to unknown regions of the earth were familiar element of Celtic and Scandinavian folk tales. By combining different traditions and later adding Christian ideas into one story, scops created a cultural reference point for Anglo-Saxons to learn from. Since there are various traditions blended into Beowulf, there are underlying themes such as heritage, pride, respect, gifting, good versus evil, strength, and customs. A major theme of the poem is pride. One can believe that the...

Words: 2275 - Pages: 10

Free Essay

Android Os

...------------------------------------------------- Culture of India From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Part of a series on the | Culture of India | | History | People | Languages[show] | Mythology and folklore[show] | Cuisine | Religion | Art[show] | Literature[show] | Music and performing arts[show] | Media[show] | Sport | Monuments[show] | Symbols[show] | *  India portal | * v * t * e | The culture of India is the way of living of the people of India. India's languages, religions, dance, music, architecture, food, and customs differ from place to place within the country. The Indian culture, often labeled as an amalgamation of several cultures, spans across the Indian subcontinent and has been influenced by a history that is several millennia old.[1][2] Many elements of India's diverse cultures, such as Indian religions, yoga and Indian cuisine, have had a profound impact across the world. Contents   [hide]  * 1 Religions * 2 Perceptions of Indian culture * 2.1 Arranged marriage * 2.2 Wedding rituals * 3 Greetings * 4 Festivals * 5 Animals * 6 Cuisine * 7 Clothing * 8 Languages and literature * 8.1 History * 8.2 Epics * 9 Performing arts * 9.1 Dance * 9.2 Drama and theatre * 9.3 Music * 10 Visual arts * 10.1 Painting * 10.2 Sculpture * 10.3 Architecture * 11 Sports and martial arts * 11.1 Sports ...

Words: 10182 - Pages: 41

Premium Essay

Let's Hope It Repeats

...Unfortunately, it seems that this is one of those arguments that keeps us from moving forward. What frustrates me the most about the whole argument is how unnecessary—and ridiculously riddled with misconceptions and outright insulting fabrications—it is. Homosexuality seems to be too difficult a concept for our society to accept, but it is too real, and too ancient, an issue to deny. My purpose for writing this paper is to address one of the myths about homosexuality, and in doing so make a vital point about the biggest misconception that exists on the subject. In a society where each consecutive generation pushes the boundaries of social norms and acceptable behavior further outside of polite society’s comfort zone, fads and rebellions are commonplace. Often homosexuality gets lumped in with these fleeting trends and is seen as something transitory, something that will go away if denied acceptance long enough. On the contrary, homosexuality is not something new or impermanent. Rather it is a concept, a fact of life, which has been with us since the earliest recorded histories of man. In this essay I will show how ancient societies—the ancestors of everyone in this great country—reacted to the presence of homosexuality. I will explain how all of these diverse peoples, all over the globe, recorded in their histories and their art not only the presence of homosexuality in their societies, but also their acceptance of...

Words: 4291 - Pages: 18

Premium Essay

Europe

...NOTE #6: EUROPE (Patrick Ellwood, Fall, 2011) Page 1 NOTE #6 relates to Chapter 2 of the text. In Chapter 2 pay particular attention to the following pages: Map, p.44; Main Points, p.43; FIGURES 2.10 and 2.11, p.53; FIGURE 2.12, p.55; Wine, p.56 and 57; Europe’s Golden Triangle, p.62 and 63; The Southern Crescent, p.65; FIGURE 2.29, p.71; A “European” Identity?, p.72; FIGURE 2.34, p.75; FIGURE 2.35, p.76; FIGURE 2.36, p.77; Future Geographies, p.77; FIGURE 2.37, p.78; Main Points Revisited, p.78. Movie: "Blue Danube" 1. Physical Geography The boundaries of Europe have been determined more by politics and culture than any physical barriers like mountains and rivers. Today, the eastern boundary is the western frontier of Russia following the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991. So countries like Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine, and Moldova are considered part of Europe. These countries had been forcibly incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1940, but had previously been independent from Tsarist Russia since 1919. Moving westwards from Russia are some plainlands, but Europe mainly consists of a peninsula of Eurasia fragmented into smaller peninsulas (Scandinavian, Iberian, Balkan, and Italian) and large islands (Britain, Ireland, Sicily, Iceland and Sardinia). ( 1, pp.59-65 ) Europe has benefited from its location and major physical features. It has direct land and sea routes to Asia (through Southwest Asia, Middle East, and Africa (post 1488 around the...

Words: 2479 - Pages: 10