Celtic Collection An obsession of mine since the day I learned to read (I grew up on mythology and fantasy stories). In fact I'm studying archaeology (I'm a junior now, and just transferred to Penn State from Millersville University) so that I can move to either Wales or Ireland to be an archaeologist specializing in the Celts. Luckily my parents understand that it's a need and not a passing phase. They ought to, after all this time… Please note: anyone who knows about this stuff, I would love for you to
Designs
The Celts were artistic geniuses. As soon as I figure out how to put them here, I want to include some designs and what they meant and represented to the culture. Also, if you have any way to do so, check out work by Jim Fitzpatrick, who does renditions of Celtic mythology among other things. It's beautiful work. Meanwhile, some awesome links:
First off, most of the Celtic art here (including this background) came from a site with all kinds of lovely art and other Celtic links. I recommend it very highly to anyone interested in things related to the Celtic peoples.
Mythology
A list and short description of deities and other important beings in Mythology. Words in bold will be addressed in their own categories.
CerridwenCerridwen was born of the race of giants, a sorceress and I believe a goddess, (if anyone knows for certain, please let me know!) called the Lady of Grain. She possessed a frightful temper and an intellect that allowed her to translate the writing of the most ancient and powerful beings, graven in cryptic Ogham upon massive standing stones. She could take any form at will, often that of a white sow. She was the mother of Creirwyn, the most beautiful girl in the world, as well as Afgaddu, the ugliest boy and ultimately of Taliesin, the greatest of bards and forteller of the future.
This is what I hope to spend my life doing. The latest discoveries, as soon as I find out about them. Actually I spent all of June, 1997 in Northern England on a dig in Haltwhistle (which is between Carlisle and Newcastle). It was so incredible, a site with cupmarked (carved) stones, flint tool fragments, and it was really special since no one had done anything like it in that area before. Also, all around it, there were about 30 barrows and cairns, as well as a definite Romano-celtic enclosure with they thought at least 3 settlements, maybe more...we were working on a circular structure that was part natural and part human-made, and trying to figure out what it had been used for. The Celts who had lived there later had farmed through it, and we found the ditches that they dug for crops, and also a few things from the Roman occupation like pottery sherds. Religion, interesting things not covered above. Archaeology Celtic Society
