War, Women, and Druids: Eyewitness Reports and Early Accounts of the Ancient Celts

by Philip Freeman

Overview

"The ancient Celts capture the modern imagination as do few other people of classical times. Naked barbarians charging the Roman legions, Druids performing sacrifices of unspeakable horror, women fighting beside their men and even leading armies—these, along with stunning works of art, are the images most of us call to mind when we think of the Celts," observes Philip Freeman. "And for the most part, these images are firmly based in the descriptions handed down to us by the Greek and Roman writers."

This book draws on the firsthand observations and early accounts of classical writers to piece together a detailed portrait of the ancient Celtic peoples of Europe and the British Isles. Philip Freeman groups the selections (ranging from short statements to longer treatises) by themes—war, feasting, poetry, religion, women, and the Western Isles. He also presents inscriptions written by the ancient Celts themselves. This wealth of material, introduced and translated by Freeman to be especially accessible to students and general readers, makes this book essential reading for everyone fascinated by the ancient Celts.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780292718364
Publisher:	University of Texas Press
Publication date:	10/01/2002
Series:	Eyewitness Reports and Early Accounts of the Ancient Celts
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	112
Sales rank:	697,434
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Philip Freeman is Fletcher Jones Chair of Western Culture and Professor of Humanities at Pepperdine University.

Table of Contents

• Preface
• Map of Celtic Lands
• War
• Feasting
• Poetry
• Religion
• Women
• The Western Isles
• The Ancient Celts Speak
• Further Reading and References
• Index

What People are Saying About This

Patrick K. Ford

I know of no other work that pulls this sort of material together and groups it by such helpful categories (war, feasting, poetry, religion, women, etc.). I will certainly value it in my library and... as recommended reading for several of my courses. It will be a nice companion to Freeman's Ireland and the Classical World.
— Patrick K. Ford, Professor and Chair of Celtic Languages and Literatures, Harvard University