Sacred Wonders of Britain (BBC, 2013) Archeologist Neil Oliver sets off on a journey to reveal the sacred face of Britain, an ancient landscape of belief and ritual that lies hidden just below the surface of the modern world. From Britain’s remotest islands to the heart of its cities, Neil searches for clues that tellContinue reading “Sacred Wonders of Britain”
Tag Archives: history
Hogmanay
‘Hogmanay’ is celebrated in Scotland on the last day of the year, with festivities often extending until the first or second day of the New Year. Also known as Ne’erday (Netherday, New Year’s Day), Hogmanay is thought to be related to pagan celebrations such as the Winter Solstice and Yule. The origin of the termContinue reading “Hogmanay”
Gundestrup Cauldron
The Gundestrup Cauldron is a richly decorated silver vessel attributed to the late La Tène period or early Roman Iron Age (1st or 2nd century BCE). Its plates are etched with many mythological and ritual scenes from the pagan world. It was unearthed in a peat bog in 1891 near Gundestrup, in Himmerland, Denmark. TheContinue reading “Gundestrup Cauldron”
Boudicca
Boudica, Boadicea, Boudicea, Buduica, Buddug (Welsh) Although Boudicca was not a goddess, she was a strong female warrior figure whose likeness can still be seen around England. She led her people against the invading Romans after an injustice to her family and her people, resulting in a lingering sentiment of British pride which remains today.Continue reading “Boudicca”
The World of Stonehenge
Neil Oliver, archaeologist and presenter of several BBC documentaries, has created a wonderful series that is highly entertaining and informative. (It doesn’t hurt that he has a cute Scottish accent!) Highly recommended for anyone interested in the history of Great Britain, particularly Celtic history. A History of Ancient Britain, Series 1, BBC 2 (2011) aka TheContinue reading “The World of Stonehenge”
Tuatha Dé Danann
The Tuatha Dé Danann, or “people of the goddess Danu”, were an ancient race of supernatural beings in Ireland. They were said to have arrived from four great cities to the North, Failias, Gorias, Findias, and Murias, along with with several treasures. The first was the Stone of Fal (Lia Fail) from Failias, which would scream whenever aContinue reading “Tuatha Dé Danann”
The Celts
The Celts were a diverse group of people who resided in Europe during the Iron Age. They originated from the Hallstatt and La Tène cultures of central Europe, and later spread across Europe and Britain. The word ‘Celt’ comes from the Greeks, who named this group of ‘barbarians’ Keltoi (‘the hidden people’).
The Mabinogion
The Mabinogion is a collection of Welsh stories, mostly mythology and folklore, including the earliest Arthurian myths.
Ogham
Ogham (OH-am) is an ancient alphabet used to write Old Irish and other Brythonic/Brittonic languages (such as Pictish, Welsh) from about the 3rd century CE. The Ogham alphabet is sometimes called the ‘Celtic Tree Alphabet’ as each letter is assigned a tree or plant name. However, this was probably done after the initial creation of the Ogham script. AfterContinue reading “Ogham”
Stonehenge
Stonehenge is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located in Wiltshire, England, it consists of a ring of standing stones within a variety of earthworks. Stonehenge is found within one of the most dense collection of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments in England, which includesContinue reading “Stonehenge”
West Coast Pagan 