Celtic Culture Site

Cult of the Wqrror Heo CelticMaps

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 17:51:25 GMT

Warfare in various forms was central to Celtic society, and classical historians have labeled the Celts a warlike people. In the first century AD the Roman chronicler Strabo described the Gauls as warlike the whole nation is war mad, both high-spirited and ready for battle. Within Celtic culture the warrior was revered, and together with druids and bards he held a unique place in Celtic myth. Previous page A Celtic fortified center Oppidum under attack from another Celtic tribe. It was...

Introduction identifying the problems CelticArt

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 12:46:16 GMT

The problems of identifying, dating and explaining the La Tene in Ireland are even more fundamental than for Britain. First of all, it would not be pure casuistry to ask how far the types representative of the Irish La Tene are in fact La Tene at all. Types such as Y-pendants are not part of the La Tene repertory in Continental Europe, and the one type that is ubiquitous in great numbers in Continental Europe, the safety-pin brooch, is represented in Ireland by barely thirty examples. A second...

The Evolution of the Celtic Cross The Celtic Cross

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 22:04:47 GMT

7V t the end of the fourth century, the mission of St Ninian to the people who lived north of the Roman province of Britain led JL to the foundation of the first Christian church in Caledonia. This was the so-called Candida Casa White House at Whithorn in Galloway. In the fifth and sixth centuries, the Candida Casa was a centre of Christian missionary activity in northern Britain and Ireland. St Enda, founder of the early monastery at Killeany on the Aran island of Inishmore, was an alumnus of...

Hunting And Wild Animals CelticLife

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 00:14:21 GMT

There is a strong hint in the vernacular literature of a close correlation between hunter hunted and the divine world. Hunted animals were sometimes perceived as messengers of the Otherworld powers, the means of bringing living humans, either directly or indirectly, to the underworld. The hunted creature itself may be enchanted or possess magical qualities it may be a transformed human or a god in zoomorphic form. Tales of the hunt involve, above all, the wild pig or boar and the stag. In...

Branwen CelticMythology

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 02:13:32 GMT

aunt, Uirne. One day the dog returned from hunting with Sadb, a beautiful woman who was under the spell of a druid and appeared in the form of a young doe. The druid's enchantment was broken when Fionn and Sadb fell in love. Later, Sadb was lured back into the forest and resumed the form of a doe. In some versions of the tale, Bran the hound discovered the couple's child in the forest and brought the infant oisiN back to Fionn. Bran 3 An Irish hero. The son of Febail, Bran journeyed to an...

Celtic Fire CelticMythology

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 20:26:35 GMT

back to life unless they have been decapitated. The kitchen servant Gwion Bach became the all-seeing poet Taliesin when he accidentally sampled the magic potion brewed in Ceridwen's cauldron. Gundestrup Cauldron An ornate silver cauldron was found in Gundestrup, Denmark in 1880. Originally gilded, it depicts Celtic gods, goddesses, and mythological scenes. The cauldron may have been made in Gaul, but its origin and its age are not known for certain. The decorations on the Gundestrup Cauldron...

Midir CelticMythology

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:25:49 GMT

This image of a mermaid was carved into the south chancel arch of Clonfert Cathedral in County Gal-way, Ireland. Photo by Trounce Used under a Creative Common license love, a mermaid tempts an unsuspecting man by bringing him precious jewels, pearls, and gold coins. Then she lures him underneath the waves, promising to show him a storehouse of treasures that she guards for the gods of the sea. There, the mermaid keeps the man prisoner for her own amusement, tethering him to a long, golden...

Brown Bull Of Ulster CelticMythology

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 23:22:11 GMT

ity, cattle, crops, and healing. She is also a goddess of poetry, worshiped by poets. She may even be a mother goddess. One side of her face is lovely while the other is ugly. Brigit was the daughter of the father god Dagda. She mated with Bres the Beautiful to produce a son, Ruadan. She had two lesser-known sisters. Both were also named Brigit. One was a physician and one was a Smith. The two minor sisters are probably simply other aspects of the dominant Brigit. Taken together, the three...

Branwen 1 CelticMythology

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 21:03:22 GMT

of Welsh tales collected in the Middle Ages, she married an Irish king, but his subjects disliked having a foreign queen. As a result, she was treated poorly. She suffered miserably for three years while training a bird to speak. She then sent the bird to alert her brother, the giant king of Britain, Bendigeidfran also known as Bran 1 the Blessed , of her fate. The news angered him so much that he waded across the ocean to her rescue. A war then began between Britain and Ireland. In some...

The Torc The Celtic Cross

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 00:49:24 GMT

The most characteristic artefact of Celtic culture is another round structure, the tore, which is literally a binding of metal. Originating in the fifth century bce during the La Tenc period, the tore is essentially a body ornament made of precious metal in the form of a curved rod with identical free ends that face one another, almost touching. In effect, tores are incomplete circles. Worn on the neck or arm, they must be flexible enough to enable the wearer to put them on and take them off,...

FERTILITY GODDESSES See mother goddesses CelticMythology

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:49:00 GMT

Fiachra In Irish myth, one of the unfortunate children of Lir 2 , a member of the Tuatha De Danann. Fiachra and her three siblings were turned into swans by their father's second wife, their jealous stepmother who was also their aunt, AiFE 2 . The children remained swans for 900 years until the curse was broken by the marriage of a man from the North and a woman from the South. FlACHU MAC Fir FhEBE An Ulster hero who, along with Fergus, fought with Queen Medb of Connacht against his own...

Torrs and its affinities CelticArt

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 15:27:55 GMT

This period of innovation and experimentation culminated by the third century in the mature phase of insular Celtic art, and the production of a number of high-status pieces of parade armour and related ceremonial or symbolic metal-work. Foremost in this group are the Torrs pony-cap and horns, the Witham shield and the Wandsworth circular shield boss, all of which display a combination of repouss relief ornament and engraved, two-dimensional designs, and which have generally been regarded since...

Red Man of All Knowledge Celtic god CelticMythology

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 04:16:38 GMT

who helps the hero Diarmait in the tale of the Loathly Lady. The Red Man is a messenger, prophet, and wise man from Land Under Wave, a place located in the Otherworld. He helps Diarmait in his quest to find the cup of healing water to cure the Loathly Lady, who is really a fairy princess. He also warns Diarmait of what will happen once the lady is cured, advising him to refuse all gifts except for the offer of a ride home on an enchanted ship. RHIANNON Welsh princess, wife of king Pwyll and...

DERMOT See Diarmait CelticMythology

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:58:24 GMT

DESTRUCTIONS One of the story types found in Celtic myth. The tales describe the destruction of a building, often by fire. The best known of this literary form is The Destruction of Da Derga's Hostel. In that story, a king's failure to follow his sacred vows result in his death. DlAN A Fianna chieftain who traveled to the Otherworld and back. Upon returning, he told his friends that he would rather be a slave of the Fianna than a ruler in the Otherworld. Another Dian was one of the three sons...

The CeLtic Identify CelticMaps

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:05:28 GMT

Homer. Hesiod. and Herodotus were among the first writers to give the Celtic peoples an identity. Who were the Celts From the first reeorded links between the Mediterranean world and Celtic civilization the Celts have exuded an element of mystery. The term Celtic itself has obscure origins, and several theories have been proposed about where it came from. Apart from the archaeological evidence, everything we know about the Celts camc from the Creeks and Romans. Known as the Keltoi or Calatai by...

Cymraeg Cymric A dialect of the Celtic CelticMythology

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 02:57:12 GMT

language that was spoken in Wales and also used a unique alphabet. The Celtic language evolved from the Indo-European languages, which were the basis for all languages spoken in Europe, India, Persia, and some parts of Asia. As the Celts spread out through Europe and Great Britain, they began to pronounce words differently or use different terms for the same ideas. Under British rule, Cymraeg was discarded or outlawed in favor of the English language. Today, because of renewed interest in...

The Structure Of Celtic Christianity The Celtic Cross

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 02:40:04 GMT

The Celtic church had four grades of brethren, reflecting the quaternary structure of the land of Ireland, the symbolic image of wholeness. At the lowest level were the Juniores Alumni, students who served above them, the Operarii, lay brothers, who did the manual labour above them, the Seniores, elders, dedicated to prayer and teaching and over the whole community ruled the head, Abba Pater or Pater Spiritualis, who lived apart from the others on higher ground. The four circles inherent in the...

contents CelticMythology

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:32:52 GMT

Introduction vu Time Line for Celtic Culture xv Map of Celtic Europe 800-200 bce xv A-to-Z Entries 1 Selected Bibliography 124 Index 125 Mythology is a key that helps us unlock the mysteries of people, cultures, and civilizations of the past. Even after the inhabitants of these worlds are long gone, we can learn about them by reading their stories. Celtic pronounced KEL-tic mythology is no exception to this rule. The cast of characters in Celtic myth is a reflection of the society itself. These...

Personal Symbols In Ancient Europe The Celtic Cross

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 23:32:22 GMT

There are historic links between the Celts and the Scythians, and Scythian elements appear in the early Celtic art of the La Tene period. During the same period, aristocratic Thracian women were being tattooed. Thracian priestesses of Dionysos are shown with their tattoos on fifth-century bce Greek vases. Later, the sword-wielding woman attacking the bull on the base of the Celtic-influenced Gundestrup Cauldron first century bce is depicted with tattoos similar to those of Thracian priestesses....

The Amazons were tribe CelticMythology

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:19:52 GMT

of female warriors, supposedly descended from RES, the Greek war god, and the naiad Harmonia Their home was situated beyond the Black Sea. It is thought that their name refers ro their breast less condition, for Amazons voluntarily removed their right breasts in order that the 'might more easily draw a bow. The ancient Greeks believed these fierce warriors periodically mated with the men from another Eribe, afterwards rearing their female children but discarding or maiming all the males. During...

General patterns CelticKnots

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 06:30:41 GMT

Knotwork Interlace- The pattern shows the interconnection of life and mankind's place within the universe. For instance, the Trinity knot represents the Holy Trinity or the Triple Gods Goddesses of the ancient Celts and the Lover's Knot represents the concept of two become one resembles intertwined infinity symbols . Spirals- Spirals shows the accomplishment of an individual to balance his inner and outer self and reflects on his personal spirit. The pattern also symbolizes the Cosmos, Heavens...

Horned God CelticMythology

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 07:44:19 GMT

Celtic warriors often wore horned helmets to evoke the power of horned gods like Cernunnos. This helmet dates from the first century B.C. and is decorated in the La Tene style. Photo by Vissarion Used under a Creative Commons license HORNED GOD Early Celtic gods were often depicted with animal horns or antlers on their heads. Such horns were believed to be a symbol of male strength. The most prominent of the horned gods was the Gaul Cernunnos. The Gaul god Camu-lus and the British god CociDius...

England CelticFortifications

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:10:44 GMT

Maiden Castle, near Dorchester, Dorset The largest Iron Age hill-fort in Britain, the imposing fortifications of Maiden Castle were excavated during the 1930s and 1980s. The site is now maintained by English Heritage. Maiden Castle is open throughout the year, and a self-guided trail is provided. Website Danebury, near Stockbridge, Hampshire The Iron Age hill-fort of Danebury was extensively excavated over some 20 years, making it the most closely studied hill-fort site in Britain. Danebury is...

Towers in the north CelticScotland

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:19:04 GMT

While reconstruction drawings can give some sense of how impressive the timber roundhouses might once have been, it is perhaps only with the broch towers of the north and west that we can gain a real sense of the visual impact of such buildings 18 Vie broch lower of Mousa in Shetland is one of the best preserved prehistoric buildings in Britain, standing close to its original height at around 13m tall. and of the central role of the roundhouse in Iron Age life. Yet brochs and duns have tended...

Bronze Age houses in the Sutherland glens CelticScotland

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 02:09:50 GMT

The most common prehistoric houses visible in the landscape today are hut circles. This rather antiquated term encompasses a wide variety of architectural forms that need share little more than a tendency to decay into a ring-shaped earthen bank. Many were originally imposing and elaborate buildings to which the rather disparaging term 'hut' does little justice. These roundhouses are among the most common prehistoric remains in the Scottish landscape, with more than 2000 known in Sutherland...

Fairy Mounds CelticMythology

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 22:37:24 GMT

for all she gives, this fairy lives off of and drains the life force of her human lover, who remains her slave until he can find someone else to take his place. The Irish leipreachain, or lepracaun a name which means shoemaker , is another solitary fairy who sometimes plots mischief against humans they are also known as Cluricauns a drunk leprechaun and Far Darrig red man or practical joker . Yeats describes leipreachains as withered, old, and solitary and badly dressed, slouching, jeering,...

Milesians CelticMythology

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:17:52 GMT

he tricked Eochaid into letting her go. Either way, Eochaid and his men rescued Etain and brought her back home again. Milesians The final wave of invaders of Ireland, as described in the Lebcjr GabAla Book of Invasions . They were led by MiL Espaine, who wanted to avenge the death of his uncle, Ith. Mil, for whom the group was named, did not survive the journey. When Mil's sons and followers arrived in Ireland, they were greeted by Banba, Eriu, and Fodla. Each of the three beautiful goddesses...

Methods and use of cavalry forces CelticLife

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 15:28:34 GMT

The Celts used cavalry units in a number of ways they could act as advance or reconnoitring troops they guarded marching columns they challenged and taunted they ambushed foraging Romans they cut off supplies and in pitched battles, they harried and outflanked. A favourite method of fighting was to charge, hurl javelins and then dismount to fight hand to hand. Cavalry operate best in open country Tacitus describes Celtic cavalry tactics in wooded areas of Britain, where troops dismounted and...

Contents CelticFolklore

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 07:49:32 GMT

GOEGRAPHICAL LIST OF AUTHORITIES. . . xxv LIST OF BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES . . xxxi i. The legend of ILyn y Fan Fach a ii. The legend of ILyn y Forwyn 23 in. Some Snowdon lake legends 30 v. ILandegai and ILantfechid 50 vi. Mapes' story of ILyn Syfatfon 7 1. Betfgelert and its environs 75 in. Glasynys' yarns . . . . . . 109 vi. The Berwyn and Aran Fawdwy 135 vil The hinterland of Aberdovey 141 vni. Some more Merioneth stories 146 ix. The Children of Rhys Dwfn 151 x. Southey and the Green Isles...

Enchantment And Shapechanging CelticLife

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 07:04:45 GMT

We have discussed the way in which certain kinds of animal were depicted and perceived in the early literature. But underpinning any analysis of the roles different beasts could play are two basic principles concerning animals in general. The first is the concept of the enchanted creature, which possesses qualities beyond its natural limits the properties of human speech or wisdom, or the ability to communicate with the world of the supernatural. The second, related, idea is that of...

Cincinnatus was a roman CelticMythology

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 18:18:34 GMT

hero who was instrumental in saving the early Republic In 458 BC, Rome was in danger of being destroyed by the Aequi, a neighbouring Italian tribe. To defeat this threat, the Senate voted to appoint Cmcmnatus as dictator, a temporar ' office vested with unlimited powers A deputation was sent to his small farm, which was the smallest landholding allowed to qualify for citizenship. The senators found Cmcmnatus at work tending his crops He was told of the Senate's decision and was saluted as...

Celtic ethnicity Celtic languages and Celtic art CelticArt

Sun, 25 Sep 2011 05:17:28 GMT

The first questions that should be addressed in a book that incorporates the phrase 'Celtic art' in its title are whether the term 'Celtic' is justified, and in what sense is it being applied Chapman 1992 cast doubt on the belief that Celts in Iron Age Europe existed as an ethnic group at all. Collis 2003 was more qualified in his critique, noting that Caesar's identification of the inhabitants of his third part of Gaul, who were known as 'Celtae in their own language, but Galli in ours' de...

spiral chains CelticJewelry

Sat, 24 Sep 2011 16:34:54 GMT

The spiral is probably the most characteristic and distinctive symbol of the Celtic style. In this chapter, you will learn how to create spiral units to form beautiful, hand-made chains that reflect the timeless, swirling patterns of the ancient craftsmen. Experiment with using other gauges and types of wire than those suggested here you will be surprised at how different the results can look The spiral is perhaps the most identifiable sliape of Celtic culture and this chain is the epitome of...

Diarmait CelticMythology

Sat, 24 Sep 2011 01:12:18 GMT

Her father, wanting only to please the girl, told her that such a man lived nearby. He was NoisE, the nephew of Conchobar. His hair was as black as a raven's feathers, his skin was as white as snow, and his cheeks were flushed red as newly spilled blood. Deirdre pined for this man whom she had never met. She became so melancholy that her father agreed to arrange a meeting. The young man and the maiden fell in love instantly. Recognizing Deirdre as the infant who had been promised to his uncle...

Pliers and cutters CelticJewelry

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 14:09:18 GMT

You will need a good pair of wire cutters and two or three kinds of pliers. There are three types of pliers used in making wire jewelry round-nose, flat-nose, and chain-nose although, to get started, round-and flat-nose ore the most essential. It is well worth investing in good-quality versions. Round-nose pliers have tapered shafts, around which you bend the wire so they ore ideal for Chain-nose piiers ore similar to flat-nose pliers, but have tapered ends. They are useful for holding very...

Expressions of ethnicity CelticScotland

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 13:49:22 GMT

We might expect the emergence of tribal units to be accompanied by some material expression of tribal or ethnic identity. However, in the early part of our period the surviving artefacts suggest precisely the opposite. During the Later Bronze Age. the status-conscious elites flaunted elaborate bronzes that bore striking similarities to those of their peers elsewhere in Europe. The appeal of these items probably lay as much in their exotic associations as in the time lavished on their...

Conclusions CelticArt

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 18:42:19 GMT

To the question 'can we meaningfully talk about Celtic art ', we have answered in the affirmative, but not simply as careless shorthand for La Tene art. It is possible to argue from the documentary record of ancient historians and geographers that there were people known to the classical world as Celts, and even people who regarded themselves as Celts. Furthermore, the evidence of personal and place-names, admittedly in many cases known from Roman period sources, allows us to infer, in the...

Bibliography CelticFortifications

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 18:28:33 GMT

Armit, Ian Towers in the North The Broclis of Scotland Stroud, Gloucestershire Tempus Publishing, 2003 Armit, Ian Celtic Scotland London B.T. Batsford for Historic Scotland, 2005 Barrett, J.C. et al., Cadbury Castle, Somerset London B.T. Batsford for English Heritage, 2001 Bradley, R. and Ellison, A. Rams Hill - British Archaeological Reports No. 19 Oxford Archaeopress, 1975 Chadwick, Nora and Cunliffe, Barry The Celts A Penguin History London Penguin, 1997 Cunliffe, Barry and Miles, David...

Motif style and meaning CelticArt

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 12:40:16 GMT

The conventional approach to archaeological classification, the recognition of types and type-sequences, study of their recurrent associations, and the plotting of spatial distributions of key types, has been criticized over the past generation as descriptive rather than explanatory or interpretative. Accepting that analysis is not an end in itself but a means of distilling order from the mass of data available as an essential preliminary to interpretation, this study of Celtic art will retain...

Sualtam mac Roich Husband of Deichtine and foster father of Cuchulainn CelticMythology

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 11:14:09 GMT

Sucellus SUCELLUS, The God Striker A Gaulish god whose function is unclear. He carried a large hammer. He was possibly a king of the gods or a god of the dead. The cup or purse he carried could mean that he was a fertility god or a god of wealth and well-being. His consort was the water goddess Nantosuelta. Sulis A Gaulish goddess of healing and fertility. sun gods and sun goddesses The male and female deities often regional connected with the Sun. Male figures included Belenus and Beli Mawr....

INNER BOTTOM RIGHT Kym Celtic Key Patterns

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 10:43:17 GMT

30 x 30 Minimum Complete Pattern 58 x 58 30 x 30 Minimum Complete Pattern 58 x 58 30 x 30 Minimum Complete Pattern 58 x 58 30 x 30 Minimum Complete Pattern 58 x 58 30 x 30 Minimum Complete Pattern 58 x 58 30 x 30 Minimum Complete Pattern 58 x 58

Yeats William Butler Famous Irish POET CelticMythology

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 08:53:07 GMT

and dramatist leader of the nineteenth-century renewal of Celtic and traditional Irish culture. Yeats's poems, plays, and books reflected his deep love of Ireland and its myths. His life's work gained him the Noble Prize for literature in 1923 and deeply influenced a renewal of worldwide interest in Celtic culture. Born in Dublin in 1865, Yeats was just a baby when his family returned to London. He spent many of his boyhood summers at his grandparent's home in County Sligo, Ireland. He was not...

Creating Key Borders Celtic Key Patterns

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 03:13:28 GMT

Now we come to probably the most common use of key patterns - narrow borders. These are to be found in just about every Celtic manuscript in existence, and most likely in the hundreds that have been destroyed or lost. Even the most primitive of the manuscripts - such as the Book of Deer - which contain little of the decoration we think of as Celtic, still have key pattern borders. These make the greatest use of the Celtic edging, as they consist of little other than top and bottom edges put...

Sheep 1 CelticLife

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:10:17 GMT

Less common than pigs, sheep none the less feature in the meat-offerings and ritual banquets of Celtic shrines and graves. Sheep seem to have been treated similarly to pigs, in that again the preference was for young beasts. Lambs of 3 or 4 months old were favoured at Gournay, but only the shoulder and leg portions were brought into the sanctuary and consumed. At Mirebeau, sheep were slaughtered at 2 years old, as they attained adulthood this would be the optimum time for killing, in that the...

Tiibal interaction CelticScotland

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 16:45:07 GMT

In view of the territoriality and social fragmentation that seems to characterize the middle centuries of the first millennium BC, the lack of evidence for inter-tribal contact prior to the Roman incursions conies as little surprise. Steatite, found only in Shetland, was transported to Orkney and to a few sites on the west coast, but apparently not in any significant quantities. Similarly, iron ore must have been traded to some extent, as presumably was timber for the construction of monumental...

CagLc waLL plAque CelticWoodcraft

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 16:03:30 GMT

he eagle is associated with strength and wisdom, it appears many times in illuminated manuscripts as an evangelist symbol for St ohn. although in The Book of Durroiv the eagle is used to represent Si Mark. In Durrow. the eagle Is very stylized, having a perfectly round head and eye facing right, with a forward facing body. In The Hook of Kelts the eagle appears much more frequently, giving the opportunity for a far greater variety of designs. Some eagles are depicted with four wings, and one...

Selection Consumption And Ritual Feasting CelticLife

Sun, 18 Sep 2011 16:32:07 GMT

An interesting aspect of animal-sacrifice concerns the criteria of selection. In many religions, the appearance, species, sex and age of beasts for sacrifice are important factors determining choice. Appearance is something we cannot generally trace archaeologically. That it may have mattered is implied by Pliny's comment in his Natural History22 that the two bulls chosen for sacrifice by the Druids on the occasion of the mistletoe festival on the sixth day of the moon were white. The Tables of...

Preface CelticLife

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 11:16:23 GMT

This book has come about because of my longstanding fascination for the ancient Celts and, in particular, for Celtic myth and religion, upon which most of my previous research work has been based. In all the sources for the period of the pagan Celts roughly 600 BC - AD 400 , the role of animals in both the secular and the sacred worlds appears to have been dominant and essential. The close association between what were basically rural communities and the natural world manifested itself not only...

Caesars Commentaries on the Gallic War to the CelticLanguages

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 14:05:36 GMT

Proper Names in Gallic inscriptions on stone or from the various potteries on terra-cotta, to the 20 or so words in the Vienna Gaulish-Latin Glossary including avallo apple , to a few others recorded in ancient writers both Latin and Greek, and to such loan-words as we have just seen in Gallo-Latin, Gaulish deserves a place in our present study and will be called on whenever it has something to contribute Having divided the Celtic family of six into two equal parts according to their treatment...

origins of Celtic knotworks CelticKnots

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 08:36:24 GMT

The Celtic knots were the creation of Celts in the early Celtic Church who resided mainly in Ireland. Around AD 450, Christian Celtic artwork was influenced by pagan Celtic sources which incorporated an additional knotwork category of life form motifs. The Celtic knots then spread to the Scottish Highlands and Europe via missionary expeditions. This traditional culture of knotworks in manuscript painting was passed down orally with non-existent written records. Many groups of people began to...

rDdiichtha welsh CelticLanguages

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 02:15:24 GMT

M. my heer W. fy nhir of motherland ii thy Irish, Gaelic, Manx aspirate Welsh, Cornish, Breton soften e.g. thy house iii his as for thy e.g. his dog iv her Goidelic leaves consonants unchanged Brythonic aspirates e.g. her dog Before a vowel, however, a her requires the insertion of H, except in Cornish. In Breton it is added to the pronoun e.g. her soul. W. ei henaid B. heh ene but C. hy enef. v our your their In Irish all eclipse in Gaelic, our and your,though the same words as the Irish ar,...

The Natural World Of The Celts CelticLife

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 16:44:11 GMT

Modern urban dwellers are cushioned, to an extent, from the rhythm of the seasons, from the immediate effects of good or poor harvests and of the health and fertility of flocks and herds. But in any pre-industrial and essentially rural society, the association of communities with the natural environment and their dependence on it are both close and direct. The world of the Celts was no exception. The single farm or small nucleated settlement was the home of many Celtic peoples, and even the...

Brigit CelticMythology

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 21:42:29 GMT

promised, Bricriu left the hall before the start of the great feast. But before departing, he turned and told the guests that they should decide among themselves who deserved the champion's portion. Bricriu and his wife then crept up into a balcony to watch and enjoy the chaos. As expected, each of the three Ulstermen announced his claim to the champion's portion. The argument soon became a fistfight. A wise Ulsterman, Sencha mac Ailella, ended the fight by suggesting that each guest get an...

Kzszszszsz CelticArt

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 20:22:32 GMT

b, c, and d Different Methods of Shading a . r Surface Pattern, produced by repeating 6 . A few new patterns see Pig. 6 may be produced by placing the chevron with the point of the V facing to the right or left, thus, lt or gt , instead of upwards or downwards, thus, A V thus, gt gt 4 The same as a , but with a horizontal line through the points of the V's. r The same as a , but shaded, o' The same as bl, but shaded. Figs. 7 to io give the triangular paiterns, plain and shaded, produced by...

Pronunciation CelticMythology

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 22:56:33 GMT

HE vowels are pronounced generally as in Italian. In the Lithuanian diphthong ai the first element predominates almost to the suppression of the second. Russian e has the sound of the English word yea or of ye in yes Lithuanian e often written ie is pronounced like yea, but with a slight -sound added yaa , and u is equivalent to uoa very like English whoaa Lettish ee is simply e English a in fate Polish ie is like English ye in yes Russian iy is practically the i in English pique. The Slavic i...

ElTHNE INGUBAI In some stories the wife of Cchulainn CelticMythology

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 19:39:25 GMT

Elatha In Irish tales, the mystical Fomorian king who mated with riu of the Tuatha De Danann to produce Bres. Despite his family ties to the two warring factions, Bres failed to make peace between the two peoples. ELCMAR The alias of the Tuatha De Danann king Nuadu when he was serving as foster father to Angus g, the god of youth. ELDER A tree that, like the alder, seems to bleed when cut. The elder was thought to contain spirits of fertility. ELEN A Welsh heroine from the Mabinogion. She used...

Design and construction CelticFortifications

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 10:17:14 GMT

The small hill-fort of Caburn, Sussex was built during the early Iron Age, although archaeologists now believe its defences were strengthened around the mid-1st century AD, possibly in response to the Roman invasion of Britain.The site was abandoned soon afterwards. Courtesy of Steve Danes Today, Celtic fortifications, particularly hill-forts, are readily identifiable by the remains of their ramparts and ditches - a still formidable system of fieldworks which serve as visible reminders of an...

The Forts of Celtic Britain CelticFortifications

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 10:16:25 GMT

Angus Konstam Illustrated by Peter Bull Angus Konstam Illustrated by Peter Bull First published in 2006 by Osprey Publishing Midland House. West Way. Botley. Oxford OX2 OPH. UK 443 Park Avenue South. New York, NY 10016. USA E-mail info ospreypublishing.com All rights reserved. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988. no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a...

Places of worship CelticScotland

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 01:47:26 GMT

The classical records suggest that Celtic religion was practised in natural places, such as groves, forest clearings, pools, lakes and islands, rather than in the monumental buildings familiar to the Romans and Greeks, so it is unsurprising that overtly ritual sites are hard to find. The Latin poet Lucan, writing in the first century AD though describing events of a century earlier, describes a dark and hidden woodland sanctuary near Marseilles, where human sacrifices were offered up to crude...

valentine knot bracelet CelticJewelry

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 20:29:06 GMT

No book of jewelry projects would be complete without a heart, the symbol of love, among the designs. In this bracelet. I've given the heart a very Celtic rendering with curling spirals, and have used bone- and wood-effect beads and cotton cord to reflect the materials that would have been available in those ancient times. 8 x 8 mm wood- and booe-etlect beads Round-and Hal nose pliers Wire cutters Hammer and steel stake Superglue optional The interlaced natural cot ton cord and hone and wood...

Continuity And Destruction The Celtic Cross

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 16:17:14 GMT

There are a number of surviving late medieval artefacts that demonstrate the continuation of traditional Celtic art. A notable Irish example is the fifteenth-century leather satchel made as a container for Tlie Book of Armagh. Kept in Trinity College, Dublin, it is stamped with patterns that reflect the full repertoire of Celtic ribbonwork and animal interlaces. The famous ivory and metal Eglinton Casket on show in the National Museum of Antiquities in Edinburgh , once thought to date from the...

Board Games CelticMyths

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 21:12:48 GMT

The most common game, which people of any worth were expected to play, was a variant of draughts or checkers invented by Lugh of the Long Hand, called fidchell in Eriu and gwyddbwyll in Prydain. The name, in both languages, meant wooden wisdom, and the game occupied the same social niche as chess did in medieval chivalry. Sometimes a king's fidchell board had a name, in much the same way as a weapon. Often guests were asked to play against the king, and were expected to try their best to beat...

The Making Of Ancient Manuscripts CelticDesigns

Sun, 04 Sep 2011 17:51:52 GMT

Sitting in a warm building with pencil and paper readily available for our designs, we should bear in mind the arduous lengths the early Christian monks went to in order to create their wonderful illuminated manuscripts such as the books of Kelts, Lindisfarne, Durrow and other lesser-known works. Their 'paper' was vellum - made from cured calfskin and a very expensive commodity. The vellum was prepared by soaking it in specially prepared liquids and then stretching it over frames and scraping...

Stags CelticLife

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 21:12:34 GMT

In addition to their role as the quarry of hunters in the Irish and Welsh literature, stags receive a great deal of attention in the vernacular tradition. They are associated with wild nature and with the forest, with speed and strength and sometimes with wisdom. The 'Tale of Culhwch and Olwen' describes a supernatural stag which can communicate with one of Arthur's men and helps in the quest for Mabon. In the Mabinogi, a stag is the agent through which Pwyll and Arawn meet.10 The Irish band of...

Fishhook clasp CelticJewelry

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 22:32:32 GMT

The most commonly used clasp is the fish-hook, which is also one of the simplest to create. I . Working from the spool, curl the end of the wire info o small loop using the tips of your round-nose pliers. Reposition your pliers on the other side of the wire, just under the loop, and curl the wire in the opposite direction around the wider part of the pliers to form the fish-hook clasp. This hook-shaped clasp is both decorative atid functional. . Cut the wire off the spool, leaving about in. to...

Colour The Celtic Cross

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 21:51:30 GMT

Until the classical revival in the eighteenth century, it was customary in Europe to paint sculpture. In antiquity, Egyptian, Cretan and Greek sculpture was painted naturalistically, and later, in the Christian churches, images of God, Our Lady and the saints were similarly lifelike. Although in Britain we are accustomed now to seeing painted stonework only inside parish churches and cathedrals, this was not the case in former times, for all stonework was intended to be painted. The tradition...

Time line for Celtic Culture CelticMythology

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:37:32 GMT

6000 B.c. 1000 B.c. ca. 900 B.c. ca. 800 B.c. Beginning of the Stone Age Beginning of the Iron Age The use of iron spreads into Europe First Celtic people in central Europe Hallstatt era begins Celts settle in Spain First Celtic tribes arrive in Ireland from Spain Celts continue to colonize British Isles, move into Scotland Height of Celtic influence in Britain La Tene culture era begins the first heroic and royal sagas are created Celtic tribes expand into Italy, Spain, France, and Bavaria...

Mathematical observations CelticKnots

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 11:38:59 GMT

There are many types of knotwork in various religions or groups. However, below are the observations that distinguished celtic knots from others 1 The strong diagonals in celtic knots are based on the 3 4 5 triangle, otherwise known as the right-angle triangle. 2 At almost every corner of any celtic knots, we can see pointed spades. This is done so as to connect the cord element to fit a corner. 3 The interlacing of the cords is consistent they alternate between overs and unders, which...

PLATE VIII Squatting God CelticMythology

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 01:12:02 GMT

The deity has torques on his neck and lap, and is encircled by two serpents with rams' heads. Traces of horns appear on his head. He may possibly be a form of Cernunnos see Plate XVI , and would thus be a divinity of the underworld. From an altar found at Autun, Saone-et-Loire. For a representation on a Gaulish coin see Plate III, 3 cf. also Plates IX, XXV. Trespass on a sacred place is implied in the story of Eochaid, who eloped with his step-mother. Oengus, in disguise, told him not to camp...

ALPHABET See ogham CelticMythology

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 13:31:48 GMT

AMAETHON 1 In Welsh tales, the magician son of the goddess Don. His brother, Gwydion, was also a powerful magician. When Amaethon stole a deer, a bird, and a dog from Annwfn, the Welsh Otherworld, he angered the deities there. Arawn, the ruler of Annwfn, declared war on Amaethon and his brother, Gwydion. Just when all seemed lost, Gwydion used magic to turn trees into warriors. With the aid of their magical army, the brothers managed to defeat the gods. The battle was called Cad Goddeu, or the...

Tuatha De Danann CelticMythology

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 12:34:41 GMT

people of Dana. Badb, Macha 1 , and MorrIgan are their three great queens or war goddesses. Each member of the Tuatha De Danann has a special significance, skill, or capacity. The principal characters and their main traits are as follows Angus Og was the god of youth and beauty and a protector of lovers. BOand was a river goddess who gave her name to the river Boyne. She was the wife of Dagda. Brigit was the fiery goddess of poetry and the patron of storytellers and bards. Cian was a shape...

accessories CelticJewelry

Sat, 27 Aug 2011 21:29:02 GMT

I hope the projects in this chapter will inspire you to consider designing and fabricating matching accessories and wire art to complement your own jewelry pieces. Jewelry is highly personal and these projects, which include a key ring, handbag clip, and hair grip, provide great gift ideas for special birthdays and anniversaries. Cascading down like bubbles in a waterfall, the beads are encased in spirals of wire to form a unified bunch that can be used to decorate a key ring, handbag, or belt...

duo spiral bracelet CelticJewelry

Sat, 27 Aug 2011 17:32:50 GMT

You will need 20-gauge pink wire 20-gauge green wire Round- and flat-nose pliers Wire cutters Earty man observed the beauty of nature's spirals, using them as a symbol of eternity, symbolizing life, death, and rebirth. Spirals can be found in the art of most earty civilizations, but it was the Celts who found a way of weaving two. three, four, or even more coils together. These fun. colorful bracelets, made from two tones of wire, can also be made in gold and silver for a more reserved, classic...

Celtic Lettering CelticDesigns

Sat, 27 Aug 2011 17:08:57 GMT

STAGE 1 Using a pair of compasses and a soft pencil, draw a circle and mark the circumference with six equidistant points. Use a ruler to join these points through the centre of the circle, then draw an equilateral triangle within the circle joining the points of three of the six lines. This framework will help to keep the design symmetrical. Draw the outline of the birds, keeping the pencil lines as accurate as possible. STAGE 2 Continue working in pencil and add further details of the birds'...

CDIRRORCD cANdle scoNce CelticWoodcraft

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 16:15:58 GMT

is said that there arc two ways of spreading light, 'to be the candle, or the mirror that reflects it'. This project uses mirrors to reflect the candlelight many times the larger mirror offers a continuous reflection and, as the candle burns lower, so the lower mirrors reflect the flame. This way. one small flame can spread its light in many directions. Candlelight does more than dispel darkness it represents powerful symbolism in many faiths. Candles are lit for remembrance, for worship, for...

Rites of sacrifice CelticScotland

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 08:48:28 GMT

Classical accounts of Celtic religion dwell on acts of sacrifice. The offering of material wealth to the gods, in return for favours, to ensure good luck or as simple bribes, is common in accounts of the Celts, and tar from alien to classical societies of the same period. Mounds of valuable possessions, booty and trophies of war, were apparently heaped in sacred places, enclosures and pools, inviolable on pain of death. This wealth could comprise a collection of elaborate jewellery or weaponry,...

The Navel Of The World The Celtic Cross

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 13:52:06 GMT

The concept of the navel of the world, now called by its Greek name, omphalos, was recognized as far back as ancient Egyptian times. The Egyptian world centre was more than a symbolic or theoretical place, for it was actually represented by an elliptical stone that marked the mid-point of the country. This was the geodetic point of reference at the place where the north-south meridian and the east west parallel crossed each other. In the Old Kingdom, the centre of Egypt was at Sakkara. The...

Boudicca CelticMythology

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 11:19:17 GMT

This statue of Boudicca by Thomas Thornycroft shows the Icene queen confronting the Romans in full warrior regalia. Her two daughters sit behind their mother. Photo by Kit36 Used under a Creative Commons license ambushed General Quintus Petilius Cerialis and his 6,000 legionnaires as they marched south. His entire infantry excepting for 500 cavalry officers was slaughtered. The general retreated back to his fortress in the north. Next, Boudicca's forces attacked the Roman headquarters in the...

Celtic Art CelticDesigns

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 04:03:41 GMT

Celtic Art - from its beginnings to The Book of Kells, Ruth and Vincent Megaw Thames and Hudson 2002 Early Celtic Designs, Ian Stead and Karen Hughes British Museum Press 1997 Celtic Art - the methods of construction, George Bain,- Constable 1991 The Celtic Art Source Book, Courtney Davis Blandford Press 1988 Celtic Art in Pagan and Christian Times, J Romilly Allen Bracken Books 1993 reprint of 1904 Early Celtic Art in Britain and Ireland, Ruth and Vincent Megaw,-Shire Archaeology 1994 Later...

The Maypole The Celtic Cross

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 01:48:25 GMT

The general principle of the heavenly column appears to be very ancient, seemingly going back at least 3,000 years. A remarkable pointed conical golden object called a goldkegel found at Ezelsdorf, near Nuremberg, and dating from 1100 bce, is believed to be the top of such a pillar. Also, from the evidence of enormous post-holes, it appears that votive posts were erected in the Celtic sacred enclosures favoured in Germany and France. In more recent times, maypoles have been set up each year to...

InitiaL cddo boler CelticWoodcraft

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 23:00:52 GMT

i r f Materials Photocopies of Setter templates 3A-3E, as required see pages 89-93 , enlarged by 125 Por each initial, a piece of timber approx. SO x 110 x 25mm CVi x 47 x lin Some letters may require wider or narrower timber Piece of wire 70mm 2Y,in long, 2mm v-iini diameter he previous two projects have demonstrated the method of carving knotwork in a fretwork style. This project shows you how to carve knotwork in ioW rellef, that Is, onto1 the surface oftftetimte Thisteehmque wiil fcte...

Coasters in holder 1 CelticWoodcraft

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:42:35 GMT

These templates need to be enlarged by 25 The se tem plates need to be enlarged by I T I l gt RO E C1 DESIGNS IIS T I l gt RO E C1 DESIGNS IIS Thls t.ern plate needs tu be enLtrged by I 33

Info 1 CelticMythology

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 09:00:15 GMT

Long after Cuchulainn and his followers died, a new group of heroes emerged in Ireland. In this next cycle of myths, supposedly set in the third century a.d., the central character is a man named Fionn Mac Cumaill. The Anglicized version of his name, which is slightly more well known, is Finn Mac Cool. The stories surrounding Finn and the Fianna, a band of warriors who followed Finn, are collectively called the Fenian cycle. Like Cuchulainn and the Champions of the Red Branch, Finn and the men...

Introduction CelticFortifications

Sun, 21 Aug 2011 18:13:17 GMT

Before beginning any discussion of 'the forts of Celtic Britain', it is important to try to define just what constituted a Celtic fort, and who the Celts actually were. We also need to know when they built the fortified structures which still dot the landscape of modern Britain - if indeed they were responsible for such structures. Archaeologists and historians are unable to define whether Britain truly was Celtic, who the Celts actually were, or whether many of their 'forts' were really...

Naaaaa CelticArt

Sat, 20 Aug 2011 17:50:52 GMT

Fig. 9. a Double Border, composed of Triangles, with the points of the Triangles in one row falling in the centres of the bases of Triangles in the row above. b Surface Pattern, composed of Triangles, arranged n the same way as in the preceding. Fig. 10. and b The Patterns shown on Fig. 9. shaded. The patterns derived from the lozenge are shown on Figs, ii to 18. Fig. II. a Lozenge Border, composed of two sets of Chevrons, with their ooints facing in opposite directions. 6 The same as fa , but...

Brian Of Celtic Legend CelticMythology

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 23:26:33 GMT

the men. He sat with his father, Matholwch, and played affectionately with his uncles Bendigeidfran and Nisien. His other uncle, the jealous Efnisien, however, took offense, as the boy was not playing with him. Efnisien called Gwern to him, and the boy came running with friendship and affection. Efnisien grabbed the child and hurled him headfirst into the roaring hearth fire. Branwen cried out at this horrendous act, and the men reached for their arms. A great battle broke out in the house that...

wrapped stone pendant CelticJewelry

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 20:40:10 GMT

It is probable that the Celtic tribes would have kept stones as talismans and charms, and this project shows how you could wrap a pebble, semiprecious polished stone or. in fact, anything that does not have a drilled hole to be tlireaded. Die next time you are on vacation, or having a weekend break, look for an interesting stone, piece of bark, or fragment of china or glass and take it home to be wrapped in wire and turned into a pendant as a souvenir of your trip. Stones of all shapes and...

Burial CelticScotland

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 09:39:10 GMT

Despite the regular occurrence of stray fragments of human bone on settlements, formal Iron Age burials are notoriously rare in Britain prior to the first century AD By the end of the Bronze Age cremation was the dominant burial rite throughout Britain, the ashes often being placed in pots, pits or cairns. Around 700 BC, however, cremations more or less disappear from the archaeological record. Some indications are now appearing, however, to suggest that some simple burials and small cemeteries...

Pagan Celtic Art In The Bronze Age CelticArt

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 09:31:26 GMT

general nature of the materials available for the study of the art of the bronze age in britain. and the decorative motives employed AS we have already observed, the Goidelic Celts were ip the Bronze Age stage of culture when they landed in Britain. Let us now i iqu re into the nature of the materials available for the study of the Pagan Celtic art iit the Bronze Age. The remains of this period may be classified, according to the nature of the finds, as follows 2 Remains on inhabited and...

Plate Xiv CelticMythology

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 01:41:55 GMT

Dispater was the great Celtic god of the underworld see p. 9 and is here represented holding a hammer and a cup for the hammer cf. the deity Sucellos, Plates XIII, XXVI, and see Plate IX, B the cup suggests the magic cauldron of the Celtic Elysium cf. pp. 41, 95-96, 100, 109-12, 120, 151, 192, 203-04 and see Plates IX, B, XXV . If the goddess beside him holding a cornucopia cf. Plate IX, A is really Aeracura, she probably represents an old earth goddess, later displaced by Dispater. From an...

Authors Preface CelticMythology

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 15:50:24 GMT

rl a former work I have considered at some length the religion of the ancient Celts the present study describes those Celtic myths which remain to us as a precious legacy from the past, and is supplementary to the earlier book. These myths, as I show, seldom exist as the pagan Celts knew them, for they have been altered in various ways, since romance, pseudo-history, and the influences of Christianity have all affected many of them. Still they are full of interest, and it is not difficult to...

Lugaid Laga CelticMythology

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 10:50:17 GMT

to the fireplace, takes pity on the wretched woman. He gives her his bed and blanket. The Loathly Lady notices Diarmait's love spot, a facial blemish put there by the fairies. The spot makes any women who looks at it fall in love with the young man. The Loathly Lady says she has wandered the world alone for the past seven years. Diarmait reassures her and tells her she can sleep all night and he will protect her. Towards dawn, he notices that she has become a beautiful young woman. The next...

Key Pattern Rings Celtic Key Patterns

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 21:45:59 GMT

Although there are not many examples of key pattern rings technically known as 'annular' key patterns left, this is one of the more attractive uses of key patterns, combining as it does, the straight lines of the key patterns with circles. All the lines curve slightly, but the overall effect is not lost. The sweeping curves of traditional Celtic art can be seen tugging at the rigid, relatively modern form of decoration. They are, however, relatively easy to draw. It is best to start with an...

List Of Illustrations CelticBritain

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 09:40:08 GMT

The Bard, Thomas Jones National Museums and Galleries of Wales 'Lindow Man' The British Museum Ogham alphabet From Celtic Connections by David James and Simant Bostock, Blandford. Illustration by Anthony Rees Blandford Cassells Publisher St Brendan and the whale The Art Archive British Library BookofKells Trinity College Library, Dublin, Ireland Bridgeman Art Library Oseburg Ship University Museum of Cultural Heritage - University of Oslo, Norway Bjornson cross Manx National Heritage Lewis...

Aylesford and late Iron Age cremations CelticArt

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 06:04:18 GMT

From the second half of the first century bc, south-east England north Kent, the Thames valley, Essex and thence inland to the Chilterns - sees the appearance of a new and distinctive type of burial in cremation cemeteries, a practice that is also widely represented in north-eastern France and Belgium at this period. For much of the twentieth century, following the pioneer study by Hawkes and Dunning 1930 , this innovative burial rite was equated with settlement by the Belgae, a confederation...

Types Of Holy Women In The Fifth And Sixth Centuries CelticWomen

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 00:06:29 GMT

In Confessio, chapter 42, after relating the tribulations of virgins, Patrick adds nihilominus plus augetur numerus . . . praeter viduas et continentes. Women at various stages of life, he informs us, were undertaking religious professions of virginity, widowhood, and continence within marriage. By expressing it in this way, Patrick was betraying his familiarity with a standard late antique schema of human classification called the 'threefold scale of perfection'. The 'scale of 52 Whereas in...

Britain and Ireland CelticArt

Sun, 14 Aug 2011 11:07:47 GMT

It would be plainly misleading to argue that Britain and Ireland were exempt from the wider European trend towards the three-dimensional relief styles fashionable from the beginning of the middle La Tene, though the identification of individual pieces as Plastic Style in any formal sense might be difficult. A substantial body of the British material, including the great works of parade armour, are in a very real sense 'plastic', though their construction often entails techniques that are...

Sound system CelticLanguages

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 19:03:19 GMT

The major set of phonological differences between Irish dialects lies in the realm of the operation of both synchronic and diachronic word-stress rules and their effects mainly on the quantity of vowels within unstressed syllables. Historically, it appears to have been the case that Irish developed a strong stress accent on the initial syllable of words during the pre-Old Irish period of the Ogam inscriptions, leading to a reduction of original long vowels in unstressed syllables. The...

Hand drill and vise CelticJewelry

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 17:46:37 GMT

These are not essential tools, but they are useful for twisting several lengths of wire together see page 1 7 . A small vise that you can attach to the edge of your work table is also a helpful tool to hove if you are braiding wire see page 1 7 , as it holds one end of the wires firmly together while you work although you could ask a friend to help. Aium A hand drill and vise useful for twisting and braiding wires. Aium A hand drill and vise useful for twisting and braiding wires. L lt n A jitf...