Celtic Myths (Legendary Past) [Paperback]

Miranda Jane Green (Author)

Book Description

Series: Legendary Past | Publication Date: 1993

Celtic Myths explores the mythology and beliefs of the pagan Celts between about 600 B.C. and A.D. 400. At their peak, the Celtic peoples inhabited a vast area of Europe, Great Britain, and Ireland. As non-literates, they have left no written record of their lives, their beliefs, and the stories which were such an important part of their culture; however, contemporary commentators from the Classical world, later Christian scribes recording oral traditions, and the archaeological evidence can give us fascinating, though fragmented, glimpses. Dr. Green draws on all these sources to discuss the myths and the religious beliefs and ritual which she believes inform them. The heroic and magical tales of the Book of Invasions, the Fionn stories, the Ulster Cycle, and the Mabinogi are the subject of the first chapters. These stirring stories, though recorded in medieval times by Christian writers, preserve fascinating evidence of their pagan origins. Dr. Green then goes on to look at the evidence for Celtic religious beliefs and raises some interesting questions as to how far we can establish links and recognize common features between the story material and the archaeological record.

Product Details

• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: University of Texas Press; 1 edition (1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0292727542
• ISBN-13: 978-0292727540
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,043,351 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good overall introduction: factual, short, and inexpensive, February 15, 2000

By 

Francine Nicholson - See all my reviews

This review is from: Celtic Myths (Legendary Past) (Paperback)

Dr. Miranda Green has written many books on many aspects of Celtic culture and literature. This inexpensive book is intended to be a short introduction to Celtic mythology and the culture whose beliefs and customs gave birth to those myths. This book is also appropriate for readers ages 12-14. Those who want more in-depth exploration of the myths and the culture should consider The Irish Literary Tradition by J. E. Caerwyn Williams and Patrick K. Ford or Celtic Heritage by Alwyn and Brinley Rees.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An archaeological approach to Celtic beliefs, August 8, 2008

By 

Adaire (VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Celtic Myths (Legendary Past) (Paperback)

This book is an archaeological approach to basic Celtic beliefs. It is not a detailed study of Celtic myth and legend, nor is it meant to be. It covers beliefs such as the significance of water forms (springs, rivers, etc), sky and sun myths and deities and how a sky god of some kind was found throughout the Celtic world, and many other common views of the Celts.

This is a major undertaking considering "Celtic" covers 800 years of pre-history and history and a people that at one point covered most of Europe and parts of Asia Minor. These people has different languages (yes, Celtic, but as similar in some cases as English is to German or less so), different rituals, and different Gods. So to bring an underlying commonality of beliefs to that diversity is impressive. Most of the information here is presented from the hard facts (literally - archaeological remains), and is probably the best, compact source of the basic beliefs of Celtic culture out there.

I'd like to note, I picked this book up at an Archaeological convention, and it is published by the University of Texas; it is very thorough, minimally biased, and well grounded in scholarship.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good reference book, October 13, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Celtic Myths (Legendary Past) (Paperback)

A good, short introductory reference book for those interested in exploring and understanding the basic belief system and history behind Celtic mythological tales (The Mabinogion, the Fianna, et al).