Tree and Plant Worship CT048

The Religion of the Ancient Celts (1911)

Chapter 13: Tree and Plant Worship

by

J. A. MacCulloch

The Celts had their own cult of trees, but they adopted local cults. This chapter also details how the Celts made their sacred places in dark groves, the trees being hung with offerings or with the heads of victims.

Names Used in this Section

Fagus Deus

Sex Arbor

Toulouse

Dea Arduinna

Dea Abnoba

Fatæ Dervones

Pliny

Maximus of Tyre

daur, dia

Dr. Evans

Marseilles

The Irish bile

Dindsenchas

Fir Bile

bile maighe Adair

Maelocohlen 

Borrisokane

Eburones 

Bituriges 

Guidgen (Viduo-genos, "son of the tree"), Dergen (Dervo-genos, "son of the oak"), Guerngen (Verno-genos, "son of the alder")

Cyperissa

Naisi and Deirdre

Bailé Mac Buain

Aillinn

Amator, Bishop of Auxerre

S. Martin of Tours

Cúchulainn 

sùgh an daraich, "sap of the oak,"

Druidh lus, "Druid's weed."

Selago 

Diancecht 

Mag-tured

 

Religion of the Ancient Celts can be found on Sacred Texts.

You can find out more about J. A. McCulloch on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for a dramatic re-telling of the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or in Apple Podcasts.

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