Hatrack River Writers Workshop   
my profile login | search | faq | forum home

  next oldest topic   next newest topic
» Hatrack River Writers Workshop » Forums » Open Discussions About Writing » Exceptional online resource for Celtic myths?

   
Author Topic: Exceptional online resource for Celtic myths?
SiliGurl
Member
Member # 922

 - posted      Profile for SiliGurl   Email SiliGurl         Edit/Delete Post 
Anyone have some spectactular links for Celtic mythology? It'd be appreciated.

Thanks,

Sili


Posts: 306 | Registered: Feb 2001  | Report this post to a Moderator
ChrisOwens
Member
Member # 1955

 - posted      Profile for ChrisOwens   Email ChrisOwens         Edit/Delete Post 
I don't know if its spectacular, but I've often used: http://www.mythopedia.info/14-celts.htm

Gotten many story idea from it...


Posts: 1275 | Registered: Mar 2004  | Report this post to a Moderator
MaryRobinette
Member
Member # 1680

 - posted      Profile for MaryRobinette   Email MaryRobinette         Edit/Delete Post 
I was researching elves a while back. Here are some links I ran across. Hope some of them help.

http://www.geocities.com/natturelady/celtic.html
http://faerie.monstrous.com/land_of_faeries.htm
http://www.loggia.com/myth/content2.html
http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/britchange.html
http://www.mythiccrossroads.com/british.htm


Posts: 2022 | Registered: Jul 2003  | Report this post to a Moderator
drosdelnoch
Member
Member # 2281

 - posted      Profile for drosdelnoch   Email drosdelnoch         Edit/Delete Post 
It all depends as to what your after, if your after the myths then your pretty much covered, I did quite a bit of research for the book Im planing and had to resort to a large number of different places. There are sites that have information on Celtic Warfare including sea and others that deal with how the tribes were spread. If thats what your after let me know.
Posts: 27 | Registered: Jan 2005  | Report this post to a Moderator
djvdakota
Member
Member # 2002

 - posted      Profile for djvdakota   Email djvdakota         Edit/Delete Post 
That's a tough question. Which Celts are you talking about? The Irish Celts? The Welsh? I found an online site with the tales of the Mabinogion:

http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/mab/

You could also look under Irish myth--the tales of Cuchulainn the Fianna, Finn McCool, etc.

http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/rac/rac10.htm

This Sacred Texts site apparently has quite a number of the kind of tales you might be looking for. At the top of the page above you'll see a link that says "Celtic" It leads here:

http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/index.htm

I for one just found a new site to bookmark! And if you like Celtic myth, have you read The Red Branch by Robyn somebody or other? Great book. Novelized version of Cuchlainn's life, but still very mythic in tone.


Posts: 1672 | Registered: Apr 2004  | Report this post to a Moderator
JBSkaggs
Member
Member # 2265

 - posted      Profile for JBSkaggs   Email JBSkaggs         Edit/Delete Post 
The celts stretched from Ireland to the Middle east. Their religions varied greatly depending on which area they lived in. The northen celts (italy northwards) you'd be pretty safe with irish tales as a generality. The southern and eastern celts (scythian, galatians, etc) were more polyglot and had Roman, Greek, Iranian, and eventually Christian beliefs (since there is a book of the bible devoted to the Galatians). Of course the northern celts became christian as well but it was almost two hundred years later. Investigating that side to their culture and tales could be very interesting for you. How one people could be so diverse and still be one people. Even without a functioning empire. Held together not by fierce law but a system of bards and druid storytellers and kingmakers, even meshing deeply different religious views and practices.


On the other hand many readers have the idea that celt means Irish so it may be a good idea to stick with the better known stories. You know don't break the stereotype.


Posts: 451 | Registered: Dec 2004  | Report this post to a Moderator
djvdakota
Member
Member # 2002

 - posted      Profile for djvdakota   Email djvdakota         Edit/Delete Post 
JB's done his research, I know. But when most of us speak of the Celts we mean the pre-Roman (basically) inhabitants of the British Isles.

Now what I think would be REALLY interesting is to compare the tales of the peoples that JB refers to, to find profound similarities.

Someday I'll have the time to do that kind of stuff.


Posts: 1672 | Registered: Apr 2004  | Report this post to a Moderator
JBSkaggs
Member
Member # 2265

 - posted      Profile for JBSkaggs   Email JBSkaggs         Edit/Delete Post 
Time Life books produced an excellent series on the celtic civilization. You can usually pick up a copy for under $5 at used bookstores. They had three titles One for legends and myths, one for their civilazation, and one for archeological highlights. Of course I can't remember their specific titles.
Posts: 451 | Registered: Dec 2004  | Report this post to a Moderator
drosdelnoch
Member
Member # 2281

 - posted      Profile for drosdelnoch   Email drosdelnoch         Edit/Delete Post 
Theres also the book by George Green that was quite an interesting take on the Tain that is worth reading. As to the Celts it will all depend as to where your planning to either settle them or base them as each tribe had a different weapon for example the Iberean Celts of Spain were famed and feared for thier use of the falcata, (basically a weapon with the beauty and fighting style of a sword with the power of an axe) which was based so many believe on the Kopesh of ancient egypt.
Posts: 27 | Registered: Jan 2005  | Report this post to a Moderator
JBSkaggs
Member
Member # 2265

 - posted      Profile for JBSkaggs   Email JBSkaggs         Edit/Delete Post 
>>the Iberean Celts of Spain were famed and feared for thier use of the falcata, (basically a weapon with the beauty and fighting style of a sword with the power of an axe) which was based so many believe on the Kopesh of ancient egypt.

Also the celts invented the rapier long before the broadsword. The rapier went out of fashion because the riveted handles broke off. But at the height of swordmanship the rapier returned with a frenzy after a thousand years of being forgotten. Furthermore there is some debate as to actually invented iron first, evidence is growing that the northern celts discovered the smelt and tempering process of iron simultaneously with the assyrians.

That may not seem significant but having such a "magical" weapon in the bronze age could lead one to become regarded as a god.

[This message has been edited by JBSkaggs (edited January 06, 2005).]


Posts: 451 | Registered: Dec 2004  | Report this post to a Moderator
   

   Close Topic   Feature Topic   Move Topic   Delete Topic next oldest topic   next newest topic
 - Printer-friendly view of this topic
Hop To:


Contact Us | Hatrack River Home Page

Copyright © 2008 Hatrack River Enterprises Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.


Powered by Infopop Corporation
UBB.classic™ 6.7.2