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From: ellen@reed.UUCP (Ellen Eades)
Newsgroups: net.nlang.celts
Subject: Druids
Message-ID: <2234@reed.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 5-Dec-85 15:13:42 EST
Article-I.D.: reed.2234
Posted: Thu Dec  5 15:13:42 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 7-Dec-85 05:18:49 EST
Organization: Reed College, Portland, Oregon
Lines: 38

>How much is known about this group of people?
>What were they like?
>What was the basis for their religion?
>Are there people today who practice this religion, or
>a closely-related one?
>What area and time did they inhabit?
>Is there any other development they are known for?

Druids were priests of certain Celtish and Pictish peoples of
the British Isles (and possibly also Brittany) prior to
the Roman conquest of the islands circa A.D. 400 (?)  They
were skilled in mathematics, astronomy, botany, medicine and
their culture placed great emphasis as well on music and poetry.
The nations of Wales and Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the south
of England (Cornwall) retain some aspects of Druidic culture
(the Roman invasion from the east drove the Celts westward to
these lands), such as the Eisteddfodd (bardic competition) of
Wales.  They existed under the Romans for several centuries, gradually
losing ground to the Christian missionaries, although Druidic
influence can be found in Celtic folk customs up to the 19th
century (possibly even now).  Their alphabet and a portion of
their religious belief is discussed in Graves' _The White
Goddess_.  The religion emphasized respect for trees and other
living creatures (the salmon was also a mythic figure of
wisdom).  Today there are several groups of neo-druidic
religions of which the best known is the New Reformed Druids
centered in California (headed I believe by Otter G'Zell).

Some of this may be inaccurate; it's been a while since I read
anything on druidism.  If so I hope some other netter will
correct me without flames.

-- 
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