Post by Fool Coyote on May 19, 2008 6:20:38 GMT -5
For all the subjects which can be debated within the subject of Celtic culture, for the subtle differences, one thing remained a constant. The burning warrior's heart. From romantic tales of great champions in single combat, to the very honor and intertwined nature of relationships they had with their weapons, such as Ogma the honey tongued and his great sword "Orna" who would boast of it's own deeds, or perhaps the Sword of Nuada, one of the very Jewels of the gods, further - to the tales of great heroic battles where-by 150 men can be killed in a single stroke of a great blade or club. These sorts of visuals are certainly not given to any one Celtic culture, for example, lets examine Starbo's thoughts on Celtic culture:
"The whole race - is madly fond of war, high spirited and quick to battle, but otherwise straightforward and not of evil character. And so when they are stirred up they assemble in their bands for battle, quite openly and without forethought, so that those who desire to outwit them easily handle them."
Athenaeus - who later quotes Posidonius tells us that often Celts would engage in single combat after they had their dinner, these are described as "mock battles" though they go on to tell us that these mock battles could result in injuries, this in turn inflaming tempers, which unless by standers held back the combatants, could easily turn into a life and death battle. According to the First battle of Moytura, there was a "mock battle" which precedes the main battle, where by youths of the Fir Bolg, and the De Danann flung their spears at one another, so that all of the youths of the De Danann were killed. Sounds like some expensive gaming, doesn't it?
Many descriptions have been painted of the Celtic warrior's look in battle. From fighting naked and tattooed, to hallstatt and La Tene apparel. Appearances were as important to the Celts as they were to any other culture, they simply went about using them to inspire fear differently than other more "civilized" peoples. Diodorus Siculus, gives one account on the appearance of Celtic warriors:
"Their aspect is terrifying... They are very tall in stature, with rippling muscles, under clear white skin. Their hair is blond, though not naturally so; They bleach it, to this day, artificially washing it in lime, and combing it back from their foreheads. They look like wood demons, their hair thick and shaggy, like a horses mane. Some of these are clean shaven, but others - especially those of high rank - shave their cheeks, but leave a mustache that covers the whole mouth, and when they eat or drink, acts like a sleeve, trapping particles of food... The way they dress is astonishing: They wear brightly colored and embroidered shirts, with trousers called "Bracae" and cloaks, fastened at the shoulders with a brooch, heavy in winter, and light in summer. The cloaks are striped or checkered design, with the seperate checks close together, and in various colors."
It seems interesting to note at this point, the well known tartans of later cultures, as well as the striped apparel worn by the Irish, which could often show one's stature or rank within a tribe. Today, some artists use descriptions such as the above to depict the appearance of Celtic warriors as closely as is possible today. They may not be completely accurate, but given the literary and archaeological evidence given as of now, they can be quite educational. Some examples might be - though are not limited to:
Which I suppose might bring us to Celtic weapons, and equipment. The Romans attributed the use of chain mail to the Celts, and the importance of mail armor is given in the First battle of Moytura when the Fir Bolg stay the battle for a time so as to properly fit themselves with good looking helmets and mail, as well as weapons, as they were after all known in the texts among other names as the "men of the decorated blades."
Welcome, to the "Bronze age". Bronze is an easily combined metal, forged from tin and copper, and later mixed with Iron.
"Halstat culture" is the the beginning of the Iron age cultures, between France and West Germany, they are already speakin Celtic languages, and by 600 b.c.e. the Greek scholar Herodotus is describing the Celts as existing beyond the pillars of Hercules.
[The Celts] wear bronze helmets with figures picked out on them, even horns, which made them look even taller than they already are...while others cover themselves with breast-armour made out of chains. But most content themselves with the weapons nature gave them: they go naked into battle...Weird, discordant horns were sounded, [they shouted in chorus with their] deep and harsh voices, they beat their swords rhythmically against their shields.
- Diodorus
The helmets worn in the first picture are thought to have originated sometime in late Urnfield culture, and changed little, even into La Tene culture. I have seen and read many reports of Celts in combat, who would have to take a break to straighten their swords, after a while, bronze and iron were mixed to add strength, though it also offered a more extravagant look to a warrior's decoration, both in weapons and armor, though it would have undoubtedly make them heavier in use.
The Celtic Sword was another piece of equipment that seemed to change little, except of course for the ore from which it was made, and a few technical aspects in the construction I'm sure. It would have looked something like this:
(I'm running a bit short on time - so I will continue this study asap)
"The whole race - is madly fond of war, high spirited and quick to battle, but otherwise straightforward and not of evil character. And so when they are stirred up they assemble in their bands for battle, quite openly and without forethought, so that those who desire to outwit them easily handle them."
Athenaeus - who later quotes Posidonius tells us that often Celts would engage in single combat after they had their dinner, these are described as "mock battles" though they go on to tell us that these mock battles could result in injuries, this in turn inflaming tempers, which unless by standers held back the combatants, could easily turn into a life and death battle. According to the First battle of Moytura, there was a "mock battle" which precedes the main battle, where by youths of the Fir Bolg, and the De Danann flung their spears at one another, so that all of the youths of the De Danann were killed. Sounds like some expensive gaming, doesn't it?
Many descriptions have been painted of the Celtic warrior's look in battle. From fighting naked and tattooed, to hallstatt and La Tene apparel. Appearances were as important to the Celts as they were to any other culture, they simply went about using them to inspire fear differently than other more "civilized" peoples. Diodorus Siculus, gives one account on the appearance of Celtic warriors:
"Their aspect is terrifying... They are very tall in stature, with rippling muscles, under clear white skin. Their hair is blond, though not naturally so; They bleach it, to this day, artificially washing it in lime, and combing it back from their foreheads. They look like wood demons, their hair thick and shaggy, like a horses mane. Some of these are clean shaven, but others - especially those of high rank - shave their cheeks, but leave a mustache that covers the whole mouth, and when they eat or drink, acts like a sleeve, trapping particles of food... The way they dress is astonishing: They wear brightly colored and embroidered shirts, with trousers called "Bracae" and cloaks, fastened at the shoulders with a brooch, heavy in winter, and light in summer. The cloaks are striped or checkered design, with the seperate checks close together, and in various colors."
It seems interesting to note at this point, the well known tartans of later cultures, as well as the striped apparel worn by the Irish, which could often show one's stature or rank within a tribe. Today, some artists use descriptions such as the above to depict the appearance of Celtic warriors as closely as is possible today. They may not be completely accurate, but given the literary and archaeological evidence given as of now, they can be quite educational. Some examples might be - though are not limited to:
Which I suppose might bring us to Celtic weapons, and equipment. The Romans attributed the use of chain mail to the Celts, and the importance of mail armor is given in the First battle of Moytura when the Fir Bolg stay the battle for a time so as to properly fit themselves with good looking helmets and mail, as well as weapons, as they were after all known in the texts among other names as the "men of the decorated blades."
Welcome, to the "Bronze age". Bronze is an easily combined metal, forged from tin and copper, and later mixed with Iron.
"Halstat culture" is the the beginning of the Iron age cultures, between France and West Germany, they are already speakin Celtic languages, and by 600 b.c.e. the Greek scholar Herodotus is describing the Celts as existing beyond the pillars of Hercules.
Hallstatt Chieftains
[The Celts] wear bronze helmets with figures picked out on them, even horns, which made them look even taller than they already are...while others cover themselves with breast-armour made out of chains. But most content themselves with the weapons nature gave them: they go naked into battle...Weird, discordant horns were sounded, [they shouted in chorus with their] deep and harsh voices, they beat their swords rhythmically against their shields.
- Diodorus
The helmets worn in the first picture are thought to have originated sometime in late Urnfield culture, and changed little, even into La Tene culture. I have seen and read many reports of Celts in combat, who would have to take a break to straighten their swords, after a while, bronze and iron were mixed to add strength, though it also offered a more extravagant look to a warrior's decoration, both in weapons and armor, though it would have undoubtedly make them heavier in use.
The Celtic Sword was another piece of equipment that seemed to change little, except of course for the ore from which it was made, and a few technical aspects in the construction I'm sure. It would have looked something like this:
(I'm running a bit short on time - so I will continue this study asap)
