We'll never learn the name or characteristics of the first Druid because our knowledge of this secret priesthood is scant. Even so, both recent and ancient historians presumed the Druids … a mystic society … had always been joined at the hip with the Celts, an iron-producing European people.

Barry Cunliffe in The Ancient Celts reminds us the maritime communities stretching from Scotland to south-western Iberia (Spain) were linked, stretching back in time to at least the Neolithic period (the late stone age). As early as the fourth millennium BCE, megalithic tombs, known as passage graves, developed on a broad front from Portugal to Ireland with common symbols recurring.

Ancient writings never made clear, who came first-the Druid or the Celt. It's unlikely the Celtic Confederation could have existed for over 1,300 years if it hadn't been for the mystical Druids, who bound them into one people. Furthermore, it's likely the Druids and Celts developed separately … the former over eons, the latter during the late Bronze Age, circa 1300BCE … then merged to form the first civilized northern Europeans.

According to Julius Caesar in his Commentaries, more popularly known as Caesar's Gallic Wars, the Druids came from Britain; whereas, Herbert Hubert, in his History of the Celtic People, places the Celtic origin in Germany's Hartz Mountains. These authorities give weight to the theory of separate origins.

Even those on the sidelines, such as Cunliffe, tell us, "... None of this however, need be seen to support Caesar's report that Druidism originated in Britain, though there is no inherent reason why this should not have been the case."

In The Celtic World edited by Miranda Green, contributor David Rankin had this to say about the first Druid whose name appeared in recorded history ... Divitiacus:

The Druid Divitiacus, brother of the Celtic Aedui tribe's leader, was a friend of Julius Caesar and stayed with him for a number of years. According to Cicero, who also had discussions with him, Divitiacus was an expert on natural philosophy.

This information's vital because it enables us to accept much of what Caesar, and to some extent Cicero, had to say about the Druids. Historians credit Posidonius of Syria- a stoic philosopher, politician, astronomer, geographer, historian and teacher-with influencing the views of these early writers. Unfortunately some of Posidonius' writings on the topic are no longer available.

Although hundreds have written books or flooded internet sites about the Druids, little had been written about them until Caesar's Commentaries. Even in the 21st Century, opinions regarding the Druids range from masters of medicine and astrology to ordinary shamans.

For the skeptics among us-and there are many-let them not dismiss the ancients, who engraved kerbstones, constructed passage graves in Ireland's Boyne Valley and erected Stonehenge a thousand years before the Mycenaens and the first Egyptian pyramid.

Ramon Jiménez in Caesar against the Celts, Lewis Spence in The History and Origins of Druidism , Stuart Piggott in The Druids, and others use six attributes to describe the Druids:

Druids married and raised families, studied for 20 years to memorize the collective knowledge of their people, and used Greek in written transactions, but refused to commit their doctrines to writing. Neither military service nor taxes were demanded from them, although, some fought of their own free will.

Using mnemonics, they instructed young men in memorizing vast quantities of data.

This trusting to memory led to the mistaken belief the Celts were illiterate, "…according to documents recovered by Caesar" (Peter Ellis, The Celtic Empire)

Their words were taken as law. Kings always waited until the Druid spoke.

Finally, they were regarded as healers.

The Druids were men of science, but also men of God, enjoying direct intercourse with the deities, able to speak in their name. They dealt with things sacred including:

Public and private sacrifices.
Interpreted all things religious.
Shunned offenders by barring them from religious services.
Believed souls after death passed from one body to another.

Caesar stated, "This is the best of all incitements to courage as banishing the fear of death", (also echoed by Pomponius 43CE)- "... why they burn or bury their dead with things appropriate to them in life ..."

Many historians believe Pythagoras a well-traveled Greek philosopher, who during the late 4th century BCE met with Gauls and inspired them with his belief in reincarnation. Others such as Clement of Alexandria, a 2nd Century Christian Apologist, attributed Pythagorean philosphy to the Celts.

Would a stranger in a strange land, a speaker of a similiar but different language be able to quickly influence the beliefs of a established religion? Not likely. Either both had previously accepted reincarnation ... or the Celts converted Pythagoras. At least, that's the opinion of this writer.

According to Diodorus, they defered the completion of business and the payment of debts until their arrival in another world. Some flung themselves willingly on the funeral piles of their relatives in order to share the new life with them.

According to Strabo, it was customary for women to be accompanied by prophetesses and priestess. Sacrificial ritual involved plunging men into a sacred caldroun and slitting their throats over a bowl.

Caesar placed Apollo second in his list of main Celtic gods, but doesn't give Apollo a Celtic name.

Although rarely mentioned in historical documentation, Druidesses are alive and well in literature. Markael's The Celts describes their participation in Rome's attack on the Druid sancutary on Anglesey Island

Rites had to be performed exactly. A wrong chant or incantation would bring about disastrous results.

Encouraged the depositing of offerings in pools or streams.

Worshiped a triad of gods, performed ritual sacrifices and interseded with the Gods.

"... essential animism which appears to have underpined Celtic religion, the belief that every part of the natural world, every feature of the landscape, was numinous, possessed of a spirit. These natural forces were perceived as capable of doing humankind good or harm, and so they had to be controlled and their power harnessed ..."(Green, The Celtic World)

Except for the controlling and harnessing, the beliefs of these ancients don't vary far from the teaching of the Catholic Church in the Baltimore Cathecism, used exclusively in the 1940's, which emphasizes that even though we can't see him, God is everywhere. It should be noted the number three was important to many ancient peoples including the Umbrians in italy.

Although the Celts had numerous Gods, I only emphasize one in my novel, Celtic Invasion of Rome. Sulis was a British Goddess; however, I placed her in Helvetia (Switzerland) because I lived for several decades on Sulis Street. (Author note)

3) They were the Judges of earthly matters.

Considered to be the most just of men.

Druids arbitrated disputes gave verdicts in matters regarding murder, inheritances, and boundaries.

Made wicker works which they filled with criminals and set them aflame -
mentioned by Strabo, Doiodorus Siculus & Caesar all of whom may have used Poseidonius as a source. Cicero also mentions it.

Could walk between warring forces, raise their arms and halt the fighting. … "just as wild beasts are sometimes held spellbound" (Diodorus Siculus and Strabo noticed this).

4) They were scientists.

According to Caesar, they studied astronomy intermixed with astrology. "… long discussions about the heavenly bodies and their movements, about the size of the universe and the earth, about the nature of the physical world."

Taught about stars, motion of the earth, extent of the world, power of immortal gods.

Keepers of the Celtic calendar and were thought to have power over the elements,which may have come from their use of calendars.

Told their people when to plant and when to harvest.

5) They were the adhesive that bound the pan-European Celtic people.

In circa 250BCE, the Celts ruled a swath of Europe from the British Isles to Turkey.

"The Druids have one at their head who holds chief authority among them" (Caesar)

Caesar also describes annual Druid assemblies in a sacred place believed to be the center of Gaul.

Druids could pass undisturbed from one tribal region to another.

6) They were considered to be mystics.

Seers from root word id in druid - had the gift of prophecy.

Taught there was no barrier between things; legends tell us they could transform appearance, adopt shapes of fish and animals.

Penetrated the veil between earth and the Other World. (The basis for modern-day Halloween)

Versed in all learning, masters of spells and magic.

Produced enchanted mists.

Because the belief of an underworld on the far side of the River Styx came from the Greeks, it's unlikely the Celts held the same view of right and wrong that's prevalent in today's Christian doctrine. For their own political reasons, Roman writers emphasized the Druid's human sacrifice, ignoring the tenets of Druid dogma, relating to the immortality of the soul. This belief was extended to the honoring of debt, repayment of which was delayed until the debtor returned from the dead. Beheading of enemies occurred because of Celts believed the head contained knowledge which could be passed on to its new owner.

Verification of the sway held by the Druids over the Celtic people can be inferred from the wrath of the Romans in their slaughter of the Druids (circa 59CE) on Anglesey Island, Ynys mon in Gallic. On orders from Emperor Nero, General Seutonius Paulinus crossed the Menai Strait, massacred the Druids and burnt their sacred groves.

Druids were the unifying force bringing cohesiveness to Celtic tribes; therefore, a political threat to the Romans-evidence of the worship of Celtic gods after Rome's suppression, implies it was the priesthood … not the religion … the Romans wished to eradicate.

In the 4th century CE, Ausonius mentions Druids in Aquitaine, showing the continental Druids were never totally annihilated.

Archeological evidence of the Druids was nonexistent until the discovery of Lindow Man in 1984. Ross and Robins in The Life and Death of a Druid prince bring us "face to face with a Druid". Arriving too late to prevent the slaughter at Anglesey, a Druid Prince from Ireland endured a ritual sacrifice to forestall the destruction of the Druid priesthood. The bog's acidity destroyed the skeleton while preserving the leatherized skin of the cadaver, enabling researchers to determine the Druid's origin, physical characteristics and manner of demise. Death came in triplicate, a lethal axe, a choking garrote and finally drowning. This validated the sacredness of the number three, and gives substance to the Druids' tolerating human sacrifice. An analysis of the Druid Prince's last meal indicated a portion consisted of a burnt or scorched biscuit-another sign of a ritual death.

The above provides a thumbnail sketch of the Druids, but doesn't connect them to the ancients who built the New Grange passage graves and Stonehenge.

Most modern historians scoff at any connection between the Celts and the ancients, because they adhere to the belief that the origins of the Celts and Druids were one and the same. A contention, this work questions.

Some, such as Ross, are willing to consider the possibility of a linkage between Stonehenge et al and the Druids; a connection that can no longer be lightly dismissed. A connection reinforced by the discovery of the Amesbury Archer and a companion, likely a relative, in May, 2002 within a few miles of Stonehenge.

The Archer buried in circa 2400BCE was analyzed to have been raised in central Europe, carried a copper knife made in Spain, and wore gold earrings, all of which indicate a high status, perhaps that of a king. The implication of the existence a heretofore unknown social status gives credence to the possibility of an ancient civilization surviving for an extended period perhaps millennia.

Is it possible that a secret priesthood could have existed for 1,500 - 2,000 years until the Celts arrived on the scene?

Out of sight, out of mind is one of our society's inherent faults. The Celts disappeared from historical thought from shortly after their demise in Britain until their literary resurrection in the mid 18th century.

Does this mean they left no descendents or followers behind?

Not likely. Consider the Cheddar Man, a 9,000 year old skeleton uncovered in 1903, whose DNA wasn't tested until 1997. Lo and behold, Adrian Targett, a history teacher living nearby, was reunited with his ancient ancestor.

Where is the direct link that ties the Druids to the ancients?

There may not be one, or it may be a tenuous one.

However, this writer believes there's a direct connection between the 62-month lunar calendar found near Colginy, France which dates back to circa 100BCE and Kerbstone 52 circa 3200BCE, aka "The Lunar Stone", at Knowth, Ireland. This knowledge could have easily been passed by word-of-mouth from one generation to the next.

See Celtic Calendars on this site for a further discussion of this topic.

For a fresh look at an ancient people, click on any of the below cells to find fasinating information about the ancient Celts; supported by research of other authors in both book form and on the internet. Where appropriate these sources are identified.

Celtic Origins	The Druids	Celtic Women (Under construction)
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