Celtic Myths

Heroes and Warriors, Myths and Monsters

by Michael Kerrigan

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Pub Date Feb 14 2023 | Archive Date Feb 24 2023

Amber Books Ltd | Amber Books

History | Nonfiction (Adult) | Religion & Spirituality

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Description

From around 750BC to 12BC, the Celts were the most powerful people in central and northern Europe. With the expansion of the Roman Empire and the later Christianization of these lands, they were pushed to the fringes of north-western Spain, France and the British Isles. But there the mythology of these peoples held strong. The tales from Celtic myth were noted down and also absorbed into other cultures. From Roman and Christian scribes we know of characters like Morrigan the shape-shifting queen, who could change herself from a crow to a wolf, Cu Chulainn, who, mortally wounded in battle, tied himself with his own intestines to a rock so that he’d die standing up, and the Cauldron of Bran, which could restore life. Other than being fascinating in their own right, Celtic legends are of interest for the influence they had over subsequent mythologies. The story of the Holy Grail first appears in medieval romances but its antecedents can be found in the Celtic tale, the Mabinogion. Illustrated with more than 180 artworks and photographs and maps, Celtic Myths is an expertly written account of the mythological tales that both fascinate us and influence other writings.

From around 750BC to 12BC, the Celts were the most powerful people in central and northern Europe. With the expansion of the Roman Empire and the later Christianization of these lands, they were...

Available Editions

EDITION	Other Format
ISBN	9781838862701
PRICE	£19.99 (GBP)
PAGES	224

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Featured Reviews

Mellissa B, Reviewer

LOVE! One of my favourite topics, this is an informative and engrossing read on the wonders and marvels of Celtic myth and folklore. This is a treasure, and one I will be dipping into on a regular basis.

Thanks to NetGalley and Amber Books for my ARC.

Four Stars.

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Reviewer 463267

This is not just a retelling of Celtic myths and fairy tales (which it includes) but an analysis of these stories and artifacts to give some insight into the mindset of Celtic people and a history of the development of these ideas and their influence on other ethnic groups' mythology and religious beliefs. The focus is on Ireland but it includes other Celtic areas of settlement, particularly those pushed to the margins and outer lying areas such as parts of Spain and France.

For those looking just for stories, they may be disappointed in this book. There is a lot of analysis and the incorporation of modern concepts of historiography, the legacy of imperialism and prejudice, place name analysis, archaeology, and what Celtic myths represent to people today. However, for people who are interested in these things, it is a treasure trove of information, beautiful images--both written and pictorial--and a way of thinking about Celtic myths in a new perspective, a possible insight into the mindset of Celtic people as well as putting it in context of contemporary groups.

I found it very interesting and strongly recommend it for people who are interested in myths and the story behind the stories.

Thanks to Negalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest opinion.

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Maria Grazia B, Book Trade Professional

A very interesting and comprehensive book on the origin of the Celtic myths that still fascinate us today. The reconstruction of the formation of a legendary corpus that originally relied only on oral transmission, with the necessary filters taking into account the type of transcribers, up to the transformation into romantic heroes of characters whose vision of the world was probably completely alien to our own, is admirable. Truly important reading for those who wish to approach Celtic mythology from a literary point of view.