The Religion of the Ancient Celts

A scholarly survey reconstructs ancient Celtic religion from fragmentary evidence, combining comparative and anthropological methods to outline the peoples, deities, and mythic cycles preserved in Gaelic and Continental sources. It reviews pantheons and iconography, retells Irish cycles including the Tuatha Dé Danann, Cúchulainn and Fionn material, and examines cult practice: ancestor and nature worship, river and tree rites, animal symbolism, sacrifice, prayer, divination, taboos, festivals, druids, magic, and beliefs about death, rebirth, and an afterlife often described as Elysium.