This book explores the connections between medieval Irish literature and the archaeological landscapes of Ireland, focusing on the themes of sacral kingship, sovereignty goddesses, solar cosmology, and the perception of an Otherworld.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 210 pages
Publication date: 28 May 2022
Publisher: Sidestone Press

The book Archaeology and Celtic Myth, published in Dublin in 2014, is a translation of the book Archaeology and Celtic Myth, published in Dublin in 2014. The vast corpus of vernacular texts from medieval Ireland is the largest in Western Europe. Although composed between the 7th and 12th centuries CE, this literature contains elements of pre-Christian Celtic mythology. It allows us to glimpse some of the ancient traditions and beliefs that existed in prehistoric Europe. The mythological references in these texts, combined with the physical traces left behind in major archaeological sites such as Navan (County Armagh), Tara (County Meath), and Newgrange in the Boyne Valley, highlight certain themes and figures that were particularly important. Among the most significant are the sacred nature of royalty, the idea of sovereignty bestowed by a goddess, the theme of solar cosmology, and attempts to explain the Otherworld. The importance of these concepts is underscored by their textual survival. Their analysis provides an opportunity to delve deeper into the organization and thought of a pre-literate world. For instance, the institution of sacred kingship should be considered in any discussion of the nature of different socio-political structures in medieval Europe, while solar symbolism, equine rituals, drinking rites, and various other clues reveal our ancestors' preoccupation with the Otherworld, with their desire to understand death and envision a life beyond.

Title: "Archaeology and Celtic Myth"

The book "Archaeology and Celtic Myth" is a translation of the book "Archaeology and Celtic Myth" published in Dublin in 2014. The vast corpus of vernacular texts from medieval Ireland is the largest in Western Europe. Although composed between the 7th and 12th centuries CE, this literature contains elements of pre-Christian Celtic mythology. It allows us to glimpse some of the ancient traditions and beliefs that existed in prehistoric Europe. The mythological references in these texts, combined with the physical traces left behind in major archaeological sites such as Navan (County Armagh), Tara (County Meath), and Newgrange in the Boyne Valley, highlight certain themes and figures that were particularly important. Among the most significant are the sacred nature of royalty, the idea of sovereignty bestowed by a goddess, the theme of solar cosmology, and attempts to explain the Otherworld. The importance of these concepts is underscored by their textual survival. Their analysis provides an opportunity to delve deeper into the organization and thought of a pre-literate world. For instance, the institution of sacred kingship should be considered in any discussion of the nature of different socio-political structures in medieval Europe, while solar symbolism, equine rituals, drinking rites, and various other clues reveal our ancestors' preoccupation with the Otherworld, with their desire to understand death and envision a life beyond.

Weight: 514g
Dimension: 181 x 256 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789464260595