The History of the Druids
The Druids were members of an ancient and mysterious society that inhabited northwestern Europe starting around 2300 BC. Often associated with wizardry and occult religious practices, the Druids are shrouded in mystique. Very few concrete details are known about these legendary figures, but several theories have been extracted from limited findings in historical texts over the centuries.
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Historical Perspectives
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The first historical perspective on the Druids is provided by the ancient Greeks and Romans. Accounts from this era are valuable, because many were written while the Druids still lived. The problem is that most of these accounts are based on biased and secondhand sources. Most Roman and Greek historians did not come in close contact with the Druids themselves.
The other perspective is that of medieval historians in Britain. Ancient Irish and Welsh texts make numerous references to the Druids, as do Scottish and English documents. The benefit of these sources is that the writings were actually produced by the descendants of the Druids' society. However, these documents were written many centuries after the Druids disappeared.
Wise Philosophers?
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Some accounts portray the Druids as wise philosophers. Many Greek and British texts describe them as clergylike characters and masters of healing, science and spirituality. Rituals were performed by the Druids to honor nature and to build a bond between the souls of men and the earth. It is said that the Druids had skills with herbalism and holistic remedies.
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Savage Barbarians?
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Other accounts, mainly those of the Romans, depict the Druids as barbarian sorcerers. Mention is made of the Druids' cruel practices, including ritual human sacrifice. Such writers as Julius Caesar, Cicero and Suetonius all reference the barbaric nature of Druidism. Reports of men being stabbed in the heart with daggers by Druid priests spread throughout Europe, and some archaeological findings indicate that this was indeed a common practice.
Suppression and Disappearance
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The Druids were eventually outlawed by Emperor Tiberius of Rome. They were suppressed by the Romans throughout the first century AD. After going into hiding, the Druids disappeared from historical texts in the second century AD.
Echoes From the Past
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Druidism is believed to be linked with many occult and religious practices that still exist. For instance, the emphasis on trinities from Druidism is also present in Christianity, Judaism and Wicca. Concepts of polarity, terrestrial microcosms and natural balance are also common thanks to the foundations set by the Druids centuries ago. Mysterious archaeological evidence of the Druids remains as well. Wales, Ireland, England and Scotland are the primary locations where the Druids left traces of their existence.
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References
- Photo Credit B Cleary: Sxc.hu
