tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859023992494297657.post1774617371552005244..comments2018-10-03T04:17:21.475-07:00Comments on The Witching Hour: THE EAGLE: Oh, those bloodthirsty pagan Celts!Peghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16475357428284192754noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859023992494297657.post-4678547443343745932011-03-01T10:24:43.100-08:002011-03-01T10:24:43.100-08:00I think any speculation on the actual human sacrif...I think any speculation on the actual human sacrifice activities of the Celts (including the Druids) is just that: speculation. There's very little archeological evidence, and even less evidence in the form of written records, to suggest anything. It's entirely possible the writings of the Romans were exaggerated or even fabricated. Stuart Piggott's book seems to contain some of the most intriguing historical examination, along with Ronald Hutton's most recent book.Peghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16475357428284192754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859023992494297657.post-25005745063393305592011-03-01T08:45:40.451-08:002011-03-01T08:45:40.451-08:00Nice post. It’s easy to romanticize about the Drui...Nice post. It’s easy to romanticize about the Druids but Caesar wrote about them and was convinced they partook in human sacrifice. The only way they could please the gods was to kill people, criminals if possible but if not, someone had to get it. <br /><br />“The whole Gallic nation is virtually a prey to superstition, and this makes the serious invalids or those engaged in battle or dangerous exploits sacrifice men instead of animals. They even vow to immolate themselves, using the Druids as their ministers for this purpose. They feel that the spirit of the gods cannot be appeased unless a man's life is given for a life.<br /><br />Public sacrifices of the same sort are common. Another practice is to make images of enormous size, with the limbs woven from osiers [willows]. Living human beings are fitted into these, and, when they are set on fire, the men are engulfed in the flames and perish. The general feeling is that the immortal gods are better pleased with the sacrifice of those caught in theft, robbery or some other crime. But if a supply of such criminals is lacking, then they resort to the sacrifice of completely innocent victims. . . "<br /><br />How much of this is true and how much was propaganda is difficult to say, but the chances are there was some truth to the accusations.<br /><br />http://www.primarysourcebook.com/ancient/human-sacrifice-and-the-druids-by-julius-caesarArticles on Historyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13025573310181657808noreply@blogger.com