Cauldron of Dagda a symbol of the
generosity and hospitality of Dagda, the father god. The giant cauldron was always brimming with delicious food for the gods to eat. It was one of four magical items, along with the Sword of Nuadu, the Spear of Lugh, and the Lia Fail (a prophetic stone), that the Tuatha De Danann brought to Ireland.
Celt (Kelt) The name of the culture, religion, and mythology shared by related tribes of European people who flourished between 800 b.c. and 500 a.d.
Scholars have many theories about the origin of the word "Celt" and what it means. Some theories suggest it came from the Indo-European root quel, meaning "elevate." Another theory attributes it to the root kel, meaning "strike," a reference to the people's hunting and battle methods. Still other theories say the root kel means "hidden" in reference to secretive druid rituals. But while its origins may be lost, it was the word the Celts used to describe themselves, according to early Greek records.
Around 500 b.c., the Greek geographer Hecataeus recorded the name of the city Massalia (the modern port city of Marseilles in southern France) as located in the land of the Keltoi. Another Greek writer of the time, Herodotus, noted that the Keltoi lived along the headwaters of the Danube River, as well as "beyond the pillars of Hercules" in Spain. One Greek merchant came upon the Celts living along a river named Tartessus, where they were mining silver. By 600 b.c., Greek merchants had signed a treaty with the Keltoi king of those same silver mines to trade with them for silver.
In the centuries between 700 and 250 b.c. the Celts spread into central Europe, from the area north of the Alps up to the Danube River. The first Celtic tribes arrived in Ireland from Spain and moved throughout Great Britain starting around 600 b.c. In 390 b.c., a tribe of Celts invaded and defeated Rome. In 273 b.c., Celtic tribes described by Greek authors as a race of "milk white-skinned people" invaded and sacked the Greek city of Delphi. But by 200 b.c., the Romans had begun to subdue many of the Celtic tribes north of Rome, continuing on to conquer the region they called Gaul, and eventually, in 61 a.d., invade England.
Only Ireland, because of its sheltered spot west of England, lay beyond the Romans' reach. Celtic culture, language, and myths remained protected on that small island (although often sacrificed or suppressed due to Catholicism) for another fifteen centuries, until the British king Henry VIII proclaimed himself king of Ireland in 1541. Under English domination, Celtic culture was completely suppressed. The Gaelic language was outlawed and the ancient place names were renamed. People had to hide books on Celtic myths and history. But somehow the Irish people kept Celtic culture alive in their stories and traditions. When Ireland declared its independence in 1919, interest in all things Celtic revived. Today, Irish, Scottish, and Welsh universities, archaeological sites, and museums offer a wealth of studies, resource material, and a lively community of scholars and amateurs who are all contributing to a renaissance of Celtic culture.
Celtchair A huge, proud warrior in the Ulster Cycle. He owned a lance that was so bloodthirsty it had to be dipped in poison when not in use—otherwise it would burst into flames. He boasted of his deeds at the feast hosted by Mac Da Tho. He went on a quest to rid Ireland of three terrible scourges. He was killed by a drop of poisonous blood from the last scourge, an Otherworldly dog.
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