The Role of Celtic Women in Public Life
Celtic women served as chieftains, druids, poets, healers and warriors. References to the participation of Celtic women’s roles in public life, although few, were documented by Roman writers, depicting real events and interaction they had with Celtic women. Plutarch, a Greek historian, wrote in the second century about the long-standing tradition of Celtic women acting as mediator or judges in political and military disputes (Savino H. P., 2002), (Green M. , 1996). Artifacts have been discovered, which attest to the presence of professional women in Romano-Celtic Gaul.
Although there is historical documentation and archeological finds pertaining to women holding such roles, the number of women is minimal. Thus, it is uncertain if all women were truly afforded these privileges, or whether it is the lack of historic documentation of women in history.
Although there is historical documentation and archeological finds pertaining to women holding such roles, the number of women is minimal. Thus, it is uncertain if all women were truly afforded these privileges, or whether it is the lack of historic documentation of women in history.
Archaeological Evidence
Evidence found in Iron Age tombs in Europe, also suggests that some women enjoyed high social status in the later first millennium B.C. (Doan, 1987). Other female tombs discovered in southern Germany and eastern Gaul, dating to the late sixth and early fifth centuries B.C. reveal that these females were buried with ceremony and accompanied by rich grave-goods, such as, feasting utensils and extravagant jewelry (Green M. , 1996). Both Doan and Green point out that the true meaning of these burials could be argued to be in regards to the social status of their husband’s or wealth. However, Green notes the significance of these tombs, in that there are no comparable rich male graves in the vicinity (Green M. , 1996).
Inscribed tombstone of a female doctor; first century A.D. Metz, France. The stone is important in its rare testimony to the presence of professional women in Romano-Celtic Gaul.