Early and Iron Age Celtic Society
Throughout this pagan period the Celts had an oral culture (Stewart, 1990). The Celtics did not have a written language until they were Christianized in the early Middle Ages (Condren, 1989). Although, the Celts left few written records, they were far from uneducated. Stewart emphasizes the importance of keeping in mind the Celtic religion was preserved orally. Stating, what is known from classical sources is that Druids did not write matters down; rather through memory alone they preserved their laws, history, and traditions (Stewart, 1990). Stewart also defines the Druids as “an aristocratic priesthood, generally divided into three orders, corresponding loosely to our modern terms Judges, Prophets and Poets,” however; other scholars believe the Druids were closer to what is considered arbitrators (Stewart, 1990).
It is believed the Celtic society up through the Iron Age was hierarchical and had a social-class order based on warrior values. Celtic society was class-based consisting of extended families, or clans, which were grouped together to form territorially based tribes, or tuath, ruled by a king or sometimes a queen (Ancient Celtic Society/History, n.d.). Celtic rulers were often elected, which leads into a theme of Celtic kingship. The king was responsible for the well-being of the land and people within the land under his authority by means of his relationship to the goddess of the land or territory (Stewart, 1990). Both men and women’s roles were dictated by their placement in the social hierarchy and customs according to each tribe. Women could be found in each of the social classes (Women in Ancient Celtic Society/History, n.d.).
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The general divisions or a class of society set forth the rights, duties and privileges of all; central to, but not the only, consideration of class-ranking, was property (Ragan, 1999). The matters surrounding property are relevant in defining women in relation to Celtic society. These tribes practiced the ancient system of matrilineal succession, which persisted in Scotland well into the early medieval period (Stewart, 1990). Exogamic marriages, the custom of marrying outside of the tribe, clan or social unit, were the rule of early Celtic culture. Succession was often retained through the sister-son rather than by direct linear inheritance (Stewart, 1990). This old custom and social pattern is reflected by mythic pattern and oral traditions preserved in both literature and oral traditions of the Celtic culture. This custom of marriage and succession could explain the questions surrounding Arthurian legends.
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