The ancient Celts divided their intellectual elites into three categories: druids, bards, and vates. Learn about their differences (and similarities) as recorded by Greek and Roman historians.
Tag Archives: Irish culture
The Search for the Celtic Themyscira: Was There Really an Island of Celtic Warrior Women?
Classical writers regale us with eyebrow-raising tales of wild, island-bound Celtic women. But are any of them true?
Were There Female Druids?
Historical evidence suggests druidesses not only existed but were just as if not more powerful than their male counterparts.
Who Were the Druids? Demystifying the Mystics of the Ancient Celtic World
Druid is a title that gets bandied about with the reckless abandon of an inebriated bard. Let’s separate druid history from druid mythology, shall we?
The Nicest People I’ve Ever Met: A St. Patrick’s Day Reflection on Being Stranded in Rosses Point, County Sligo
The following tale of ancestry tourism is true as I remember it, but as you’ll discover, my time in Rosses Point left my brain a little fuzzy.
Was St. Patrick a Martyr?
St. Patrick tells us in his Confession that he was ready to give his life to spread the Gospel in Ireland. But did he die a martyr?
Was St. Patrick a Murderer? Why Did He Write His Confession?
St. Patrick famously wrote a confession, but to what did he confess? One historian makes the case for murder.
Did St. Patrick Commit Genocide? Did He Kill Pagans? Did He Battle Druids?
Was St. Patrick on a mission of peace, or did he use violence to convert the pagans of Ireland to Christianity?
Was St. Patrick Catholic?
The answer seems obvious. But once you start peeling back the layers, you’ll see why some call St. Patrick’s Catholicness into question.
Was St. Patrick Gay?
It gets awful lonely up in the Slieve Mish Mountains. Did St. Patrick ever seek something beyond plutonic male companionship?
Irish Myths 