Celtic Myths and Legends (Celtic, Irish)

This book is meant to give the reader a general conception of the subject of the Celtic myths. The stories are too abundant to be added in their full content in a volume of this size.Celtic Myths and Legends breaks the myths into eight chapters starting with Celts in Ancient History, Religion of the Celts and takes the reader on a trip through the Irish Invasion Myths, Early Milesian Kings, Ultonian Cycle, Ossianic Cycle, Voyage of Maeldun and Myths and Tales of the Cymry. There is a brief, but insightful explanation of the Arthurian Myths. The numerous black and white illustrations reveal the rich clothing and armor of the ancient Celts.I have read many books on the Celtic myths and this one was the most helpful to me. I like the way the stories are broken up into shorter paragraphs with subtitles to make them easier to read and understand. There are dates given as to when these tales may have been written and when some of the legendary characters may have lived. The dates were really helpful to me and made it easier for me to understand the stories. It is interesting to see how the stories change as Christianity takes over. I think this is a great book for students and general readers who are interested in the Celtic myths.

My favourite book of Celtic myth and culture. Of the three books I own concentrating on Celtic myth, one is completely storytelling and is great fun, one is far more academic and is more of an encyclopedia with an emphasis on archaeology and cultural aspects of the mythology, but this book is the perfect blend. Beautiful poetic tales, and some cultured insight into the background of the Celtic history. An older book, and very modest, but in my opinion this one best suited my taste, I actually enjoyed the vintage quality as it has a very similar feel to reading Bullfinch's Mythology. A great collection at a great price.

Fun to read, and informative. Nice illustrations. Recommend to my SCA friends, and history buffs.

A good read

Love this book.

Maybe i misunderstood the books description but it is a historical take on the Celtics instead of discussing celtic mythology. Not bad just not what I was expecting.

I first came across this classic work by TW Rolleston about ten years ago, when I was travelling through Ireland. When I went back to the small, used book shop to buy the volume, it was gone. Months later, back in the USA, I came across this excellent paperback edition. Because it is so thorough, well written, well researched and informative, it has become one of my favorite books. One nice factor with the paperback reprint is that it contains most of the original illustrations from various talented artists. Buy this book and you will rapidly fall in love with it. Vis a vis the comment by one reviewer about Rolleston's comments on the aryan origins of the Celts and hair color, I think that younger person is unaware that before the 1940s, most scientists and historians used the term "Aryan" for the group of invaders who came down out of the Caucasus mountains at the start of the Bronze Age bringing thier sun-worshipping culture with them. While todays historians and archeologists call that tribe "Indo-Europeans" the thing is that those people- the ancestors of the Celts, Teutons and Hellenic Greeks, called themselves Aryans. Something that reviewer does not understand is that prior to the industrial era, many people and cultures were not as diverse now. If you go back far enough, what you find is that many large groups of people in the Iron Age were of similar types. For example, the Irish people tended to be tall, pale and black haired and blue eyed as they were descended from Celt Iberians. The "Black Irish" as they were once called were known as "Milsians". They seem to have displaced earlier Celtic peoples in Ireland who were tall and pale and blonde.In Briton and Gaul, most Celts were tall, pale and blonde as many contemporary authors such as Ceasar and Tacitus attest. The Milsians brought dark hair into the islands with them from Celt-Iberia. A thousand years ago, you could look at a Celt and tell if he or she were of Brythonic, Welsh or Irish stock due to the hair color. Note that the Highland Scots were also descended from Milsian Irish from Dalreada. The much vaunted red hair that modern Irish folk are famous for actually came late to Ireland with the Vikings. In fact, go back to the 11th and 12th century and what you find is that a red-haired Irishman was considered to be a Norseman. By the time the Normans arrived in Ireland the old Irish had a phrase for that- "Red hair was Ireland's gift from the Vikings." Note that the Highland Scots clans descended from Norse stock, such as the MacGregors and the MacDonalds were known for red hair, but the MacKenzies and the old Irish descent clans were usually described as dark haired. In todays world where we have less interbreeding and more diversity it is uncommon to come upon large groups of people with similar traits. 1000 years ago it was entirely common. Even today in some rural parts of eastern Kentucky it is not uncommon to find that the Irish families tend to be brunettes and the families with English surnames are often blonde or red haired.

great addition to my library

Well written and the information was helpful.

Sehr spannend zu lesen!

Great!

Awesome

A good read.