Celtic Europe

Author: (French) Christiane Eluère
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: Through brief or prolonged campaigns, invincible raids, and plundering along the Mediterranean coast, the Celts returned to their homeland laden with exquisite spoils and rich experiences: thus, they sowed the seeds of early production; they built fortified settlements similar to cities, many of which later became cities; they constructed large cemeteries filled with various weapons, ornaments, and utensils; they built temples, which still attract crowds today; they minted countless coins in distant places. Whether it be Gallic inscriptions, works written in Greek or Latin by the enemies of the victorious Celts, or the writings of enthusiastic ethnographers, all contribute to our understanding of the Celts. This is the special fate of this "race" composed of Celtic tribes: they shared the same culture, spread throughout Europe, yet never experienced a unified political entity. In the 4th century BC, the "common language" of the Celts spanned the entire continent from the Balkan Peninsula to the British Isles. However, the Celts did not achieve political unification, but rather formed a cultural community, with their exceptional metalworking craftsmanship and identical funeral rites being notable features. Christiane Eluère tells us the history of these Western barbarians across more than 500 years: they loved gold, wine, and constant warfare; their power once shrank to the region of Gaul, and the Roman Empire sought to force them into submission; yet their culture was inherited by the inhabitants of the British Isles and Brittany. Long swords, chariots, wine cups, small pots, two-handled cups, necklaces, bracelets, and hooks unearthed from cemeteries such as Vix, Hallstatt, and Magdalenenberg, whether made of iron, copper, or gold, reflect the exquisite craftsmanship of the Celtic artisans. 230 pieces of evidence bear witness to the brave and savage Celts of the Iron Age. In the 4th century BC, the "common language" of the Celts spanned the entire continent from the Balkan Peninsula to the British Isles. However, the Celts did not achieve political unification, but rather formed a cultural community, with their exceptional metalworking craftsmanship and identical funeral rites being notable features. Christiane Eluère tells us the history of these Western barbarians across more than 500 years: they loved gold, wine, and constant warfare; their power once shrank to the region of Gaul, and the Roman Empire sought to force them into submission; yet their culture was inherited by the inhabitants of the British Isles and Brittany. Long swords, chariots, wine cups, small pots, two-handled cups, necklaces, bracelets, and hooks unearthed from cemeteries such as Vix, Hallstatt, and Magdalenenberg, whether made of iron, copper, or gold, reflect the exquisite craftsmanship of the Celtic artisans. 230 pieces of evidence bear witness to the brave and savage Celts of the Iron Age.