|
" Celtic women : "
Peter Berresford Ellis.
| Document Type
|
:
|
BL
|
| Record Number
|
:
|
846315
|
| Main Entry
|
:
|
Ellis, Peter Berresford.
|
| Title & Author
|
:
|
Celtic women : : women in Celtic society and literature /\ Peter Berresford Ellis.
|
| Publication Statement
|
:
|
Grand Rapids, Mich. :: William B. Eerdmans Pub. Co.,, 1996.
|
| Page. NO
|
:
|
288 pages :: illustrations ;; 25 cm
|
| ISBN
|
:
|
0802838081
|
|
|
:
|
: 9780802838087
|
| Bibliographies/Indexes
|
:
|
Includes bibliographical references (pages 273-278) and index.
|
| Contents
|
:
|
The Mother Goddess -- Women in myth -- Women in early history -- Celtic law: the background -- A woman's place in law -- Women in the Celtic church -- Personal adornment in early society -- Women in Medieval history -- Celtic "witches" -- Sex and poetry.
|
| Abstract
|
:
|
Drawing on literary, mythological, legal, and historical sources, Peter Berresford Ellis sets out to explore the reality behind the myriad images we hold today. His Celtic Women provides a balanced and informed perspective on the position of women in Celtic society and asks how much of this ancient culture has filtered down through the ages. Ellis examines the concept of the "Mother Goddess" origin of the Celts as well as the pantheon of women in Celtic mythology - from Etain and Emer, and Macha and Medb, to Rhiannon and Gwenhwyvar (Guinevere). He also discusses a wide range of important historical personalities. Although Boudicca (Boadicea) is often cited as the most powerful historical Celtic female figure - the one who led southern Britain in insurrection against the Romans - Ellis shows that she was by no means unique.
|
|
|
:
|
The results of Ellis's engaging study show that Celtic society undoubtedly maintained an order in which women were harmoniously balanced in relation to men. Beside the repressive male dominance of classic Mediterranean society, the position of women in Celtic myth, law, and early history seems to have constituted an ideal. Celtic women could govern; took prominent - sometimes the highest - roles in political, religious, and artistic life; could own property; could divorce; and were even expected to fight alongside men in battles. It was not until the Celts' encounter and conflict with the alien values of the Roman and Germanic cultures and the arrival of Western Christianity that the rights of women began to erode.
|
| Subject
|
:
|
Civilization, Celtic.
|
| Subject
|
:
|
Mythology, Celtic.
|
| Subject
|
:
|
Women in literature.
|
| Subject
|
:
|
Women, Celtic, Folklore.
|
| Subject
|
:
|
Women, Celtic-- History.
|
| Subject
|
:
|
Celtic mythology.
|
| Subject
|
:
|
Civilization, Celtic.
|
| Subject
|
:
|
Mythology, Celtic.
|
| Subject
|
:
|
Women in literature.
|
| Subject
|
:
|
Women, Celtic.
|
| Dewey Classification
|
:
|
305.48/8916
|
| LC Classification
|
:
|
HQ1137.C45E45 1996
|
| |