The Druids were part of Celtic society and were the most experienced and wise people among them. They were recognized for their knowledge of nature, health, laws, culture, philosophy, astronomy and astrology.
They were seen as priests, philosophers or sorcerers and, because of this, they had several functions in Celtic communities. They were responsible for resolving conflicts, making judgments, organizing Celtic rituals and making offerings to the gods.
Druids could be men or women (called Druidesses) and were equally recognized and respected for their knowledge.
The Celtic people saw the Druidesses as a representation of the goddesses and the force of nature, which they venerated. The Druidesses were wise, strong and warrior women and, at the same time, they represented femininity and fertility coming from nature.
The Druids and all the Celtic people existed since before Christ, more than 3,000 years ago (in the 4th and 5th centuries). They lived in some regions of the European continent, mainly in the areas that are today Ireland and the United Kingdom, as well as some regions of Spain and France.
The most likely explanation for the meaning of Druid is “the one who has the knowledge of the Oak”, in reference to this very old tree, very typical of some regions where the Druids lived.
The Three Types of Druids
There were three types of Druids, depending on their knowledge and functions: Bards, Ovates and Druids .
The Bards were artists, musicians and poets who were still learning the art of experiencing and passing on artistic knowledge and Druidic culture. It is believed that they wore clothes in shades of blue so that they could be identified.
The Ovates were like witches or wizards and had natural knowledge of healing and divination, as well as being respected for their connection to the supernatural world. Their common robes were green or brown.
The Druids represented the last degree of this class, were the wisest and probably wore white and gold robes, which indicated their prestige.
What is Druidism?
Druidism is the knowledge of the Druids, based on the strength of nature and its elements . These are all the customs practiced and honored by the Druids, who carried with them ancient knowledge, which was passed down orally between generations.
The tradition was only oral and, because of this, there are almost no written records about the rituals of these people. What is known about Druidism is the result of impressions recorded by other peoples who lived with them, mainly the Romans, who had close contact with the Celtic people during the expansion of the Roman Empire.
The Celtic people and the cult of nature
The Druids and the Celtic people worshipped nature and understood it as a sacred temple , experiencing their human existence as an integral part of the balance of nature and the cycle of life.
They also believed in the connection between the natural and supernatural worlds and in the immortality of the soul . Some accounts indicate that the Druids had hallucinogenic rituals to receive supernatural information.
They were polytheists, believing in several gods that represented animals or elements of nature and also celebrated natural events. The changing of the seasons (at the Solstices and Equinoxes) and the harvests were marked by festivals that celebrated these dates.
All the elements that are part of nature were venerated and celebrated by these people: sun, wind, water, air, fire, trees, animals, stones, cardinal points, stars and moon cycles. They believed that everything in the world came from nature.
Stones, for example, were used in Druidism to identify sacred sites for the Celtic people. Some of the stone constructions attributed to these people were used as astrological observatories.Its origin is not confirmed, but Stonehenge (Salisbury/England), built entirely of stone, is one of the constructions attributed to the Celtic people.
What is the relationship between Druidism and the Roman Empire?
The wisdom and power of the Druids caused discomfort during the Roman Empire. The Romans were probably one of the peoples who most closely resembled the Celts and their existence, habits and traditions caused discomfort to the Romans.
Fearing the power of the Druids and the trust placed in them by the Celtic people, some emperors made unsuccessful attempts to put an end to the Druids, trying to prohibit the practice of their rituals.
Aristotle and Emperors Julius Caesar (100 BC – 44 BC) and Tiberius (42 BC – 37 AD) wrote about their impressions of the Druids. Julius Caesar described how the Druids performed human sacrifices and that it was forbidden to record their habits and teachings, which were only to be passed on orally.
During his reign, Emperor Tiberius even published a decree to try to prohibit the Druids from carrying out their activities.
The Romans’ attacks against the Druids and the Celtic people influenced the decimation of these people , who disappeared over the years.
Some Famous Druids in Fiction
Druids are also part of several fictional stories, characters in films, books and games.
- Merlin : The Magician Merlin, a famous character from the stories of King Arthur, was an advisor and sorcerer. He is probably the most famous Druid and has been the subject of books, films and series.
- Panoramix : Known from the stories of Asterix and Obelix, Paronamix is a Druid from the Gaul region, who protected his village and advised Asterix. Panoramix’s trademark is a potion made from herbs that gave great strength to whoever drank it.
- Kevin : The character in The Mists of Avalon was a Bard, one of the types of Druids. The book was first published in 1979 and is set in the Middle Ages, during the time of King Arthur.
Druids are also famous in RPGs ( role playing games ). Their most striking characteristics are the protection of nature and the use of natural forces to perform magic.
