Thursday, 26 April 2012
Monday, 9 April 2012
The Silures of Gwent
At the time of Roman invasion of Britain in the First Century of the Common Era, there existed in Britain many 'tribes' (most of which were not stable political or even highly integrated social units but confederacies of many kin groups) . These people had a late Iron Age culture described generally as 'Celtic'.
The 'Celtic' tribe that inhabited the South of Wales between the Rivers Wye and the Tawe (and possibly beyond) , and whose lands were bordered on the north by the Black Mountains and mountainous Brecon Beacons and on the south by the sea of the Severn Estuary, were called the 'Silures' by the Romans. Whether that is related to some name they originally gave themselves is open to some doubt.
While we might suspect that the notion of one single tribe inhabiting these lands is a projection of Roman historians on a far more complex situation, the fact remains that the so-named Silures of that particular part of the country, did manage to resist the Roman invasion and its consolidation for a period of up to 25 years. It is unlikely this resistance would have been so robust if they had not formed a cohesive identity and culture.
During their counter-insurgency and asymetric warfare with the local Silures, the Romans at times considered genocidal annihilation/and ethnic cleansing as a military option. However instead, a political solution was finally achieved. The Silures lost most political autonomy, but gained a new sort of tribal capital or centre constructed on the Roman model. Seemingly the Romans allowed some self determination or identity among local notables at least. This was not merely an oppressed populace, and the Romans no doubt brought some of the benefits of their civillisation to the tribe. Would the proud Silures be happy with this situation? Well, one might imagine a discussion between local Britons like the Monty Python sketch as to 'What did the Romans ever do for us?'.
Though there are many large hill forts/settlements/ceremonial centers within their lands, the Romanised settlement built for them was called Venta Silurium (the 'market place' of the Silures) . The splendid ruins are still to be found within and around the village of modern Caerwent. Indeed the first part of its (Latin) name 'Venta' became by the transmogrification and evolution of the Brythonic (Old Welsh) language the name 'Gwent'. Venta/Gwent became the name attached to various early medieval Welsh Kingdoms in the area, and Gwent remains as a ceremonial county name, covering the modern unitary political sub-units of Newport, Monmouthshire, Torfaen, (part of) Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent.
The 'Celtic' tribe that inhabited the South of Wales between the Rivers Wye and the Tawe (and possibly beyond) , and whose lands were bordered on the north by the Black Mountains and mountainous Brecon Beacons and on the south by the sea of the Severn Estuary, were called the 'Silures' by the Romans. Whether that is related to some name they originally gave themselves is open to some doubt.
While we might suspect that the notion of one single tribe inhabiting these lands is a projection of Roman historians on a far more complex situation, the fact remains that the so-named Silures of that particular part of the country, did manage to resist the Roman invasion and its consolidation for a period of up to 25 years. It is unlikely this resistance would have been so robust if they had not formed a cohesive identity and culture.
During their counter-insurgency and asymetric warfare with the local Silures, the Romans at times considered genocidal annihilation/and ethnic cleansing as a military option. However instead, a political solution was finally achieved. The Silures lost most political autonomy, but gained a new sort of tribal capital or centre constructed on the Roman model. Seemingly the Romans allowed some self determination or identity among local notables at least. This was not merely an oppressed populace, and the Romans no doubt brought some of the benefits of their civillisation to the tribe. Would the proud Silures be happy with this situation? Well, one might imagine a discussion between local Britons like the Monty Python sketch as to 'What did the Romans ever do for us?'.
Though there are many large hill forts/settlements/ceremonial centers within their lands, the Romanised settlement built for them was called Venta Silurium (the 'market place' of the Silures) . The splendid ruins are still to be found within and around the village of modern Caerwent. Indeed the first part of its (Latin) name 'Venta' became by the transmogrification and evolution of the Brythonic (Old Welsh) language the name 'Gwent'. Venta/Gwent became the name attached to various early medieval Welsh Kingdoms in the area, and Gwent remains as a ceremonial county name, covering the modern unitary political sub-units of Newport, Monmouthshire, Torfaen, (part of) Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent.
The Druid Prayer, a modern version of the Iolo Morganwg's prayer
Grant, O God/Goddess/Spirit*, Thy protection;
And in protection, strength; And in strength, understanding; And in understanding, knowledge; And in knowledge, the knowledge of justice; And in the knowledge of justice, the love of it; And in that love, the love of all existences; And in the love of all existences, the love of God/Goddess
Spirit and all goodness.
* or whatever you consider the ultimate creative principle
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Sunday, 8 April 2012
A definition of druidry
What definition can encompass people from diverse traditions including monotheists, polytheists, goddess worshipers, pantheists, animists, and non-theists even atheists?
Well, my working definition is this:
"an indigenous spirituality inspired by nature and the ancestor stories of Celtic Britain and Ireland"
Well, my working definition is this:
"an indigenous spirituality inspired by nature and the ancestor stories of Celtic Britain and Ireland"
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