THE MYSTIQUE OF DRUID CULTURE
As an ancient culture, the Druids conjure mysterious and perhaps even magical images in our minds. The opera, Norma, is set in 50 B.C. Gaul. At that time, Gaul spanned land crossing borders of present day France, Luxembourg, and Belgium, as well as parts of Switzerland, Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands. Tribes of Celtic people ruled much of Gaul, and the Druids were a social class within the Celts. Religion was tantamount to ancient societies—think Greek, Egyptian, and African tribal nations—so that ethnicity, religious beliefs, cultural and traditions were closely intertwined. The Druids shared practices that were similar to Celts, and also had some uniquely their own. From the earliest accounts the Romans viewed the Druids as barbarians. Even though the Celts had conquered much of modern-day Western Europe centuries before the Romans arrived, as each Roman ruler expanded his empire, the Celts retreated and were eventually relegated to where we now associate Celtic culture—in England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. Originally a highly nature-based culture, when Julius Caesar conquered Gaul in 58 B.C., he forced the Druids out of forests into temples. In the 2nd century, as Christianity began to emerge as a dominant belief system, Roman Emperor Tiberius banned all Druidic rituals. By 7th Century, the Catholic church had banned all practice of Celtic rights and rituals across Western Europe. It is for these reasons that we have little documented knowledge of the Druid people and their cultural practices. The earliest records date back to 7th century B.C., with the most comprehensive account being Julius Caesar’s, who ruled the Roman empire during the events of Norma, in c. 50 B.C.) It is possible Caesar based some of his understanding of the Druids not only on observation, but from the writings of a much earlier philosopher, Poseidonius (c. 135 B.C. – 51 B.C.). Other Roman sources include Stabo, Siculus, Pliny, and Tacitus. The word “druid” translates, “knowing the oak 12
THE MYSTIQUE OF DRUID CULTURE
The region of Gaul, 1st c. B.C. Courtesy of the U.S. Military History Academy.
tree” in the Celtic language, with the IndoEuropean word dru, meaning truth. Old oak forests played a central role in Druid cultural rites and rituals. The Druids were extremely educated and revered, serving as priests, teachers, and judges in Gaul. It took up to 20 years to complete learning the oral history necessary to be considered a Druid, yet as it remained an oral culture, no written history exists. The Druids were led by a high priest who was in charge of sacrifices and judicial proceedings. They were also exempt from taxes and military services. It is believed that the Druids were held in such high regard, if they intervened in the middle of Gallic battle they would cause it to come to complete standstill. Female Druids were particularly interesting to Roman and Greek writers who were intrigued by the power they held in Celtic society. Druidic women were active in politics, war, and were said to have magical and prophetic abilities. Archeologists have excavated many females buried with
