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Dictionary of Celtic Mythology
This new work offers an exhaustive survey of one of the world's most fertile and exciting mythological traditions. It covers the persons, themes, concepts, places, and creatures of Celtic mythology, in all its ancient and modern traditions, in 4000 entries ranging from brief definitions to
extended essays on major tale cycles. An introductory essay explains who the Celts were, explores the history of the Celtic revival, and examines the meaning and role of mythology and tradition. An invaluable pronunciation guide for the major Celtic languages, a topic index of entries, thorough
cross-references within Celtic mythology and to other mythologies, such as Classical and Norse, enables the reader to see the relationship between Celtic mythology, later Irish literature, and other literary and mythological traditions.
The Dictionary of Celtic Mythology is the first place to turn for an authoritative guide to this colorful world of tragedy, revenge, honor, and heroism of Celtic myth.
extended essays on major tale cycles. An introductory essay explains who the Celts were, explores the history of the Celtic revival, and examines the meaning and role of mythology and tradition. An invaluable pronunciation guide for the major Celtic languages, a topic index of entries, thorough
cross-references within Celtic mythology and to other mythologies, such as Classical and Norse, enables the reader to see the relationship between Celtic mythology, later Irish literature, and other literary and mythological traditions.
The Dictionary of Celtic Mythology is the first place to turn for an authoritative guide to this colorful world of tragedy, revenge, honor, and heroism of Celtic myth.
496 pages, Paperback
First published April 30, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 10, 2019
The tag “Celtic” is one of those catch-all but often meaningless labels that are a lazy shorthand for anything mystical, fey or even implicitly racial. Too often it is used by those profoundly unaware of its scholarly origins in linguistics or cultural history, so it is refreshing to have this Dictionary written by a specialist displaying his undoubted expertise in linguistics, literature, archaeology, history and comparative religion. The four thousand entries cover mythology and legend, literature and folklore; people, places, ideas and threads are all listed, some in concise form, others expand into mini-essays. The Celtic world ranges from the insular nations — Ireland, Scotland and Wales — to Brittany and other Continental cultures which survive in the documentary and archaeological record; and MacKillop gives helpful pronunciation guides to help us negotiate the particular orthographical pitfalls of Gaelic and Welsh.
Especially impressive is the range of subjects covered here: from beasties such as water-horses and various homunculi (such as leprechauns) to heroes, heroines and deities; literature such as The Mabinogion, Irish sagas and the Lives of saints; and themes including the cult of the severed head, tale-types and folklore motifs. As with any reference book worth its salt one fascinating entry leads to another, displaying that essential corollary to academic authoritativeness, accessibility.
The hardback is reassuringly solid, so it is disappointing that the paperback seems so slight and insubstantial in comparison, but either edition should be on the shelves of anyone avowing even a passing interest in Celtic culture. You won’t find any other guide as comprehensive as this, and it renders the many dilettante New Age dictionaries entirely dispensable.
http://wp.me/s2oNj1-celtic
Especially impressive is the range of subjects covered here: from beasties such as water-horses and various homunculi (such as leprechauns) to heroes, heroines and deities; literature such as The Mabinogion, Irish sagas and the Lives of saints; and themes including the cult of the severed head, tale-types and folklore motifs. As with any reference book worth its salt one fascinating entry leads to another, displaying that essential corollary to academic authoritativeness, accessibility.
The hardback is reassuringly solid, so it is disappointing that the paperback seems so slight and insubstantial in comparison, but either edition should be on the shelves of anyone avowing even a passing interest in Celtic culture. You won’t find any other guide as comprehensive as this, and it renders the many dilettante New Age dictionaries entirely dispensable.
http://wp.me/s2oNj1-celtic
January 28, 2020
Extraordinary!
February 27, 2021
As a reference work it does its job and then some. After skimming it I am eager to read some of the items MacKillop cited. There is an emphasis on literature over archeology and history (that is to be expected in the title); but I am happy to see many instances where MacKillop blurred the lines and sometimes reported on historical.
Initially, I viewed this book looking for "banshee." Although it is seemingly deceptive to say the entry is half a page, the print is small, and the entry is larger than expected with references to other entries connected to that theme like Ankou, Glaistig, and the Washer Woman at the Ford. The entry connected literary references to several well-known epics. And finally, it concludes with 3 scholarly references on the topic. The style is useful when considering something like The Morrigan, a Celtic war goddess, who is often portrayed in modern fantasy literature as a major goddess of evil. Not every entry is so thorough. Some entries are a simple sentence. Some are much larger.
There is an overwhelming emphasis on the British Islands rather than Continental Celts, much less the Celts of Anatolia or Scythia. But then again, the title focuses on Celtic Mythology; and there is not much scholarship of that subject for Eastern Europe / Asia. MacKillop probably favors Scotland over Ireland; but there is a clear effort to include as much as possible from Scot, Irish, Welsh, and Cornish branches. An appendix lists further readings broken down by these categories.
Even skimming through, I learned a lot. I learned about the many variations of the Arthurian Romances. I learned about new epics. I learned a whole lot about new fairy folk / monsters. Really, I never imagined a malevolent deer that emerged from the water (sianach). The variations in so many creatures is fascinating. The blurred lines between the historical and the mythical are equally interesting.
MacKillop has a tendency to arrange entries under their Celtic spelling rather than common English. Consequently, the Cattle Raid of Cooley is found under Tain Bo. Wenddolau and filed under Gwenddolau. That can be more of a detriment if searching for Arthurian characters which are all over the place under different names representing different cultures.
Overall, this little gem is valuable if reading anything like the Cattle Raid of Cooley and do not understand the places, people, gods, etymologies, etc. It is valuable to those researching Myrddin, a poet attached to the court of Gwenddolau, who went mad after the death of his patron and took to the forests of Scotland allegedly gaining the gift of prophesy. He is subsequently interchangeable with Merlin of Arthurian legend. Whether Myrddin ever existed is another matter. It is highly recommended for anyone interested in the subject.
Initially, I viewed this book looking for "banshee." Although it is seemingly deceptive to say the entry is half a page, the print is small, and the entry is larger than expected with references to other entries connected to that theme like Ankou, Glaistig, and the Washer Woman at the Ford. The entry connected literary references to several well-known epics. And finally, it concludes with 3 scholarly references on the topic. The style is useful when considering something like The Morrigan, a Celtic war goddess, who is often portrayed in modern fantasy literature as a major goddess of evil. Not every entry is so thorough. Some entries are a simple sentence. Some are much larger.
There is an overwhelming emphasis on the British Islands rather than Continental Celts, much less the Celts of Anatolia or Scythia. But then again, the title focuses on Celtic Mythology; and there is not much scholarship of that subject for Eastern Europe / Asia. MacKillop probably favors Scotland over Ireland; but there is a clear effort to include as much as possible from Scot, Irish, Welsh, and Cornish branches. An appendix lists further readings broken down by these categories.
Even skimming through, I learned a lot. I learned about the many variations of the Arthurian Romances. I learned about new epics. I learned a whole lot about new fairy folk / monsters. Really, I never imagined a malevolent deer that emerged from the water (sianach). The variations in so many creatures is fascinating. The blurred lines between the historical and the mythical are equally interesting.
MacKillop has a tendency to arrange entries under their Celtic spelling rather than common English. Consequently, the Cattle Raid of Cooley is found under Tain Bo. Wenddolau and filed under Gwenddolau. That can be more of a detriment if searching for Arthurian characters which are all over the place under different names representing different cultures.
Overall, this little gem is valuable if reading anything like the Cattle Raid of Cooley and do not understand the places, people, gods, etymologies, etc. It is valuable to those researching Myrddin, a poet attached to the court of Gwenddolau, who went mad after the death of his patron and took to the forests of Scotland allegedly gaining the gift of prophesy. He is subsequently interchangeable with Merlin of Arthurian legend. Whether Myrddin ever existed is another matter. It is highly recommended for anyone interested in the subject.
December 11, 2019
I've been using this book quite a bit for a class I'm teaching. It is a very handy reference.
Although it's title suggests that it only covers mythology, there are good entries on many of the Gaulish and Romano-British deities who we only know from inscriptions, as well. The book also deals well with the endless variation in Irish and Welsh spellings we have inherited from different periods of the native languages, and the whims of different English translations.
Although it's title suggests that it only covers mythology, there are good entries on many of the Gaulish and Romano-British deities who we only know from inscriptions, as well. The book also deals well with the endless variation in Irish and Welsh spellings we have inherited from different periods of the native languages, and the whims of different English translations.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews