10-31-2006, 02:39 PM
According to Angus Konstam in Historical Atlas of the Celtic World, the oldest evidence of the Celtic culture (the proto-Celtic Urmfield groups) date back to 1000 BC. "These Bronze Age people seem to have assimilated the earlier indegenonus inhabitants of the continent, and also managed to form a union with a mysterious wave of equestrian warriors who swept Europe from the east during the eighth century BC." p. 9 (Konstam's heavily mapped and illustrated Atlas is a valuable resource for plotting both Celtics but also their contact with other Europeans cultures.)
"By the beginning of the Iron Age ... these people seem to have merged into a unified culture based in modern Austria, Hungary, Germany and the Czech Republic. A burial site at Hallstatt, Austria has provided the name for these people. The 'Hallstatt' culture was the first true Celtic society, and within two centuries had managed to extend their influence throughout much of Europe." p.9
Konstam's take on "Celtic" is "The term 'Celtic" itself has obscure origins, and several thories about where it came from. Apart from archaeological evidence, everything we know about the [early] Celts came from the Greeks or Romans. Known as 'Keltoi' or 'Galatai' by the Greeks, and 'Celtae' or 'Galli' by the Romans, we don't even know what they called themselves." p. 18
Konstam claims Homer made the first historical reference to Celts in the Odyssey (ninth or eighth centure BC): "We raided the deep-flowing ocean where the Cimmerians (Celts) have their land and their town. This people is hidden under clouds, in mists that the sun's bright rays have never pierced ..." p. 18. Konstam does not give his authority for equating the Cimmerians with Celts, and we all know that identifying the "real" route and references of Odysseus is a cottage industry of the literary world.
Hope that helps.
"By the beginning of the Iron Age ... these people seem to have merged into a unified culture based in modern Austria, Hungary, Germany and the Czech Republic. A burial site at Hallstatt, Austria has provided the name for these people. The 'Hallstatt' culture was the first true Celtic society, and within two centuries had managed to extend their influence throughout much of Europe." p.9
Konstam's take on "Celtic" is "The term 'Celtic" itself has obscure origins, and several thories about where it came from. Apart from archaeological evidence, everything we know about the [early] Celts came from the Greeks or Romans. Known as 'Keltoi' or 'Galatai' by the Greeks, and 'Celtae' or 'Galli' by the Romans, we don't even know what they called themselves." p. 18
Konstam claims Homer made the first historical reference to Celts in the Odyssey (ninth or eighth centure BC): "We raided the deep-flowing ocean where the Cimmerians (Celts) have their land and their town. This people is hidden under clouds, in mists that the sun's bright rays have never pierced ..." p. 18. Konstam does not give his authority for equating the Cimmerians with Celts, and we all know that identifying the "real" route and references of Odysseus is a cottage industry of the literary world.
Hope that helps.
"Fugit irreparabile tempus" (Irrecoverable time glides away) Virgil
Ron Andrea
Ron Andrea
