Celts

The Celts were a relatively primitive bunch when compared to the Romans, so when Rome invaded the British Isles we got quite a bit of detail from them about this comparatively undeveloped group. The Celtic druids are supposed to have loved a bit of retainer sacrifice back in the day, just like everyone else. But even more extreme than that, and the inspiration for the film Wicker Man, was the rumoured practice of building huge figures out of straw and burning people alive within them.

Celts are also supposed to have used human sacrifice as a means to predict the future. They would stab a chap with a knife and watch his death spasms closely, interpreting the writhing and twitching to make best guesses about what the future held.

The army of famous feisty female leader Boudicca were said to have impaled Roman captives during a rebellion against the Roman occupiers whilst celebrating and reveling in religious fervor.

Celtic gods were reported to have different preferences in the manner that the chosen victims were dispatched. Esus preferred hanging, Taranis liked people being set on fire and Teutates simply loved a good old drowning. No wonder Hadrian built a wall up there to keep them at bay.

The unfortunate thing about Roman scholars is they can’t necessarily all be believed. Some think that the Roman’s tales were a kind of ancient smear campaign against the Celts and/or exaggerations for amusement.

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