I’ve never been a fan of the Druids, or the priestly cast for that matter; but the idea of facing annihilation by confronting your enemy and would be murders, then lighting yourself on fire to freak them the F out is just awesome.
I like it when you mentioned the possibility that this event sparked the ones related to Boudicca. Usually, when history is taught, it is felt like each event happened on its own, without highlighting the context of what was going on around them at that time
Hey mate, love this channel so much. I watch you all the time. Can you possible consider doing an episode on Prometheus and his comparative identities though other cultures?
Thank you for watching, and taking the time to comment. I will put that on my list of videos to do, especially Prometheus, a very interesting god indeed. Thanks again!
@@Crecganford Thanks, and do you think perhaps that Prometheus and his brother Epimetheus might tie in with the twin creator gods since Prom created mankind? I love the search for the root of all myths. Very fun
I think the druids were targeted due to their influence on the behaviour of the tribes of Albion, rather than a religious “cleansing”, as Rome didn’t seem to care so much about the locals religious practices, in fact they often tried to assimilate with their own religious beliefs.
Our beloved barbarians held out to the bitter end, Rome believed they defeated them by destroying forests and groves, the ethic driving deforestation and where are we on the timeline@@Crecganford
I would just like to say thank you for what you are doing, have done, and will do. Your impeccable scholarship is an inspiration, your presentation lucid, and obtainable. Your work(oeuvre) is well worthy of lauds, and your aclaim is well attested to in your presentations. It is an honour to have shared time with you (I feel I have grown as a result, thank you). You aught to be proud of this great thing you are doing. Keep up the good work
Im desperate for druid info. Little historical references that I know of. Im part welsh and decended from William atta Mersch of the marshes between wales and the english. Theres a gentleman, his name escapes me, who imparted some fascinating aspects of welsh history including the banning of welsh books by the english which I had no idea. Made me even more curious as to the beliefs of the druids and the welsh Cymmryc religion
@@martyconroy3786 understoof but peripheral resources are scarce as well. Its a black hole. As I understand the english outlawed books in welsh and banned it from being spoken in schools and put in english teachers. I have no idea if its fact but americans did it to native americans. I even find welsh mythical history a little bare comoaratively.
Go to Celtic Source on UA-cam with Dr Gwilym Morus-Baird (Welsh academic). Mhara Starling (contemporary Welsh Witch), Kristoffer Hughes (a modern Druid author from Wales), also Dr. Ronalds Huttons work ...all of it. There are many others but I thought since you mentioned are part Welsh that if you have not encountered these terrific people already that you might enjoy them and their content. A great deal of knowledge to be found there and many others. Everyone but Ronald are Welsh, so with most on this list you will also get the Welsh language content as well as history related to druidism if not directly so. It's a fascinating history.
The Romans were famously tolerant of other religions except for when they opposed Rome politically. Like the description of the Temple in Jerusalem I suspect the purpose of Suetonius at Anglesey was to end their influence over British resistance suggesting that Mona was a similarly sacred centre for the Island's inhabitants.
Good, informative video. Bear in mind that this was not tbe end of the Druids but more the beginning of the end in the lands that were to eventually become known as England. Rome never effectively conquer Pictland and never really went near Hibernia. Much of the "English" and "Welsh" lands were never really conquered either, as much was done by treaty.
Thank you for watching and the feedback. I try and keep my videos brief so people watch them all, and so miss out so much information, but I'll do more videos looking into this subject further. Thanks again
@@jonwhite9069 I like the brief and to the point approach! I didn't mean for my comment to be a criticism in any way, just an additional avenue of exploration as many seem to think the Druids ended with the Roman attack on Anglesey - this is not so but may have been influential in the decline of that class of people.
I have heard that Julius Caesar decided against incursions against the Celts due to the reputation of Druid magic. The real conquest is cultural, not military. Today, the "Ceasar" is hiding from view behind farcical political charades and the Empire is called global capitalism. But it is still the same beastie.
So, the covert human sacrifice (of themselves! A bit like Obi Wan...) as a ritual against Rome triggered the revolt of Boadicea and burning of Londinium, etc?! Interesting....good vid.
Remember, history is written by the victors. Tacitus was Roman. Doesn't mean his account is true. What really may have happened was like Masada. Mass suicide.
I agree, no one will know for sure, and this was in effect mass suicide. But looking at what we do know of his writings, I feel this account has a good chance to have a chunk of truth to it.
According to who, was he there? No. And from all I've researched, it's the only account in existence. A couple paragraphs? No, the intention, like much of history, was to erase the Druids from memory. Tried with Boudica also, but that survived because of legend.
Sorry, thinking of writing about this battle, and scrounging up research material keeps coming up empty except Tacitus. At that point, all the Druids had retreated to their 'temple',their holy place, their capitol, if you will, knew the end was near, burned themselves rather than be slaughtered. Exactly like Masada during the Jewish Revolt. Trying to find out what makes people do that. Both instances.
Even if the Boudicca died no-one mentioned her daughters dying. The line survived. As with Caradoc and Vercingetorix. There is a surname that survived. Greatorix. Gallic for high king. Airdrigh, high king from the Gael. Descendants of history? Wouldn't that be something?
💥💥💥 Tragic Epic Phenomenal Sacrifice as the Druids surrendered to their Wyrd, taking their legacy of secrets into the Mystery. Druids played a long game, who is to say. their final act of resistance and magic may yet be unfolding. May be the edge humanity needs surviving climate chaos. 🌱🌳
Driuds reglion Interesting like magi an Brahmans only documents I've found kolbrin great book very much like the nagi Maddi library early Christianity per Roman rewrite in 4th century 330 time Christianity was completely change plenty of gnostic texts out there still survives
While very little is known of Druids in Britain, apart from their general functions, they were also the ''priests'' of the Gauls across the length & breadth of Europe. Is there any other information, preferably non-Roman, about human sacrifice among the Gauls? Is there any factual basis for the reframing of the slaughter of the women and Druids as a funeral pyre / human sacrifice? Also, the final words of Tacitus strike me as the typical justification of the slaughter of ''innocents'' by a victor who cannot see any other way of excusing atrocious behaviour. Within days of the German invasion of Belgium in 1914, stories were being circulated of German soldiers bayoneting babies or dashing them against walls, in order to generate hate against the invaders and stir up allies. Why would Tacitus make so much of human sacrifice for divination when gladiatorial games were no less bloody?
Of course it could be translated a number of ways, but I felt that this was a reasonable way of reading/framing the scenario considering the narrative was written by the victor.
@@Crecganford When you say ''it could be translated a number of ways'' are you referring to the actual translation of Tacitus Latin-to-English, or do you mean the interpretation of a literal translation to a colloquial translation that conveys the intended sense? ''Let sleeping dogs lie'' could be literally translated into any language (presumably). In this case while an individual might not understand the specific reason for not waking the dogs they could propose any number of possible, reasonable scenarios resulting from waking the dogs. However, none of the reasons and hence translations would provide the intended real meaning, which has nothing to do with dogs and means ''Leave this subject matter alone''. Re-framing almost invariably means not just speculating on a possible scenario but placing a MEANING on the proposed scenario. Reframing means that you are now at a fourth step removed from the original situation: viz. literal>colloquial>reframed>inferred meaning. The last stage often includes political, cultural or personal bias. Hence my question regarding the logical basis. Why does the scene, as described, by Tacitus, need further interpretation and what is the factual basis for the inference. An inference is an educated GUESS based on stuff that's implied but not explicit. We are used, from Sherlock Holmes, etc, to inferences being correct, but they are assumptions, not facts and ''implications'' are often invented rather than real, intended to support the belief or argument of the inferer. I have been in a situation where something I wrote was STATED by another party to IMPLY something that it did not imply and was never intended to suggest the meaning inferred. I am thus very wary of and sensitive to reframing with potential bias or actual distortion, intended or accidental. There has to be a very good reason for reframing and the logical / factual basis should be very solid.
@@judewarner1536 that was such a weird tirade, the reframing was so that the viewer could see it from the Druids’ perspective and not just the Roman Tacitus. And one reason why the account may be viewed as fairly credible is because; Tacitus liked the Britons and their way of life, and disliked all the corruption in the Empire.
@@Curious_Traveler Jon explained in the video, and I understood, the purpose of re-framing and he reconfirmed it in his personal reply to my comments, hence your 2nd reiteration is somewhat redundant. Since we know exactly NOTHING about Druids from their own sources, and very little that's verifiable from 3rd parties, the idea that the reframing ''allows us to see it from the Druids' perspective'' means exactly the same... nothing, adding nothing to the actual facts of the situation. Jon vouchsafed as much in his reply to me; nor were there any available answers to my specific questions included in my comment. His reframing was, as he said, speculation to elicit thoughts. Well, those were my thoughts. I'm a great believer in speculation. When I was writing assignments for UNI, I often used to start from a speculative position (my education & library being somewhat eclectic). I would write the assignment and only then look for good evidence in support. If I found none, THEN and only then, I would accept the general consensus and rework with accepted evidence. I always had some basis for my original speculation. There was nothing in MY factual observations to Jon that was speculation. I placed Tacitus' description of Druid human sacrifice in a well documented propaganda context from WW1, cf. Roman gladiatorial games, which oftimes included rape, torture & dismemberment, if the ''hallowed history scenario'' called for it. You obviously accepted Jon's reframed scenario and view my rather direct, though rigorously academic, questioning as an attack. ''Soft words butter no parsnips''. I'm assuming you are conversant with Tacitus' liking of Britons and dislike of the corruption in the Empire? I'll take your word for that. However, neither of those attitudes confers credibility only on Tacitus description, and as you interpret it, rather they would equally support MY thesis, my only piece of speculation, that he felt some guilt about the slaughter of the Britons' entire priesthood (and hence culture) since as you say he liked the Britons and looked to rationalise by accusing Druids of unverifiable horrors against those same Britons.
In 60 AD Christianity, like Judaism, was still anathema to the Roman Empire. Christianity would not have come to Wales until after Constantine made it the official Roman Religion in the 4th century. The Celtic gods were pagan gods, SO WERE THE ROMAN GODS. The fact that many of the Celtic gods and Roman gods shared similarities, allowing Tacitus to draw those comparisons, was they all essentially grew from the same origins, a species of animism that later coalesced into fairly recognisable major gods and numberless lesser spirits.
Your choice of emphasis suggests you think no-one else understands what pagan means; that's an unusual place to come from. But your use of the word anathema in this context made me laugh, so thanks for that. It's worth recalling that Christianity too arose from the same origins as any pagan pantheon. The bible itself indicates that God started off as a volcano god merging with a storm god into a sky god, with early mentions of other gods (including his wife) fading away as the Jewish monotheistic concept took hold around the time of the Babylonian Captivity. Much of what is claimed about Jesus follows common Egyptian and Greek mystery themes of miracle-working wanderers destined to conquer death, providing a comforting familiarity that members of the early church could readily grasp. It would have helped the church spread as Paul took his stories of Jesus to the Gentiles.
All the storys about the Druids from the Romans and later Monks are taken with a huge grain of salt. Never forget, the Romans write them not for a Specialist audience, but the normal people, that's what they do before Netflix, telling storys, and no one want to be bored, so they were exeggerated first for cozy shiver about human sacrifices and wild, sexuel dominant women, and second, to proof, that the Gauls and Britons were barbarians, that must be romanize, to enjoy the Advantage of civilisation. And the Monks changes the storys to be more christian. Until this day, not one grave of a druid was found, not even one of which is been suspected, it belong to them. Unfortunately, the celts have no writing, the gauls take it from the greeks, so they can't speak to us, strange cultures do it for them. And it can be assumed, that the Rituals of gaul, british and irish druids changed over times, just like the peoples.
The battle of the Celts, and every other tribe on Earth as well, against the Empires of Rome, Britain, and America, was not lost. It is still happening, perhaps actually has no beginning or end. Apparently.
I’ve never been a fan of the Druids, or the priestly cast for that matter; but the idea of facing annihilation by confronting your enemy and would be murders, then lighting yourself on fire to freak them the F out is just awesome.
Much later on in the medieval period noble families would send some of their sons off to be knights and others off to monks
I like it when you mentioned the possibility that this event sparked the ones related to Boudicca. Usually, when history is taught, it is felt like each event happened on its own, without highlighting the context of what was going on around them at that time
Interesting perspective. Killing without knowledge of what you kill is the burden of a soldier.
Thanks I always loved anything about the ancient Celts. Keep up the good work!
Hey mate, love this channel so much. I watch you all the time. Can you possible consider doing an episode on Prometheus and his comparative identities though other cultures?
Thank you for watching, and taking the time to comment. I will put that on my list of videos to do, especially Prometheus, a very interesting god indeed. Thanks again!
@@Crecganford Thanks, and do you think perhaps that Prometheus and his brother Epimetheus might tie in with the twin creator gods since Prom created mankind? I love the search for the root of all myths. Very fun
Great interpretation! What sneaky druids they were.
For me, the roman focus on druids is much like the 'moral correction' of the missionaries that went to the new world.
I think the druids were targeted due to their influence on the behaviour of the tribes of Albion, rather than a religious “cleansing”, as Rome didn’t seem to care so much about the locals religious practices, in fact they often tried to assimilate with their own religious beliefs.
@@Crecganford I see, interesting, thank you.
Our beloved barbarians held out to the bitter end, Rome believed they defeated them by destroying forests and groves, the ethic driving deforestation and where are we on the timeline@@Crecganford
❤❤❤
Beannachd leibh Charaid Ubhasach, usul!
Blessings upon you sir
Que vou series bien Beni mon suave Ami, monsieur
Tri Chridhe mar n'a trì n'am trì cho cheannaich sinn ag mi
Three hearts/Christs for the 3 of 3 that created you and me
I would just like to say thank you for what you are doing, have done, and will do. Your impeccable scholarship is an inspiration, your presentation lucid, and obtainable. Your work(oeuvre) is well worthy of lauds, and your aclaim is well attested to in your presentations. It is an honour to have shared time with you (I feel I have grown as a result, thank you). You aught to be proud of this great thing you are doing. Keep up the good work
Thank you for your kind words, they are appreciated.
Im desperate for druid info. Little historical references that I know of. Im part welsh and decended from William atta Mersch of the marshes between wales and the english. Theres a gentleman, his name escapes me, who imparted some fascinating aspects of welsh history including the banning of welsh books by the english which I had no idea. Made me even more curious as to the beliefs of the druids and the welsh Cymmryc religion
Yes, finding reliable information on druids is very challenging, but I'll keep a look out for anything else i can present
The Celts had no written records, thus the dearth of any real info
@@martyconroy3786 understoof but peripheral resources are scarce as well. Its a black hole. As I understand the english outlawed books in welsh and banned it from being spoken in schools and put in english teachers. I have no idea if its fact but americans did it to native americans. I even find welsh mythical history a little bare comoaratively.
The gentlemen you are looking for might be Alan wilson and Barram Blackett.
Go to Celtic Source on UA-cam with Dr Gwilym Morus-Baird (Welsh academic). Mhara Starling (contemporary Welsh Witch), Kristoffer Hughes (a modern Druid author from Wales), also Dr. Ronalds Huttons work ...all of it. There are many others but I thought since you mentioned are part Welsh that if you have not encountered these terrific people already that you might enjoy them and their content. A great deal of knowledge to be found there and many others. Everyone but Ronald are Welsh, so with most on this list you will also get the Welsh language content as well as history related to druidism if not directly so. It's a fascinating history.
The Romans were famously tolerant of other religions except for when they opposed Rome politically. Like the description of the Temple in Jerusalem I suspect the purpose of Suetonius at Anglesey was to end their influence over British resistance suggesting that Mona was a similarly sacred centre for the Island's inhabitants.
Why didn't the Druids call lightning and then change into animal aspects? The extra hp act like a buffer and are reduced first.
They only rolled a 2 on a d20.
@@Crecganford One of us one of us
Good, informative video. Bear in mind that this was not tbe end of the Druids but more the beginning of the end in the lands that were to eventually become known as England. Rome never effectively conquer Pictland and never really went near Hibernia. Much of the "English" and "Welsh" lands were never really conquered either, as much was done by treaty.
Thank you for watching and the feedback. I try and keep my videos brief so people watch them all, and so miss out so much information, but I'll do more videos looking into this subject further. Thanks again
@@jonwhite9069 I like the brief and to the point approach! I didn't mean for my comment to be a criticism in any way, just an additional avenue of exploration as many seem to think the Druids ended with the Roman attack on Anglesey - this is not so but may have been influential in the decline of that class of people.
Hadrian's Wall was built to keep the Celts away. The Romans were scared to death of the 'men in blue' and wanted nothing to do with them.
I have heard that Julius Caesar decided against incursions against the Celts due to the reputation of Druid magic.
The real conquest is cultural, not military. Today, the "Ceasar" is hiding from view behind farcical political charades and the Empire is called global capitalism. But it is still the same beastie.
So, the covert human sacrifice (of themselves! A bit like Obi Wan...) as a ritual against Rome triggered the revolt of Boadicea and burning of Londinium, etc?! Interesting....good vid.
Not necessarily triggered it per se, but the lack of Romans in the east of England allowed it to happen.
Colchester was first then went to London. We was a main town if not a city before London.
Surely Obi-wan helped some of them escape the massacre.
"These are not the druids you're looking for."
Remember, history is written by the victors. Tacitus was Roman. Doesn't mean his account is true. What really may have happened was like Masada. Mass suicide.
I agree, no one will know for sure, and this was in effect mass suicide. But looking at what we do know of his writings, I feel this account has a good chance to have a chunk of truth to it.
According to who, was he there? No. And from all I've researched, it's the only account in existence. A couple paragraphs? No, the intention, like much of history, was to erase the Druids from memory. Tried with Boudica also, but that survived because of legend.
Sorry, thinking of writing about this battle, and scrounging up research material keeps coming up empty except Tacitus.
At that point, all the Druids had retreated to their 'temple',their holy place, their capitol, if you will, knew the end was near, burned themselves rather than be slaughtered.
Exactly like Masada during the Jewish Revolt.
Trying to find out what makes people do that. Both instances.
A great video, thank you, it's succinct, including the entire passage from Tacitus.
History isn't written by the victors. Everyone writes histories; it's just the more popular and interesting ones have a higher chance of surviving.
Even if the Boudicca died no-one mentioned her daughters dying. The line survived. As with Caradoc and Vercingetorix. There is a surname that survived. Greatorix. Gallic for high king. Airdrigh, high king from the Gael. Descendants of history? Wouldn't that be something?
Yes.
Man, I really hate it when I accidentally participate in druidic human ritual sacrifice.
Pesky druids!
me to. the druids changed state. imma gonna think about dat.
💥💥💥 Tragic Epic Phenomenal Sacrifice as the Druids surrendered to their Wyrd, taking their legacy of secrets into the Mystery. Druids played a long game, who is to say. their final act of resistance and magic may yet be unfolding. May be the edge humanity needs surviving climate chaos. 🌱🌳
Driuds reglion Interesting like magi an Brahmans only documents I've found kolbrin great book very much like the nagi Maddi library early Christianity per Roman rewrite in 4th century 330 time Christianity was completely change plenty of gnostic texts out there still survives
👍👍👍👍👍👍
While very little is known of Druids in Britain, apart from their general functions, they were also the ''priests'' of the Gauls across the length & breadth of Europe. Is there any other information, preferably non-Roman, about human sacrifice among the Gauls?
Is there any factual basis for the reframing of the slaughter of the women and Druids as a funeral pyre / human sacrifice?
Also, the final words of Tacitus strike me as the typical justification of the slaughter of ''innocents'' by a victor who cannot see any other way of excusing atrocious behaviour. Within days of the German invasion of Belgium in 1914, stories were being circulated of German soldiers bayoneting babies or dashing them against walls, in order to generate hate against the invaders and stir up allies.
Why would Tacitus make so much of human sacrifice for divination when gladiatorial games were no less bloody?
Of course it could be translated a number of ways, but I felt that this was a reasonable way of reading/framing the scenario considering the narrative was written by the victor.
@@Crecganford When you say ''it could be translated a number of ways'' are you referring to the actual translation of Tacitus Latin-to-English, or do you mean the interpretation of a literal translation to a colloquial translation that conveys the intended sense?
''Let sleeping dogs lie'' could be literally translated into any language (presumably). In this case while an individual might not understand the specific reason for not waking the dogs they could propose any number of possible, reasonable scenarios resulting from waking the dogs.
However, none of the reasons and hence translations would provide the intended real meaning, which has nothing to do with dogs and means ''Leave this subject matter alone''.
Re-framing almost invariably means not just speculating on a possible scenario but placing a MEANING on the proposed scenario. Reframing means that you are now at a fourth step removed from the original situation: viz. literal>colloquial>reframed>inferred meaning.
The last stage often includes political, cultural or personal bias.
Hence my question regarding the logical basis. Why does the scene, as described, by Tacitus, need further interpretation and what is the factual basis for the inference. An inference is an educated GUESS based on stuff that's implied but not explicit. We are used, from Sherlock Holmes, etc, to inferences being correct, but they are assumptions, not facts and ''implications'' are often invented rather than real, intended to support the belief or argument of the inferer.
I have been in a situation where something I wrote was STATED by another party to IMPLY something that it did not imply and was never intended to suggest the meaning inferred. I am thus very wary of and sensitive to reframing with potential bias or actual distortion, intended or accidental. There has to be a very good reason for reframing and the logical / factual basis should be very solid.
@@judewarner1536 that was such a weird tirade, the reframing was so that the viewer could see it from the Druids’ perspective and not just the Roman Tacitus. And one reason why the account may be viewed as fairly credible is because; Tacitus liked the Britons and their way of life, and disliked all the corruption in the Empire.
@@Curious_Traveler Jon explained in the video, and I understood, the purpose of re-framing and he reconfirmed it in his personal reply to my comments, hence your 2nd reiteration is somewhat redundant.
Since we know exactly NOTHING about Druids from their own sources, and very little that's verifiable from 3rd parties, the idea that the reframing ''allows us to see it from the Druids' perspective'' means exactly the same... nothing, adding nothing to the actual facts of the situation. Jon vouchsafed as much in his reply to me; nor were there any available answers to my specific questions included in my comment. His reframing was, as he said, speculation to elicit thoughts. Well, those were my thoughts.
I'm a great believer in speculation. When I was writing assignments for UNI, I often used to start from a speculative position (my education & library being somewhat eclectic). I would write the assignment and only then look for good evidence in support. If I found none, THEN and only then, I would accept the general consensus and rework with accepted evidence. I always had some basis for my original speculation.
There was nothing in MY factual observations to Jon that was speculation. I placed Tacitus' description of Druid human sacrifice in a well documented propaganda context from WW1, cf. Roman gladiatorial games, which oftimes included rape, torture & dismemberment, if the ''hallowed history scenario'' called for it. You obviously accepted Jon's reframed scenario and view my rather direct, though rigorously academic, questioning as an attack. ''Soft words butter no parsnips''.
I'm assuming you are conversant with Tacitus' liking of Britons and dislike of the corruption in the Empire? I'll take your word for that. However, neither of those attitudes confers credibility only on Tacitus description, and as you interpret it, rather they would equally support MY thesis, my only piece of speculation, that he felt some guilt about the slaughter of the Britons' entire priesthood (and hence culture) since as you say he liked the Britons and looked to rationalise by accusing Druids of unverifiable horrors against those same Britons.
Wasn't Merlin a druid?
Merlin was characterised as a Druid, yes. But he was never part of the original stories, he was added later.
@@Crecganford I'm Welsh Merlin is not a myth in Wales but a fact l.
@@Crecganford thank for the insight im learnin every day
In 60 AD Christianity, like Judaism, was still anathema to the Roman Empire. Christianity would not have come to Wales until after Constantine made it the official Roman Religion in the 4th century.
The Celtic gods were pagan gods, SO WERE THE ROMAN GODS. The fact that many of the Celtic gods and Roman gods shared similarities, allowing Tacitus to draw those comparisons, was they all essentially grew from the same origins, a species of animism that later coalesced into fairly recognisable major gods and numberless lesser spirits.
Your choice of emphasis suggests you think no-one else understands what pagan means; that's an unusual place to come from. But your use of the word anathema in this context made me laugh, so thanks for that.
It's worth recalling that Christianity too arose from the same origins as any pagan pantheon. The bible itself indicates that God started off as a volcano god merging with a storm god into a sky god, with early mentions of other gods (including his wife) fading away as the Jewish monotheistic concept took hold around the time of the Babylonian Captivity. Much of what is claimed about Jesus follows common Egyptian and Greek mystery themes of miracle-working wanderers destined to conquer death, providing a comforting familiarity that members of the early church could readily grasp. It would have helped the church spread as Paul took his stories of Jesus to the Gentiles.
cymru am byth
Druids scared the romans
Romani ite domum!!! - lol
PEOPLE CALLED ROMANES THEY GO TO THE HOUSE?! XD
All the storys about the Druids from the Romans and later Monks are taken with a huge grain of salt. Never forget, the Romans write them not for a Specialist audience, but the normal people, that's what they do before Netflix, telling storys, and no one want to be bored, so they were exeggerated first for cozy shiver about human sacrifices and wild, sexuel dominant women, and second, to proof, that the Gauls and Britons were barbarians, that must be romanize, to enjoy the Advantage of civilisation. And the Monks changes the storys to be more christian.
Until this day, not one grave of a druid was found, not even one of which is been suspected, it belong to them. Unfortunately, the celts have no writing, the gauls take it from the greeks, so they can't speak to us, strange cultures do it for them. And it can be assumed, that the Rituals of gaul, british and irish druids changed over times, just like the peoples.
The battle of the Celts, and every other tribe on Earth as well, against the Empires of Rome, Britain, and America, was not lost. It is still happening, perhaps actually has no beginning or end. Apparently.
Cool. The world is scary i need control. You failed people for taking off from emails once a month huh?
Forcing the enemy to sacrifice you to the god(s)... sounds like a Jewish story almost.