A Comparison of Celtic and Gallic Culture

The culture of the people known as the Celts is one filled with enigma and contradiction. Most every aspect of Celtic culture has been debated, from the time of their appearance to their religious practices. We have only two primary sources from which to draw data on that culture. One is the collection of folk tales, myths and sagas that were written down by monks after centuries of retelling. The other is a collection of anthropological notes written by Julius Caesar known as The Gallic Wars. Both of these sources must be considered with care. The folk tales were strictly in oral tradition for many years, and have undoubtedly been altered through retelling. The stories themselves are full of mythic exaggeration and many statements may not be taken at face value. Also, most tales are incomplete as manuscripts have been damaged or pages lost. …