383. Romans vs Druids: The War For Celtic Britain (Ep 1)
Summary
Hosts Anita Arnon and William de Rumpel interview Professor Ronald Hutton on the earliest religions of Britain and Ireland. They explore Neolithic long barrows, Stonehenge, and the controversial legacy of the Beaker people. The discussion covers bog bodies, sacred waters, and the historical reality versus myth of Druids, mistletoe rituals, and the Wicker Man.
Topics discussed
Sponsors and announcements
The Rest Is Fest and guest Ali Ansari
Introduction to the series on early gods
Defining and describing Long Barrows
The Beaker People and the end of Long Barrows
Indo-European languages and the Gundestrup Cauldron
Transition to stone circles and Stonehenge
Druids, festivals, and the Celtic calendar
Modern Druidry and the relevance of Stonehenge
Sacred rivers and water offerings
Sponsors and break
Bog bodies and ritual sacrifice
The Otherworld and Irish folklore
Fairy encounters and historical evidence
The Druids and the Roman conquest of Anglesey
Mistletoe rituals and Lindow Man
The Wicker Man and historical reliability
Conclusion and preview of the next episode
Closing sponsors
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