Post by Senbecc on Aug 2, 2006 3:03:36 GMT -5
Well, this is a subject of many flows. It seems by many to be "common knowledge" that the celts didn't write prior to Pádraig's coming to Erin. However there seems to be much that would conflict and contradict with this view.
Fionn for example was a high level poet, and a member/leader of the order of Fianna. One of the prerequisites for joining this order was being well versed in the 12 books of poetry. We are told that Pádraig burned several books which were Druidic in nature, therefore the idea that the Druids didn't write or had no books is a work of pure fiction IMO.
The Fianna order was a class of special warrior Druids employed to protect the King. After the death of his father Cumhall Fion's mother worried for the safety of her son. So she took him to two women warriors who lived near the Sliabh bloom mountains, where she asked them to teach her son all that his father would have known, as one day, Fionn too would be a member of the Fianna.
In the past one needed to pass nearly impossible feats to become a member of the Fianna. After the women had taught him all he needed to know in the ways of fighting, it is then Fionn is sent to the poet Finnéigeas to learn the 12 books of poetry.
"The reported ages of MSS. may be considered doubtful. Zeuss, the German philologist, puts the oldest at the ninth century; but many are clearly copies of earlier ones, now lost. The fifth century has been claimed for some, and a pre-Christian period for a number of lost originals."
www.sacred-texts.com/pag/idr/idr35.htm
Had the Christians been more accepting of ideas not of their own making Irish culture would have been far more richly preserved, and our knowledge of what the Celts and their Druids would be much more absolute.
One of the 12 books of Poetry would have undoubtedly contained the Wheel of Fionn, and the knowledge given within that shield is written in Ogham. The books as we see them today aren't the originals by any means. There is conclusive proof IMO that they are copies of much earlier works.
Fionn for example was a high level poet, and a member/leader of the order of Fianna. One of the prerequisites for joining this order was being well versed in the 12 books of poetry. We are told that Pádraig burned several books which were Druidic in nature, therefore the idea that the Druids didn't write or had no books is a work of pure fiction IMO.
The Fianna order was a class of special warrior Druids employed to protect the King. After the death of his father Cumhall Fion's mother worried for the safety of her son. So she took him to two women warriors who lived near the Sliabh bloom mountains, where she asked them to teach her son all that his father would have known, as one day, Fionn too would be a member of the Fianna.
In the past one needed to pass nearly impossible feats to become a member of the Fianna. After the women had taught him all he needed to know in the ways of fighting, it is then Fionn is sent to the poet Finnéigeas to learn the 12 books of poetry.
"The reported ages of MSS. may be considered doubtful. Zeuss, the German philologist, puts the oldest at the ninth century; but many are clearly copies of earlier ones, now lost. The fifth century has been claimed for some, and a pre-Christian period for a number of lost originals."
www.sacred-texts.com/pag/idr/idr35.htm
Had the Christians been more accepting of ideas not of their own making Irish culture would have been far more richly preserved, and our knowledge of what the Celts and their Druids would be much more absolute.
One of the 12 books of Poetry would have undoubtedly contained the Wheel of Fionn, and the knowledge given within that shield is written in Ogham. The books as we see them today aren't the originals by any means. There is conclusive proof IMO that they are copies of much earlier works.