A day in the life of a Celtic Druid - Philip Freeman
-
0:08 - 0:13As the sun rises on a
fall morning in 55 BCE, -
0:13 - 0:17Camma lays two pigeons on the altar
at the center of her village. -
0:17 - 0:21She offers a prayer to Matrona
mother goddess of the Earth, -
0:21 - 0:24and Lugus chief of the gods.
-
0:24 - 0:26Then, she wrings the birds’ necks
-
0:26 - 0:31and cuts them open to examine their
entrails for divine messages. -
0:31 - 0:33Camma is a druid.
-
0:33 - 0:35This means she conducts religious rites,
-
0:35 - 0:39but she also serves as a judge, healer,
and scholar, -
0:39 - 0:43teaching children and mediating conflict
between Celtic tribes. -
0:43 - 0:46She began her studies as a child,
-
0:46 - 0:50memorizing the countless details
necessary to perform her many roles, -
0:50 - 0:55since the druids’ knowledge is considered
too sacred to record in writing. -
0:55 - 0:59Like many druids, she spent years
studying in Britain. -
0:59 - 1:02Now, she is a resident Druid
of the Veneti tribe -
1:02 - 1:05in a small farming village near the
western coast of Gaul, -
1:05 - 1:08in what is now France.
-
1:08 - 1:11Since returning to Gaul, she has received
many offers of marriage– -
1:11 - 1:16but she has decided to devote herself
to her work, at least for now. -
1:16 - 1:19This morning, the omens are troubling.
-
1:19 - 1:23They tell of war and strife, as they often
have in recent months. -
1:23 - 1:25A neighboring tribe, the Redones,
-
1:25 - 1:31have raided their village and stolen
cattle in broad daylight twice this fall. -
1:31 - 1:34The children have gathered around
to watch her work. -
1:34 - 1:37Camma plays her lyre and sings to them.
-
1:37 - 1:41She weaves stories of the powerful kings
who once ruled their land – -
1:41 - 1:45brave warriors who were slain naked
in combat but who will be reborn, -
1:45 - 1:48as will all the Celts.
-
1:48 - 1:50When the children go off
to help in the fields, -
1:50 - 1:55Camma heads across the village to visit
an old woman with an eye infection. -
1:55 - 1:57On the way to the old woman’s hut,
-
1:57 - 2:00she passes men salting pigs for the
winter food supply -
2:00 - 2:03and women weaving clothing from dyed wool.
-
2:03 - 2:06She delivers a remedy for the injured eye–
-
2:06 - 2:09it’s made from mistletoe,
a sacred healing plant, -
2:09 - 2:11but deadly if used incorrectly.
-
2:11 - 2:15From there, Camma visits the chieftain
to discuss the omens. -
2:15 - 2:19She convinces him to go and talk through
their problems with their neighbors. -
2:19 - 2:21Accompanied by several warriors,
-
2:21 - 2:23they head through the forest and demand
a meeting -
2:23 - 2:26outside the Redones’ village walls.
-
2:26 - 2:28The Redones’ representatives bring
their own druid, -
2:28 - 2:32who Camma recognizes from the annual
gathering in central Gaul -
2:32 - 2:34where head druids are elected.
-
2:34 - 2:38The chieftains immediately begin to argue
and threaten each other. -
2:38 - 2:42Camma steps between the opposing sides
to stop them from fighting— -
2:42 - 2:44they must honor her authority.
-
2:44 - 2:49Finally, the Redones agree to pay
Camma’s tribe several cattle. -
2:49 - 2:54In spite of this resolution, Camma still
feels uneasy on the long walk home. -
2:54 - 2:59As they approach the village walls,
a bright streak shoots across the sky— -
2:59 - 3:02another omen, but of what?
-
3:02 - 3:06Back home, Camma sits among the elders
for her evening meal of porridge, -
3:06 - 3:09a bit of meat, and a cup of wine.
-
3:09 - 3:13While they were out during the day,
an intercepted parchment arrived. -
3:13 - 3:16Camma recognizes the writing immediately.
-
3:16 - 3:19Although the druids are forbidden from
recording their knowledge, -
3:19 - 3:24she and many other young druids
can read Latin. -
3:24 - 3:28From the message, she learns that the
Romans are drawing closer to their lands. -
3:28 - 3:33Some of the elders say that the tribe
should flee to the nearby hills and hide, -
3:33 - 3:38but Camma counsels them to trust
in the gods and remain in their home. -
3:38 - 3:40Privately, she has her doubts.
-
3:40 - 3:44Should the Romans reach them,
her power to help might be limited. -
3:44 - 3:46Unlike the other Celtic tribes,
-
3:46 - 3:50Roman legions have no regard for
the druids’ sacred role as peacemakers. -
3:50 - 3:52Before going to bed,
-
3:52 - 3:55she observes the course of the planets
and consults her charts, -
3:55 - 3:59trying to make sense of the
meteor she saw earlier. -
3:59 - 4:04The signs are converging on a larger
threat than their neighbors.
- Title:
- A day in the life of a Celtic Druid - Philip Freeman
- Speaker:
- Philip Freeman
- Description:
-
View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/a-day-in-the-life-of-an-ancient-celtic-druid-philip-freeman
As the sun rises in 55 BCE, Camma lays two pigeons on the altar at the center of her village. She wrings the birds’ necks and cuts them open to examine their entrails for divine messages. Camma is a druid. She conducts religious rites, serves as a judge, healer, and scholar, teaches children and mediates conflict between Celtic tribes. Philip Freeman outlines a day in the life of a druid.
Lesson by Philip Freeman, directed by Keegan Thornhill.
- Video Language:
- English
- Team:
- closed TED
- Project:
- TED-Ed
- Duration:
- 04:09
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Tara Ahmadinejad edited English subtitles for A day in the life of a Celtic Druid | ||
Tara Ahmadinejad edited English subtitles for A day in the life of a Celtic Druid |