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35th out of 187 books
—
59 voters
The Druids
The Druids exist partly in history, partly in imagination. They were a genuine people in ancient times, but their real identity has been obscured by myth and literature through the ages. This amalgam of fact and fiction provides Professor Piggott with a unique opportunity to combine archaeological erudition with insight into human nature - and man's gullibility.
Paperback, 216 pages
Published
May 1st 1985
by Thames & Hudson
(first published 1968)
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It's one of those 'classics' that a lot of other books refer to. I can't claim it's any joy to read. Although Piggott was writing in the 1960s, his tone is dry to the point of dessication, and he assumes a familiarity with (then) contemporary achaeology and names that makes it hard going. If you read this because you're a druid, there's the additional problem that Piggott clearly didn't much like druids, ancient or modern.
However, there are some interesting bits of information about archaeology...more
However, there are some interesting bits of information about archaeology...more
A little repetitive and quite dry, but fun. I enjoyed this review of the archeological record, epigraphy, and classical sources on Druids, as well as the romantic nonsense that evolved about them in the 17th through 20th centuries.
The classical historical work on the druids, much interesting historical information, but too stiff to see the whole picture
A basic summary which attempts to separate what, in the popular imagination of the day, druids were and what and who they were, bolstered by the observations in Celtic, Greek and Roman sources as well as critical analysis of archeological evidence. The book is replete with photographs, drawings and diagrams which really add a dimension to this subject. I found its implications for the western development of religious concepts as well as receptivity of others ..such as personal immortality to be...more
Informative!
The Druids exist partly in history, partly in imagination. They were a genuine people in ancient times, but their real identity has been obscured by myth and literature through the ages. This amalgam of fact and fiction provides Professor Piggott with a unique opportunity to combine archaeological erudition with insight into human nature - and man's gullibility.
Though only a small book, it does discuss most the information available about historical druids. It takes a glance at the modern groups, but there are other books, most recently written, that cover them in more depth.
Easy to digest and with good illustrations and bibliography allowing further reading. I liked this little pelican paperback, despite having difficulty with one or two statements made therein by the author.
Easy to digest and with good illustrations and bibliography allowing further reading. I liked this little pelican paperback, despite having difficulty with one or two statements made therein by the author.
The most amusing part of this book is Piggott's observation that each era interprets Stone Henge in terms of its own technology.
Nicely illustrated, unreadable, very little information.
mythology,religion,nonfiction
May 17, 2013
Matthew
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May 10, 2013
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