Masterful retelling of Irish and Welsh stories and tales, including Cuchulain, King Arthur, Deirdre, the Grail, and many more. First paperback edition. 58 full-page illustrations and 18 figures.

This sets the ancient tales of gods and heroes in the context of the burgeoning interest among spiritual seekers of all persuasions in the ancient celtic mythical and legendary traditions.

In the early centuries, Celtic mythology survived as a primarily oral tradition, influenced significantly by the geography of its lands. Sagas and legends were passed down from one generation to the next through storytelling; only after the Roman conquest were some of these myths recorded in writing. This was often done by Christian monks closer to the 11th century, who recorded the stories themselves but stripped away the original beliefs and earlier religious overtones. The ancient Celts were neither a race nor a nation. They were a varied people bound together by language, customs, and religion rather than any centralized government. We are talking about a vast and variegated culture that made its presence felt from the Iberian peninsula (Spain and Portugal) and Ireland to the frontiers of Liguria in Italy and the upper Danube. Suffice it to say, their mythology instead mirrored this multifarious scope, with various tribes, chiefdoms, and even later kingdoms having their own set of folklore and pantheons. Basically, that means that 'the Celts' doesn't describe a single cohesive group of people. The existence of the Celts was first documented in the seventh or eighth century B.C. The Roman Empire, which ruled much of southern Europe at that time, referred to the Celts as "Galli," meaning barbarians. However, the Celts were anything but barbarians, and many aspects of their culture and language have survived through the centuries. The ancient Celts had rich mythology made up of hundreds of tales. Adventure, heroism, romance, and magic are a few of the elements that make Celtic mythology one of the most fascinating mythologies of Europe. Celtic mythology comes from several regions and different tribes. The bulk of them are from Ireland and also Wales. Early Irish myths blend mythology and history by describing how Ireland was settled by different Celtic deities and humans. Filled with magic and excitement, the tales tell of battles between forces of light and darkness. They described a time when gods lived not in the heavens but on earth, using their powers to create a civilization in Ireland and bring fertility to the land. There are four cycles, or groups, of connected stories. The Mythological Cycle focuses on the activities of the Celtic gods, describing how five races of supernatural beings battled to gain control of Ireland. The chief god was Dagda, whose magic cauldron could bring the dead back to life. The Ulster Cycle recounts the deeds of warriors and heroes, especially Cuchulain, the warrior and champion of Ireland. The Historical Cycle tells of the adventures and battles of legendary Irish kings. The Fenian Cycle deals with the heroic Finn Mac Cumhail, or Finn Mac Cool, leader of a band of bold warriors known as the Fianna. This cycle is filled with exciting adventures and tales of hand-to-hand combat. Welsh mythology is found in the Mabinogion, a collection of 11 tales. In the Welsh myths, as in Ireland, the heroes often are half human and half divine and may have magical powers. Many of the stories in the Mabinogion deal with Arthurian legends, accounts of the deeds of Britain's heroic King Arthur and his knights.

Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race by T.W. Rolleston is about a variety of myths about a group of people now considered the Bretons, the Cornish, the Irish, the Manx, the Scots, and the Welsh. Excerpt: "CHAPTER I: THE CELTS IN ANCIENT HISTORY . . . 7 CHAPTER II: THE RELIGION OF THE CELTS . . . . 36 CHAPTER III: THE IRISH INVASION MYTHS . . . . . 75 CHAPTER IV: THE EARLY MILESIAN KINGS . . . . 120 CHAPTER V: TALES OF THE ULTONIAN CYCLE . . 148 CHAPTER VI: TALES OF THE OSSIANIC CYCLE . . . 215 CHAPTER VII: THE VOYAGE OF MAELDUN . . . . . 265 CHAPTER VIII: MYTHS AND TALES OF THE CYMRY 284."

This edition of Celtic Myths and Legends represents a selected collection of Irish tales, Welsh myths & Arthurian legends. There are numerous stories from the Celtic mythology but also there are facts about their history and religion, about where they came from, where they went and where they are now. Contents: The Celts in Ancient History The Religion of the Celts The Irish Invasion Myths The Early Milesian Kings Tales of the Ultonian Cycle Tales of the Ossianic Cycle The Voyage of Maeldūn Myths and Tales of the Cymry