Question

What roles did the druids fill in celtic society?

Answer 1

Druids were members of the learned class amongst the Celtic people. Their role was to act as priests, teachers, judges, legal authorities, lore keepers, medical professionals and political advisors. Druids were not permitted to write down their knowledge, as such we rely on accounts by their contemporaries from other cultures, such as Julius Caesar. According to Julius Caesar, Druids took charge of all sacrifices and were relied upon for counsel by young men. In some cases this included human sacrifice for those who were very ill or about to face death in battle. Large wickerwork effigies were filled with living men and burned. The Druids preferred to sacrifice criminals, though they would choose innocent victims if required. They also adjudicated over public and private quarrels and decided on penalties. Failure to comply with such a decree was punished by being barred from sacrifice. The Druids assembled annually in the territory of the Carnutes, in the centre of Gaul, where legal disputes were submitted to the judgement of the Druids.