The Horse in Celtic Culture

Edited by Sioned Davies and Nerys Ann Jones

' . . . a most intriguing collection.' (Medium Ævum)

' . . . offers a refreshing variety of perspectives and expertise on a subject rarely addressed in detail . . . It is impressive to be confronted with a consortium of articles covering such a wide area of knowledge . . . it is able to convey and communicate this expertise both to a general audience as well as to those more knowledgeable in specific subjects . . . The articles were all well-written and informative as well as being a very interesting read.' (Medieval Life)

`This attractive volume . . . is a splendid example of what the juxtaposition of in-depth studies of specific aspects of a defined subject can bring to light . . . it deserves careful study by any who wish to find a new, and unusual, window onto the cultural world of medieval Wales.' (Welsh History Review)

' . . . a valuable introduction to the role of horses in medieval Welsh society . . . ' (Cambrian Medieval Celtic Studies)

‘The volume as a whole is a splendid example of what the juxtaposition of in-depth studies of specific aspects of a defined subject can bring to light . . .  it deserves careful study by any who wish to find a new, and unusual, window onto the cultural world of medieval Wales.’ (Welsh History Review)

‘This is an admirable collection, its theme one of the vital constituents of medieval life in a specific context. The editors are to be congratulated for bringing for bringing so much excellent material together in a production which will give much pleasure to the devotes of the horse (of whom this reviewer in not one) as to the students of history and literature.’ (Archaeologia Cambrensis)

This is the first volume ever to focus on the horse in Celtic culture. It is therefore not only of general interest, but it is important in the wider context of horsemanship and military tactics in medieval Britain and Europe. It draws on pagan Celtic religion, archaeology, iconography, linguistics, literary sources and folklore to give a general picture of the horse in Celtic culture, with the emphasis firmly on medieval Welsh perspectives.

The different aspects covered in this study include: the horse's symbolism within pagan Celtic religion from around 600BC to 400AD; horses in the early historic period - evidence from the Pictish sculptured stones; words for 'horse' in the Celtic languages; the horse in the Welsh law texts; horses in the Mabinogion; poems of request and thanks for horses; the horse in Welsh folklore - a boundary image in custom and narrative. The volume also makes data in the Welsh language accessible to those who lack the relevant linguistic background.

Contents

• Introduction Sioned Davies, Senior Lecturer, Department of Welsh, University of Wales, Cardiff and Nerys Ann-Jones, Honorary Research Fellow, Faculty of Arts, University of Edinburgh.

• The Symbolic Horse in Pagan Celtic Europe: An Archaeological Perspective Miranda Aldhouse Green, Head of Research in the Humanitites, University of Wales College, Newport
• Horses in the Early Historic Period: Evidence from the Pictish Sculptured Stones Irene Hughson, Tutor in Archaeology, Department of Adult and Continuing Education, University of Glasgow
• The Earliest Words for 'Horse' in the Celtic Languages Patricia Kelly, College Lecturer, Department of Early Irish, University College Dublin
• The Horse in the Welsh Law Texts Dafydd Jenkins, Emeritus Professor of Legal History and Welsh Law, University of Wales, Aberystwyth
• Horses in Medieval Welsh Court Poetry Nerys Ann Jones
• The Triads of the Horses Rachel Bromwich, Emeritus Reader in Celtic Languages and Literature, University of Cambridge
• Horses in the Mabinogion Sioned Davies
• 'Praise lasts longer than a horse': Poems of Request and Thanks for Horses Bleddyn Owen Huws, Lecturer, Department of Welsh, University of Wales, Aberystwyth
• The Horse in Welsh Folklore: A Boundary Image in Custom and Narrative Juliette Wood, Honorary Lecturer, Department of Welsh, University of Wales, Cardiff