Anyway, Ellis has some unusual interpretations of history. He doesn't feel the Druids were stamped out by the Romans, as most historians generally accept (and I don't know anything of Ellis' reputation at this time, or how much he may have influenced modern historians on the subject of the Druids).

He still maintains that modern Druidic traditions arose in the 17th century (I believe I attributed them to the 18th century) and have no connection with ancient Druidic traditions. Ironically, he states that the Druids survived and were absorbed into the Church.

Ellis portrays the Druids as the Celtic intellectual caste. He cites many ancient writers, talks about their sources, draws upon linguistic analysis, and compares Celtic social customs and laws as recorded by the Celts themselves (in the Middle Ages) with Hindu customs and laws.

The Druids were, according to Ellis, not just religious leaders. They were philosophers, historians, judges, lawyers (or the equivalent), poets, and other types of "professionals". Ellis seems to be on a campaign to convince historians that there was a legitimate Celtic civilization comparable to that of Greece and Rome throughout the last few centuries of the 1st millennium BCE. He makes a very powerful case, even arguing that the Romans borrowed many military customs and arms and armor from the Celts.

The intellectuals were said to be divided into three groups: Druids, Vates, and Bards.

The interesting thing about Ellis' analysis of the Druids (besides the fact he says they were not destroyed by the Romans) is that suggests they were not only an ancient order, they may have originated in Britain or possibly Ireland (where, of course, the Celtic Church flourished during the early Medieval period) and spread to the continent.

It strikes me as ironic that modern Christianity may owe a great deal to a Druidic heritage in learning and education.

The book is a Barnes and Noble special edition, which I suppose means it can only be found at B&N. I don't know if it can be ordered from the Web site, as I found my copy on one of the discount aisles. The book has a 1998 copyright date and it's a 1999 B&N imprint, but it's not listed on Amazon (though many other books by Ellis are).

I think I'll order the book on the Druids and see what that is like, even though I haven't gotten all the way through this one. BTW, there is a chapter on Celtic women I just finished which goes well beyond the usual stories. People interested in Arthurian history will definitely want to read Ellis.
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