Ancient Celtics essays

Ancient Celtics essays The Celtic peoples existence can be traced over more than twenty-five centuries. Celts occupied vast lands currently known as Eastern Europe, Greece, Northern Italy, Western Europe, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. By about 500 BC, the Celts had spread to France, Portugal, Spain, the British Isles, and Northern Italy. The history and literature of the non-literate culture was preserved through spoken tradition. The texts left by classical authors were the only written records of their civilization, the first of which appeared in 500 BC. These accounts, inaccurate as they may be, show that the Celts came into cultural contact, and sometimes competition, with the Romans and the Greeks. The Celts impressed the Greeks and Romans not only with their bold dress but also with their powerful appearance, particularly their tall stature. Ancient observers generally characterized them as people with fair hair, usually red or blonde, and light complexions. Most Celtic ladies usually towered over the average Roman citizen. Celtic women, upon maturing, caught on to braided hair, and colorful embroidered dresses were very popular. Plaids and wrapped woven cloaks were popular for women and men, and gold and silver toques, arm rills and rings decorated rich Celts. Gaelic men most likely spiked their hair and bleached it to a light blonde with chalky water, and had long beards, while the Bretons and Picts had blue tattoos on their arms and faces. Celtic art originated with sculpture making and carving and metal work. Coptic Christian Manuscripts later introduced knot works to Celtic art. It wasnt until the 15th century that the spinning wheel was invented. Before the spinning wheel was invented the only way was to use a distaff and spindle. The left hand held the distaff while the spindle was held in the right hand. Celts spun both wool and flax. Women always carried out the craft of spinning. To be...