This is a simple guide for those who want to do research, are a little intimidated, and don’t know where to start.
Note: One does not need to have a blog or do deep research to be part of the community.
Highly Recommend Sites
- The computerized Compendium of Gallic inscriptions RIIG – This is a very useful site with much information and translations of over 400 inscriptions.
- Encyclopédie de l’Arbre Celtique – A massive unbiased encyclopedia with many resources.
- History Files – History files have much information on the different tribes with write-ups about each.
- The Classical Sources on the Gauls – A massive project that the Gaulish Paganism site is doing to help new folks and aid in research and understanding for the individuals in the community.
- Lexicon Leponticum – A lexicon of Lepontic and Cisalpine Gaulish objects bearing Lepontic and Cisalpine Gaulish inscriptions.
- Gallia Archéologie des Gaules – Archeology journals about Gaul
- Epigraphik-Datenbank – Databank of Inscriptions
- All our members in the greater community have a focus on something, so please make sure you look at the work they have done.
Gaulish Contributors
When exploring the Gaulish realm, you’ll come across many individuals with blogs focusing on specific topics such as tribes, animals, specific Dēuoi, weapons, plants, and more. While this may seem like a group of armchair academics to some extent, it’s important to note that not everyone is solely focused on academia. Our personal Gnosis, which refers to spiritual beliefs based on personal experiences or intuition that cannot be verified by traditional sources or scholarly work, is also significant. For some, personal Gnosis holds more importance than the academic aspect, but striking a balance between the two is essential. We need both perspectives and shouldn’t get too caught up in either extreme.
Approaching the scholarly side can be challenging for some individuals. To get started, it’s helpful to break things down to a fundamental level. Choose an anchor or area of interest that will serve as your focus as you navigate through your research. This anchor acts as a grounding point when you find yourself going down a rabbit hole or exploring various interconnected areas. Consider your personal preferences and interests. For example, if you’re interested in herbs, make that your anchor and explore Gaulish herbs. This might require examining works from neighboring cultures that discuss the Gauls, such as Marcellus Empiricus’ “De medicamentis liber,” Dioscorides’ “De materia medica,” or Pliny’s “Naturalis Historia.” A good starting point for herbs is the “Uatis Studies – Samolouissus Gaulish Herb List” compiled by the Druið of Galatîs Litauiâs.
If you’re interested in researching Gaulish tribes but unsure how to begin, you can approach it from various angles. You could focus on a tribe based on your family history, Gaulish history, or your devotion to specific Dēuoi associated with a particular tribe. Alternatively, the geographic location of a tribe might be the connecting factor for you. A helpful resource for exploring tribes is the map provided below, which allows you to visualize areas and neighboring tribes.
Suppose you wish to research a Dēuoi for which limited information is available. In that case, the first step is to find an inscription associated with that deity. Academic books often provide notes with references to inscription databases such as CIL (Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum), RIB (Roman British Inscriptions), RAE, and others. You can use the website https://edh.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/links to look up inscriptions and gain valuable insights. Some important aspects to consider while researching an inscription include the object on which it was found, the location of discovery, the region in which it was found, and any accompanying images or additional writings. Check out our Dēuoi Inscriptions page.
These details are crucial for understanding the nature of the Dēuoi in question. You might discover that the Dēuoi were associated with a specific tribe, prompting you to delve further into the history of that tribe. In cases where only a name is known, it becomes a matter of breaking down the name’s meaning in Gaulish. If the name doesn’t offer much insight, divination techniques like Celiâ can be employed to ask questions and seek guidance. However, it is advisable to approach this final step with caution and seek the assistance of an experienced practitioner, a Uatis, or a Ueleð.
There are numerous fields of interest to explore which can help you begin your research journey. Avoid overthinking and take your time as you navigate through these fascinating subjects.
Gaulish Paganism 