{"product_id":"celtic-mythology-tales-of-gods-goddesses-and-heroes","title":"Celtic Mythology: Tales of Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes by Philip Freeman","description":"\u003ch2\u003eCeltic Mythology: Tales of Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes by Philip Freeman\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-path-to-node=\"4\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"4\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003eBook Overview \u0026amp; Structural Framework\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"5\"\u003eRather than treating the Celtic world as a monolith, Freeman structurally divides the book by \u003cb data-path-to-node=\"5\" data-index-in-node=\"94\"\u003egeography and surviving manuscript cycles\u003c\/b\u003e. This division respects the historical differences between the Insular Celts of the British Isles and the Continental Celts of mainland Europe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"6\"\u003eThe handbook's narrative blueprint is organized into four primary domains:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-path-to-node=\"7\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"7\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003e1. The Myths of Ireland (The Insular Core)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"8\"\u003eThe vast majority of the book focuses on Ireland, which boasts the richest surviving vernacular literature in the Celtic world. Freeman breaks this down into its classic medieval cycles:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-path-to-node=\"9\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"9,0,0\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"9,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003eThe Mythological Cycle:\u003c\/b\u003e The prehistoric battles for Ireland involving the \u003cb data-path-to-node=\"9,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"74\"\u003eTuatha Dé Danann\u003c\/b\u003e (the people of the goddess Danu), supernatural masters of magic who were later forced underground to become the fairy folk (\u003ci data-path-to-node=\"9,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"215\"\u003eSidhe\u003c\/i\u003e).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"9,1,0\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"9,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003eThe Ulster Cycle:\u003c\/b\u003e The gritty, iron-age heroic epics centered on the warrior \u003cb data-path-to-node=\"9,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"76\"\u003eCú Chulainn\u003c\/b\u003e (the Hound of Ulster) and the grand cattle raid orchestrated by Queen Medb of Connacht.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"9,2,0\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"9,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003eThe Fenian Cycle:\u003c\/b\u003e The more romantic, woodland adventures of \u003cb data-path-to-node=\"9,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"60\"\u003eFionn mac Cumhaill\u003c\/b\u003e and his band of mercenary warriors, the Fianna.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"19\"\u003eFreeman looks past the literal plots to explain the unique cultural psychology that distinguished Celtic worldview from Greek or Roman thought:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-path-to-node=\"20\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"20\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003e1. The \"Otherworld\" and Liminality\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"21\"\u003eA definitive theme in Celtic myth is the proximity of the \u003cb data-path-to-node=\"21\" data-index-in-node=\"58\"\u003eOtherworld\u003c\/b\u003e (known variously as \u003ci data-path-to-node=\"21\" data-index-in-node=\"89\"\u003eTír na nÓg\u003c\/i\u003e or Avalon). Unlike the distant heavens or underworlds of other cultures, the Celtic Otherworld existed right alongside our physical reality. Freeman details how it was accessed through \"liminal\" spaces—geographic thresholds like caves, deep lakes, burial mounds, or misty islands. It was also highly accessible during liminal times of the year, particularly \u003cb data-path-to-node=\"21\" data-index-in-node=\"458\"\u003eSamhain\u003c\/b\u003e (modern Halloween), when the veil between realities thinned completely, allowing mortals and spirits to cross paths freely.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-path-to-node=\"22\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"22\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003e2. The Sovereign Goddess\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"23\"\u003eIn Celtic narrative, the land itself was viewed as a powerful, living female entity. To become a legitimate king, a mortal ruler had to metaphorically or ritually marry the \u003cb data-path-to-node=\"23\" data-index-in-node=\"173\"\u003eGoddess of Sovereignty\u003c\/b\u003e. If the king was just, brave, and physically unblemished, the land flourished with crops and cattle; if he was corrupt or weak, the goddess transformed into a haggard, terrifying crone, causing the kingdom to turn into a barren wasteland.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLanguage: English.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGenre: Mythology.\u003cspan class=\"BookPageMetadataSection__genreButton\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBinding: সেলাই করা বাইন্ডিং\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQuality: Premium Quality Books.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePrinting: High Quality Printing.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePaper: Eye Friendly paper (Cream White)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCover: Matt cover (Paperback).\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Royal Books BD","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47274884923577,"sku":null,"price":270.0,"currency_code":"BDT","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0780\/0874\/6169\/files\/Celtic_Mythology_Tales_of_Gods_Goddesses_and_Heroes.jpg?v=1779476285","url":"https:\/\/royalbooksbd.com\/products\/celtic-mythology-tales-of-gods-goddesses-and-heroes","provider":"Royal Books BD","version":"1.0","type":"link"}