Description
Although the druids are shrouded in mystery, we know that they were a crucial part of Celtic society. They were responsible for the judicial system and religious life of many tribes. Holding a great deal of authority within a tribe, a druid’s judgement in the settling of disputes was widely respected. Druids were not required to fight, but their words instilled vigour, vitality and invulnerability before a battle. Believing that the fate of men was directly connected to nature, druids appeased the gods and, according to the Romans, even turned to human sacrifice when necessary. Caesar spoke of "divine worship, the due performance of sacrifices, private or public, and the interpretation of ritual questions". Human sacrifices in Britain, usually foreign captives or criminals, were supposedly burnt alive in a giant wooden statue, 'the wicker man'.
