[[seer-priests]] --- ## Biblio [[guyonvarch2002]] [[lincoln1988-1991-druids]] [[green-mi1990]] [[leeming-d2003]] Imposed [[geas]] on prominent people · One of the 3 learned classes (the others being bards and seers) · Engaged in sacred matters · Their Function: ○ Sacrifices ○ The imposition of geissi ○ Divination § The control of supernatural forces § Planning auspicious times for important events (ex. War, sowing/reaping, elections of kings, etc) § It Involved: □ Human sacrifices by stabbing/strangulation/etc ® [Tacitus: it occurred on the Island of Anglesey when it was threatened by invading Romans] □ Examination of the death struggles or the victim's innards □ The "Himbas Forosnai" ® [the 9th century commentator Cormac] ® "a divination ritual which involved chewing the raw flesh of pigs, dogs, or cats. - Politically Influential; High rank, equal to knights - A large number of young men are instructed by them, and hold them in great honor - Training: took up to 22 years, involved oral memory work Druids "distained writing as a means of transmitting sacred text...resembl[ing] their Indo-European relatives in India, the brahmans, for whom works such as the Vedas were sruti, that is, "heard" revelation rather than mere smrti, texts contaminated by human influence." (p.74)