As the sun rises on a crisp autumn morning in 55 BCE, Camma, a dedicated druid, places two pigeons on an altar in the heart of her village. She offers prayers to Matrona, the mother goddess of the Earth, and Lugus, the chief god. These rituals are important as she seeks divine messages from the gods. Camma’s role as a druid is multifaceted; she conducts religious ceremonies, serves as a judge, healer, and scholar, teaches children, and helps resolve conflicts between Celtic tribes.
Camma began her training as a young girl, memorizing vast amounts of sacred knowledge, as druids believe their wisdom is too holy to be written down. Like many druids, she spent years studying in Britain. Now, she serves as the resident druid for the Veneti tribe in a small farming village near the western coast of Gaul, which is present-day France. Despite receiving many marriage proposals since returning to Gaul, Camma has chosen to focus on her work for now.
This morning, the omens are troubling, suggesting war and conflict, which have been frequent in recent months. A neighboring tribe, the Redones, has raided their village and stolen cattle in broad daylight twice this fall. The children gather around to watch Camma work. She plays her lyre and sings to them, sharing stories of powerful kings and brave warriors who once ruled their land. These warriors, she tells them, will be reborn, just like all Celts believe they will be.
After the children leave to help in the fields, Camma visits an old woman suffering from an eye infection. On her way, she passes men preparing food for the winter and women weaving clothing from dyed wool. She delivers a remedy made from mistletoe, a sacred healing plant.
Next, Camma visits the chieftain to discuss the troubling omens. She persuades him to talk through their issues with the Redones. Accompanied by several warriors, they journey through the forest to request a meeting outside the Redones’ village. The Redones bring their own druid, whom Camma recognizes from the annual gathering in central Gaul where head druids are elected.
The chieftains begin to argue and threaten each other, but Camma steps in to prevent a fight, reminding them to respect her authority. Eventually, the Redones agree to compensate Camma’s tribe with several cattle. Despite this resolution, Camma feels uneasy on the long walk home. As they near the village, a bright streak shoots across the sky—another omen, but what does it mean?
Back home, Camma joins the elders for an evening meal of porridge, a bit of meat, and a cup of wine. During the day, an intercepted message arrived, and Camma recognizes the writing immediately. Although druids are forbidden from recording their knowledge, she and many young druids can read Latin. The message reveals that the Romans are approaching their lands.
Some elders suggest fleeing to the nearby hills to hide, but Camma advises them to trust in the gods and stay in their home. Privately, she has her doubts. If the Romans reach them, her ability to help might be limited. Unlike other Celtic tribes, Roman legions do not respect the druids’ sacred role as peacemakers. Before bed, she observes the planets and consults her charts, trying to understand the meteor she saw earlier. The signs point to a larger threat than their neighbors.
Imagine you are a druid like Camma. Design a ritual that you would perform to communicate with the gods. Think about the elements you would include, such as offerings, prayers, and music. Present your ritual to the class, explaining the significance of each part.
In groups, role-play a negotiation between two Celtic tribes, similar to Camma’s meeting with the Redones. Assign roles such as druids, chieftains, and warriors. Practice resolving a conflict through dialogue and compromise, emphasizing the druid’s role as a peacemaker.
Choose a Celtic god or goddess mentioned in the article, such as Matrona or Lugus. Research their stories and significance in Celtic culture. Create a poster or presentation to share your findings with the class, highlighting how these deities influenced daily life and decisions.
Investigate the use of plants in ancient healing practices, focusing on mistletoe as mentioned in the article. Create a short report or presentation on how druids and other ancient cultures used plants for medicinal purposes. Compare these practices to modern herbal medicine.
Write a diary entry from Camma’s perspective, reflecting on her day and the challenges she faces. Include her thoughts on the omens, her interactions with the tribe, and her concerns about the Romans. Share your entry with the class to discuss how historical context influences personal experiences.
As the sun rises on a fall morning in 55 BCE, Camma lays two pigeons on the altar at the center of her village. She offers a prayer to Matrona, the mother goddess of the Earth, and Lugus, the chief of the gods. Then, she prepares the birds for a ritual examination to seek divine messages. Camma is a druid, which means she conducts religious rites and also serves as a judge, healer, and scholar, teaching children and mediating conflicts between Celtic tribes. She began her studies as a child, memorizing the countless details necessary for her many roles, as druids’ knowledge is considered too sacred to record in writing. Like many druids, she spent years studying in Britain. Now, she is a resident druid of the Veneti tribe in a small farming village near the western coast of Gaul, in what is now France. Since returning to Gaul, she has received many offers of marriage, but she has decided to devote herself to her work, at least for now.
This morning, the omens are troubling, indicating war and strife, as they often have in recent months. A neighboring tribe, the Redones, has raided their village and stolen cattle in broad daylight twice this fall. The children have gathered around to watch her work. Camma plays her lyre and sings to them, weaving stories of powerful kings who once ruled their land—brave warriors who were slain in combat but who will be reborn, as will all the Celts. When the children go off to help in the fields, Camma heads across the village to visit an old woman with an eye infection. On her way to the old woman’s hut, she passes men preparing food for the winter and women weaving clothing from dyed wool. She delivers a remedy for the injured eye, made from mistletoe, a sacred healing plant.
From there, Camma visits the chieftain to discuss the omens. She convinces him to talk through their problems with their neighbors. Accompanied by several warriors, they head through the forest and request a meeting outside the Redones’ village walls. The Redones’ representatives bring their own druid, whom Camma recognizes from the annual gathering in central Gaul where head druids are elected. The chieftains immediately begin to argue and threaten each other. Camma steps between the opposing sides to stop them from fighting—they must honor her authority. Finally, the Redones agree to pay Camma’s tribe several cattle. Despite this resolution, Camma still feels uneasy on the long walk home. As they approach the village walls, a bright streak shoots across the sky—another omen, but of what?
Back home, Camma sits among the elders for her evening meal of porridge, a bit of meat, and a cup of wine. While they were out during the day, an intercepted message arrived. Camma recognizes the writing immediately. Although druids are forbidden from recording their knowledge, she and many other young druids can read Latin. From the message, she learns that the Romans are drawing closer to their lands. Some of the elders suggest that the tribe should flee to the nearby hills and hide, but Camma counsels them to trust in the gods and remain in their home. Privately, she has her doubts. Should the Romans reach them, her power to help might be limited. Unlike the other Celtic tribes, Roman legions have no regard for the druids’ sacred role as peacemakers. Before going to bed, she observes the course of the planets and consults her charts, trying to make sense of the meteor she saw earlier. The signs are converging on a larger threat than their neighbors.
Druid – A member of the high-ranking professional class in ancient Celtic cultures, often serving as priests, teachers, and judges. – The druid led the ceremony, invoking the spirits of nature to bless the harvest.
Rituals – Established procedures and ceremonies that are performed in a specific order, often for religious or cultural reasons. – The ancient tribe performed rituals to honor their ancestors during the full moon.
Omens – Signs or events believed to predict the future, often with religious or spiritual significance. – The sudden eclipse was considered an omen of change by the villagers.
Tribe – A social group consisting of families or communities linked by social, economic, religious, or blood ties, with a common culture and dialect. – The tribe gathered around the fire to share stories of their ancestors.
Gods – Supernatural beings worshipped in various religions, often believed to have control over certain aspects of the world and human life. – The ancient Greeks built temples to honor their gods and seek their favor.
Knowledge – Information, understanding, or skill that one gets from experience or education. – The library of Alexandria was a center of knowledge in the ancient world.
Warriors – Individuals who are skilled in combat or warfare, often serving as soldiers or fighters in a society. – The warriors of the tribe were celebrated for their bravery in battle.
Peace – A state of tranquility or quietness, often referring to the absence of war or conflict. – After years of conflict, the two kingdoms finally reached a peace agreement.
Romans – The people of ancient Rome, known for their influential civilization that dominated much of Europe and the Mediterranean. – The Romans built impressive roads and aqueducts that are still studied today.
Sacred – Regarded with reverence and respect, often due to religious significance. – The sacred texts were carefully preserved by the monks in the monastery.
