Celtic Women

            Celtic history has been a source of debate for many scholars. This group of tribes was prolific throughout mid and western Europe for almost one thousand years but left behind little in the way of written history. Much of the information that is known today comes from archeological finds and the literature left by the Romans and Greeks. Even with the lack of evidence regarding Celtic society, these groups of peoples emerge with a richly textured culture that differs from other known civilizations of the same time. The image of the Celtic female has been a source of strength and inspiration for many suppressed women. Celtic myth, laws, and early history all add to the idea women in the society were privileged to rights and status not present in other cultures. Celtic women have been recognized in history for possessing courage, intelligence, and especially their independence. Their place in society encompassed many areas of life. Women personified by figures such as Medb, Boudicca, and St. Brigid, participated openly in political and religious life. The Celtic woman was permitted significant rights under the society's law system, and some obtained the prestigious position of Druid. The Celtic woman held her place in society despite the influence of Roman invasion, and it was not until Christianity took hold in Europe that the rights of the Celtic women began to fade. This paper is intended to outline the role of women in early Celtic society, and to show how the position they assumed set these women apart from most contemporary cultures. .
             Women could assume roles of great political importance in Celtic society, and the set law system probably afforded a "more privileged position than their sisters in other European cultures" (Ellis 15). The Celtic peoples were governed by a sophisticated law system that had developed early in their history (104). Status of Celtic women in the early codes of law, illustrate how progressive the culture was.