The Ancient Religions of Scotland

                    The Ancient Religions of Scotland

As with other areas of life in ancient times there is a distinct lack of knowledge about ancient religion in Scotland. In saying this it is possible to glean information from later Christian writers. From archaeology and from examples from similar societies elsewhere. From these sources Pictish religion is thought to have resembled the polytheistic religion of other Celtic societies such as Gaul and Ireland which are better known from Classical authors. Numbering in the hundreds these gods had temples and shrines dedicated to them. On occasions there were votive offerings. Often there were animal sacrifices. There has been much speculation by ancient historians over whether there were also human sacrifices offered. As was insisted upon by Greek and Roman writers in their descriptions of Celtic societies.

                                                 The Druids

Central to the Ancient Religions of Scotland were a caste known to these writers as the Druids. Little is known about them though Irish sources indicate that the Druids were particularly associated with Pictish society.  Christian writers also state that they were associated with ‘spirt’ worship. Especially those associated with wells which had a particular importance in Pictish society.  Central to the beliefs of the Druids was reincarnation where souls are immortal and that after death in a fixed number of years they would be hosted by another body. Classical writers identified these doctrines with the Pythagorean school of philosophy. It is now thought by historians that this belief was extraordinary prevalent amongst all Celtic societies. Much more about this ancient religion has recently been revealed by archaeology and it is hoped that a much fuller picture of it will revealed in the future.