Dear Lucia, John, ... :
Lucia Afonso wrote:
I am searching the role of horses in the Iberia--the
castreja culture.
The Iberian Peninsula is very big and its diversity
as well. The "cultura Castreña ", is the most northwestern "celtic"
culture in Spain and North Portugal. They have not many evidences of horses
compared with celtiberic, vaccei or lusitani record. You have to focus
your interest in the zone because the big cultural variation.
Since there are some connections between Celts and Iberians, I thought
that
I could find some relevant information on the Celtic religion.
...the representation of horses in the archaeológical
record, even in coinage, is really big. The celtiberic people, the most
"celtic" groups (as we know in Central Europe) have many coins and stellae
with representations and the graves are plenty of horse bits, and other
objects related. I agree with Constanze's interpretation about the
sacrifices, nor the archaeological record shows any sign nor the written
sources said anything about it. We know some things about gods in galic
or celtiberic groups arround the III century b.C. to the roman conquest
in Spain (see Marco, P. (1997) La religión en la céltica
hispana. UCA. Universidad Complutense. Madrid- good bibliography), but
we cannot link them with horses or their social representation or sacrifices.
I'm completly sure it's related with prestige and social values, but it's
not posible by the moment re-make the role that horses had in their religion.
The image of the warrior, the chief, the rider, are close related with
the horse. I think you have a very good example in the consideration of
horse in the written sources from the Early Christian Societies in Ireland
(I 'm very grateful to Tim Champion for the time I studied with him this
topics about social complexity and his personal library loans), look for
the Patterson's book - (1994) Cattle Lords and Clansmen-it's very interesting
as further reading. But, first of all, you must know well the regional
archaeological record.
These are just some quick ideas, ...just in a friendly chat.
John, I'm dying to know about this Class VI Coriosolite coin. Send
me more info.
Thanks a lot
Oscar.
Thank you,
Lucia Afonso
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