Source 1
Tacitus (56-117 CE) was a Senator, consul and then governor of province in Asia. Was once the governor of the Roman province of Transalpine Gaul.
“Who the first inhabitants of Britain were, whether natives of immigrants, is open to question: one must remember we are dealing with barbarians. But their physical characteristics vary, and the variation is suggestive. The reddish hair and large limbs of the Caledonians proclaim a German origin; the swarthy faces of the Silures, the tendency of their hair to curl, and the fact that Spain lies opposite, all lead one to believe that Spaniards crossed in ancient times and occupied that part of the country.
The people nearest to the Gauls likewise resemble them. It may be that they still show the effect of a common origin....In both countries you find the same ritual and religious beliefs. There is no great difference in language, and there is the same hardihood in challenging danger, the same cowardice in shirking it when it comes close. But the Britons show more spirit: they have not yet been enervated by protracted peace.”
Tacitus, Agricola, 11.
Tacitus (56-117 CE) was a Senator, consul and then governor of province in Asia. Was once the governor of the Roman province of Transalpine Gaul.
“Who the first inhabitants of Britain were, whether natives of immigrants, is open to question: one must remember we are dealing with barbarians. But their physical characteristics vary, and the variation is suggestive. The reddish hair and large limbs of the Caledonians proclaim a German origin; the swarthy faces of the Silures, the tendency of their hair to curl, and the fact that Spain lies opposite, all lead one to believe that Spaniards crossed in ancient times and occupied that part of the country.
The people nearest to the Gauls likewise resemble them. It may be that they still show the effect of a common origin....In both countries you find the same ritual and religious beliefs. There is no great difference in language, and there is the same hardihood in challenging danger, the same cowardice in shirking it when it comes close. But the Britons show more spirit: they have not yet been enervated by protracted peace.”
Tacitus, Agricola, 11.
Source 2
Plato (429-347 B.C.E.) was an Athenian aristocrat and mentor to Socrates.
“I am not discussing the drinking of wine nor drinking in general, but outright drunkenness, and whether we ought to follow the custom of the Scythians and Persians, and also the Carthaginians, Celts, Iberians, and Thracians, all very warlike peoples, or be like you Spartans, who, as you claim, abstain totally from drink.”
Plato, Laws, 1.637d-e
Plato (429-347 B.C.E.) was an Athenian aristocrat and mentor to Socrates.
“I am not discussing the drinking of wine nor drinking in general, but outright drunkenness, and whether we ought to follow the custom of the Scythians and Persians, and also the Carthaginians, Celts, Iberians, and Thracians, all very warlike peoples, or be like you Spartans, who, as you claim, abstain totally from drink.”
Plato, Laws, 1.637d-e
Source 3
Aristotle (384-322 BCE) was from Stagirus, Thrace. He was associated with the Macedonian court which greatly influenced him and he studied under Plato.
“The inevitable result is that in such a state wealth is esteemed too highly, especially if the men are dominated by women as it is with most military and warlike cultures, except the Celts and certain other groups who openly approve of sexual relations between men.”
Aristotle, Politics, 2.6.6
Aristotle (384-322 BCE) was from Stagirus, Thrace. He was associated with the Macedonian court which greatly influenced him and he studied under Plato.
“The inevitable result is that in such a state wealth is esteemed too highly, especially if the men are dominated by women as it is with most military and warlike cultures, except the Celts and certain other groups who openly approve of sexual relations between men.”
Aristotle, Politics, 2.6.6
Source 4
Aristotle (384-322 BCE) was from Stagirus, Thrace. He was associated with the Macedonian court which greatly influenced him and he studied under Plato.
“On account of honour the virtuous man stands his ground and performs brave deeds. But the one who is fearless with excessive bravery, who fears nothing at all, not even earthquakes or waves (as they say of the Celts), has no name, unless we call him mad or insensible.”
Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, 3.7.6-7
Aristotle (384-322 BCE) was from Stagirus, Thrace. He was associated with the Macedonian court which greatly influenced him and he studied under Plato.
“On account of honour the virtuous man stands his ground and performs brave deeds. But the one who is fearless with excessive bravery, who fears nothing at all, not even earthquakes or waves (as they say of the Celts), has no name, unless we call him mad or insensible.”
Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, 3.7.6-7
Source 5
Diodorus of Sicily, also known as Diodorus Siculus, was a Greek historian from Agyrium, Sicily. c 80BCE – 20 BCE. He was an uncritical compiler and used good sources, faithfully reproduced.
“The Gauls are exceedingly addicted to the use of wine and fill themselves with the wine which is brought into their country by merchants, drinking it unmixed, and since they partake of this drink without moderation by reason of their craving for it, when they are drunken they fall into a stupor or a state of madness.”
Diodorus of Sicily 5.26.3
Diodorus of Sicily, also known as Diodorus Siculus, was a Greek historian from Agyrium, Sicily. c 80BCE – 20 BCE. He was an uncritical compiler and used good sources, faithfully reproduced.
“The Gauls are exceedingly addicted to the use of wine and fill themselves with the wine which is brought into their country by merchants, drinking it unmixed, and since they partake of this drink without moderation by reason of their craving for it, when they are drunken they fall into a stupor or a state of madness.”
Diodorus of Sicily 5.26.3
Source 6
Strabo (Birth c.63 BCE.) was a Geographer at time of Augustus. He lived in Amasia, a hellenised town interior of Pontus.
“They have regard, not for rational living, but rather for satisfying their physical needs and bestial instinct – unless someone thinks those men have regard for rational living who bathe with urine which they have aged in cisterns, and wash their teeth with it, both they and their wives, as the Cantabrians and their neighbouring peoples are said to do. But both this custom and that of sleeping on the ground the Iberians share with the Celts.”
Strabo, Geography, 3.4.16
Strabo (Birth c.63 BCE.) was a Geographer at time of Augustus. He lived in Amasia, a hellenised town interior of Pontus.
“They have regard, not for rational living, but rather for satisfying their physical needs and bestial instinct – unless someone thinks those men have regard for rational living who bathe with urine which they have aged in cisterns, and wash their teeth with it, both they and their wives, as the Cantabrians and their neighbouring peoples are said to do. But both this custom and that of sleeping on the ground the Iberians share with the Celts.”
Strabo, Geography, 3.4.16
Source 7
Strabo (Birth c.63 BCE.) was a Geographer at time of Augustus. He lived in Amasia, a hellenised town interior of Pontus.
“…war-mad, both high-spirited and quick for battle, although otherwise simple and not ill-mannered.”
Strabo, Geography.
Strabo (Birth c.63 BCE.) was a Geographer at time of Augustus. He lived in Amasia, a hellenised town interior of Pontus.
“…war-mad, both high-spirited and quick for battle, although otherwise simple and not ill-mannered.”
Strabo, Geography.
Source 8
Colour map showing the tribal divisions of Britain, eg. the Iceni, Trinovantes, Belgae etc.
Colour map showing the tribal divisions of Britain, eg. the Iceni, Trinovantes, Belgae etc.
Source 9
Coin of the Catuvellauni. The capital of the Catuvellauni was Vervlamivm, and the tribe expanded in the years following Caesar to become one of the most powerful in Southern Britain.
Coin of the Catuvellauni. The capital of the Catuvellauni was Vervlamivm, and the tribe expanded in the years following Caesar to become one of the most powerful in Southern Britain.
Source 10
Coin of the Dobunni, who occupied impressive hillforts.
Coin of the Dobunni, who occupied impressive hillforts.
Source 11
Coin of the Durotriges, one of the few tribes to use coinage before the Roman invasion, although these were simple and had no inscriptions.
Coin of the Durotriges, one of the few tribes to use coinage before the Roman invasion, although these were simple and had no inscriptions.
Source 12
Coin of Cunobelinus, king of the Catuvellauni.
Coin of Cunobelinus, king of the Catuvellauni.
Source 13
Coin of the Iceni, tribe of the legendary Queen Boudicca.
Coin of the Iceni, tribe of the legendary Queen Boudicca.
Source 14
Coin of the Trinovantes, which possibly means the ‘Vigorous People’.
Coin of the Trinovantes, which possibly means the ‘Vigorous People’.
Source 15
Coin of Verica, king of the Atrebates, who battled against the Trinovantes and lost half of his kingdom.
Coin of Verica, king of the Atrebates, who battled against the Trinovantes and lost half of his kingdom.