Moccus. Dzik w wierzeniach starożytnych Celtów
Moccus. A boar in Celt beliefs

Author(s): Agnieszka Bartnik
Subject(s): History, Social history, Ancient World
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego
Keywords: Moccus; Celt beliefs
Summary/Abstract: Celt tribes had a developed system of beliefs. Animals played an important role inCelt cults. A boar was one of the most important animals. Initially, it was worshipped asa manifestation of the forces of nature. Only later, did they begin to worship anthropomorphicgods, a boar being one of their attributes. Celts admired strength, aggression,and fertility of this animal. For that reason they worshipped it as an attribute of a war god.The pictures of a boar were readily placed on weapons, among others, on swords andshields. The figures presenting a boar were a popular decoration of the helmets of Celtwarriors.Celts worshipped a boar as a lunar animal. They also believed in its connections to thespirit world. The sagas and Celt stories include numerous supernatural and magic boarscoming from the spirit world. The monuments of these animals were placed in necropoliesprobably to make them perform the function of a psychopomp.Some tribes worshipped a boar because of its connections with fertility cults and theso called annual cycle. The very animals accompanied many gods and goddesses, as wellas played a role of sacrificial animals. The cases of boar burials similar to human burialsare also known.Unquestionably, boars, irrespective of gender, were one of the most important animalsin Celt beliefs and traditions.

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