In The Tribe of Witches ; a wide-ranging theoretical framework for understanding the major cults worshipped amongst the Iron-Age tribal group called the Dobunni; later known as the Hwicce; was put forward. Towards the end of that volume; the mother goddess of the Dobunni was introduced. In A Dreaming for the Witches ; the cults that worshipped the tribal deities are explored more fully. The surviving textual data and archaeological material are reviewed; and what we know of the Dobunni pantheon; using predominantly Welsh sources placed in a wider European context; is discussed. The Roman period process of interpretatio is explored; along with European traditions of mythical animals and plants which created our underlying cultural tales and traditions. The Tribe introduced the Matrona of the Dobunni; this work gets to grips with the tribal father. The sacred landscapes accounted for by Nennius are investigated; and the mythical landscape around Gloucester revealed. Finally; a discussion is put forward which places the cults of the Dobunni at the heart of the Christian grail myths.
#1359732 in Books Osprey 2001-03-25 2001-03-25Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 251.71 x 4.06 x 7.23l; #File Name: 184176149464 pages9781841761497
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy richard crigerJust as advertised.4 of 6 people found the following review helpful. AshigaruBy K. MurphyTypical Osprey warrior title; detailed; well-illustrated; and providing information rarely; if ever; found anywhere else.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. The Samurai's grunts.By Stone DogSteven Turnbull; one of the few western experts on pre-modern Japanese warfare; authored this Osprey title on the Ashigaru - the Samurai's commoner foot soldiers. For those such as myself who always picture Japanese warfare as a clash between armies of noble Samurai warriors; one will learn a great deal from this work on the Ashigaru.The author begins with the origins of the Ashigaru as part-time soldiers hired for a single campaign who were indifferently equipped and of marginal use on the battlefield. They evolved over time into a professional and important military arm of Daimyo armies. In time; they became the lowest rung on the Samurai hierarchy. Their equipment varied from era to era to include swords; pikes and even firelock muskets first introduced by Portuguese merchants.The author does a very good job of showing what life was like for the Ashigaru - on campaign and in battle. They author relates their training; their food; their changing status within armies and society and their equipment in regards to both weapons and armor and what was expected of Ashigaru formations in battle.This is a very good primer not only on the Ashigaru; but on Japanese warfare and how it changed over time. As one can expect from an Osprey title; the color plates and photos are excellent. This book also includes Japanese woodcut images showing Ashigaru in action - in more ways than one! In one; Ashigaru are looting an enemy village and while one carries off various objects another has a young woman over his shoulder!This is a very enlightening work on the Samurai's "grunts" and gets five stars from me.
