“The appointed Druids, who likewise were versed in the art of seers and other forms of wisdom, without whom the kings were not permitted to adopt or plan any course, so that in fact it was these who ruled and the kings became their subordinates and instruments of their judgement, while themselves seated on golden thrones, and dwelling in great houses and being sumptuously feasted.”

Dion Chrysostom, 1st century

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Cover art by unknown artist

Druids were essentially the central religious figures, teachers, healers, doctors, judges, seers and otherwise skilled learned class in various Celtic culturally inclined societies. The name druid may have meant ‘knowing the oak’ and ‘philosopher’ or ‘seer’ depending on the language dialect and interpretation. In Ireland, they were called Druí in Old Irish and later known as the Draoi, Filí, Filíd, Ollamh or sometimes simply, a bard. Filí also means ‘poet, seer or one who sees’. The woman druid was known as the Bandruí or Banfilí. Druídecht or draídecht‎ in Old Irish referenced the practice in general which became modern draíocht and means variously depending how it is used: ‘magic, occult or secret lore’. In Gaul, they were known as the Druides, Druidae or Druidess. The Gauls had other names such as gutuatri, ‘speakers to the gods’ possibly related to the Irish word guth, meaning voice.¹ In Scotland, they were the Draoidh or Druidh, and in Wales, Dryw.

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