Exploits Of The Celtic Warriors
History informs us that even primitive societies had their warriors split into classes, early Romans and Greeks did and so were the Celts. Celtic warriors often composed of men selected from both middle and upper strata of society and then drafted into service as warriors. Those belonging to the warrior class did the actual fighting while the free poor worked as chariot drivers. The Celtic warriors were formidable and valiant. To them everything had to be exceptional because they lived to fight and the glorification of their heroic exploits often led to their unruly behavior.
Weapons and armor of the Celtic warrior
Celts often despised the use of protective body armor and preferred to fight naked until 300 B.C. In the battle of Telamon in 225 B.C. some Celtic tribes still fought naked. Celtic warriors were popularly known as sword-men but they occasionally used spears and javelins in combat. The La Tene findings; which were spears measuring 2.5 m long are reported to be Celtic. Their only protection was large oval shaped shields.
The claim that Celt warrior wore heavy bracelets is hardly credible, this is because the bracelets would be impossible to use while wielding a sword. Dionysius informs us that while in combat; the Celts rolled their swords over their heads as if slashing the air side-to-side then stroke down at their foes as if splitting wood. This sword display that terrified their enemies so much, the Celts fought in companies and this can be proved by their use of standards.
Headhunters
Celtic warriors relished head-hunting in the course of /and after battle. Celtic warriors would behead fallen foes and hang the head on the horse’s neck. Once the battle was over they would display the head at the temple entrance. The severed head remains a constant theme in Celtic art to this day. The Celts were so fond of collecting heads thus it’s reported that during the Battle of Beneventum , general Gracchus had to order his army composed of freed slaves and who are thought to have been Celts to stop collecting heads and focus on combat.
Once battles were concluded, Celts often dedicated weapons taken from their dead enemies to their gods by throwing them to the river or sea. Much of the La Tene findings are attributed to this practice by Celts. Many Celtic artifacts have been unearthed at La Tene.
Celtic chiefs
Members of the upper class and chiefs wore protective gear such as amour especially when they faced the Romans and Greeks. Celts often borrowed ideas on weapons and armor from the Romans and Greeks. Several greaves were discovered at a chieftain grave at Ciumesti. A number of graves have been located in Northern Italy containing Celtic weapons and protective gear such as armor. Prior to a battle Celtic chiefs would ride out, in front of their warriors clashing weapons and proclaiming their foes to combat.
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