Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 11, 1900.djvu/281

 The Ancient Tentonic Priesthood. 269

to the study and exposition of natural and moral philosophy. They appear not to have been a distinct caste, since it is stated {lb. 14) that many were induced to embrace the pro- fession by the desire to escape national obligations. They were sometimes — whether usually or not is uncertain — drawn from the ranks of the nobility. Thus Deiuiciacus the Aeduan was a Druid,^ while his brother, Dumnorix, held the chief magistracy of the Aedui.

Some additional information is to be obtained from Strabo and Diodorus. According to Strabo (iv., p. 197), " there are three classes of persons who are especially honoured by the Gauls, namely, Bards, Vates, and Druids. The Bards are minstrels and poets, the Vates are sacrificers and interpreters of natural phenomena {(f)vcno\6yoi,), while the Druids practice both ^vcrioXojla and moral philosophy. They are considered to be most just, and for this reason they are entrusted with the decision of all cases, both private and public. Formerly they even settled wars, and parted those who were on the point of fighting. Above all they were entrusted with the settlement of suits for manslaughter."

Diodorus (v., 31) gives much the same account. He states that the Vates, whom he calls fidvTea (seers), fore- tell the future by augury and by divination at sacrifices, and have the whole people in subjection to them. He calls the Druids cfyiXoaocjioi,, and says that they also were present at all sacrifices, " for they think that offerings can be made to the gods, and favours asked from them, only through the mediation of those who are acquainted with their nature and, as it were, understood their language." According to Diodorus therefore both the Druids and the Vates were present at sacrifices.

Concerning the sanctuaries of the Druids we have very little information. According to Lucan (i., 453 f.) and Tacitus {Ann. xiv. 30), they inhabited, or, at all events,

' Cicero, de Diiiiit. i., 41, 90.