Facebook X YouTube Instagram TikTok NetGalley
Google Books previews are unavailable because you have chosen to turn off third party cookies for enhanced content. Visit our cookies page to review your cookie settings.

Myth and Materiality (Paperback)

Ancient History > Prehistory > British & Irish Prehistory P&S History > Medieval World > Medieval Language & Literature

Imprint: Oxbow Books
Series: Oxbow Insights in Archaeology
Pages: 192
Illustrations: 35 b/w
ISBN: 9781785709753
Published: 18th April 2018
Casemate UK Academic

in_stock

£15.99


You'll be £15.99 closer to your next £10.00 credit when you purchase Myth and Materiality. What's this?
+£4.99 UK Delivery or free UK delivery if order is over £40
(click here for international delivery rates)

Order within the next 10 hours, 36 minutes to get your order processed the next working day!

Need a currency converter? Check XE.com for live rates



The aim of this book is to promote the thesis that myth may illuminate archaeology and that on occasion archaeology may shed light on myth. Medieval Irish literature is rich in mythic themes and some of these are used as a starting point. Some myths are of great antiquity and some were invented by contemporary authors. It is a challenging source, first explored in the author's earlier work Archaeology and Celtic Myth and this work will elaborate on some of the themes pursued there and introduce some new ones. Combining literary and archaeological evidence chapters deal with the construction of the past, illustrating how the Irish medieval world invented aspects of the past; the abuses of myth presented in later literature; the evidence for the survival of pagan beliefs and practices well into medieval times in Ireland; evidence to illustrate the key elements of the institution of sacral kingship, a consideration of sacred trees; mythology of the underworld and its archaeological expressions and the equine aspects of the myths attached to the Irish goddess Macha (linked to Navan Fort) and her Welsh counterpart Rhiannon. John Waddell brings a lifetimes experience of studying Irish history, Bronze Age archaeology and Celtic mythology in this personal and lively exploration of mythology and its archaeological expression.

There are no reviews for this book. Register or Login now and you can be the first to post a review!

Other titles in the series...

Other titles in Oxbow Books...