Universität Wien

160195 VO Archaeology of the celtic world (2025W)

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 16 - Musikwissenschaft und Sprachwissenschaft
Moodle

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Details

Language: English

Examination dates

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Friday 03.10. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 34 Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 6
  • Friday 10.10. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 34 Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 6
  • Friday 17.10. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 34 Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 6
  • Friday 24.10. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 34 Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 6
  • Friday 31.10. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 34 Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 6
  • Friday 07.11. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 34 Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 6
  • Friday 14.11. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 34 Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 6
  • Friday 21.11. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 34 Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 6
  • Friday 28.11. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 34 Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 6
  • Friday 05.12. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 34 Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 6
  • Friday 12.12. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 34 Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 6
  • Friday 19.12. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 34 Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 6
  • Friday 09.01. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 34 Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 6
  • Friday 16.01. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 34 Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 6
  • Friday 23.01. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 34 Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 6
  • Friday 30.01. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 34 Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 6

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Special Topic for Winter Semester 2025: Celtic Myth and Religion
A survey of the mythological and religious systems of Celtic-speaking peoples based on a variety of sources, including medieval Irish and Welsh literature, comparative linguistics, the writings of Classical authors, and archaeological evidence for religious beliefs and practices. We will consider the problems inherent in identifying and reconstructing any form of unified “Celtic” mythology, religion, or cultural identity based on the separate evidence of the Continental Celts and the Celtic-speaking peoples of Ireland and Britain. Topics will include: approaches to comparative mythology, “Celtic” divinities, the role of archaeology and folklore in understanding myth and religion, creation myths, varying beliefs about the afterlife and the Otherworld, hero tales, and the role of both storytellers and audiences in constructing a mythological system.

Assessment and permitted materials

The method of evaluation will be a final exam, which will be worth 100% of the grade and which will be written at home and submitted online via Moodle.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Course objectives include:

Familiarity with the major sources of information about Celtic myth and religion, particularly from the Celtic speaking peoples of the ancient and medieval periods.

Understanding of problems attached to treating Celtic culture, and particularly myth and religion, as a unified system across geographical and temporal divisions.

Knowledge of core concepts, world-view, and means of transmission of evidence for Celtic myth and religion.

The exam questions will give students the opportunity to engage with these issues.

Examination topics

The examination topics will be based on the lectures and readings.

Reading list

All required readings will be provided as PDFs or links to online sources on the class moodle site. They will consists of primary sources from mainly medieval Ireland and Wales, as well as secondary sources including scholarship on archaeology, mythology, literature, and religion.

Association in the course directory

Keltische Sprachwissenschaft A 166
Individuelle Studien: Keltologie

Last modified: Mo 27.07.2026 09:27