Underpinning this artistry was a belief system which was firmly rooted in nature. Their religious world was one of dream and superstition, magic and symbolism, full of a variety of unpredictable deities who oversaw every aspect of the natural and supernatural worlds. They tended to see supernatural significance everywhere in the world around them. A strong bond with the Druids was developed to help guide them through this mysterious and often frightening spirit world. Unfortunately, few written records were produced before the Christian period, although they did use writing for nonliterary and non-religious purposes.

    What evidence we do have of ancient Celtic mythology, aside from accounts of Classical writers, are mainly inscriptions. Anything on less durable materials than stone and metal has vanished without a trace. From the inscriptions, about four hundred Celtic gods and goddesses have been discovered. They were often referred to by simple titles such as Dagda ("Good God"), Matrona ("Mother"), Maponus ("Son" or "Youth"). Apparently, most of their deities were "Spirits of Place", associated with a particular location. On the other hand, they also claimed descent from a common divine ancestor whom they called "Father".
 
    Before the coming of the Romans, it was unusual for the Celts to build permanent shrines to their deities. Rituals were performed in any appropriate place in nature, such as a tree, a sacred spring, a grove, or a waterfall, to the deity relevant to the place. Nor did they often attempt to make specific images of their gods. Exceptions to this are some deities who are represented in the form of animals such as Cernunnos, the "Horned God", a widespread fertility god associated with forests, and who was probably thought of as "Lord of Animals". Others include the goddess Epona, who was associated with horses, and Morrigan, a war goddess who could take the form of a crow. In Celtic myth, there are many instances of transformation into animal form and back. It is very clear that the Celts strongly believed animals and birds to be in possession of supernatural powers.
 
 

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