WILD BOARS, AND PIGS IN CELTIC FAITH AND RITUAL By Marion K Pearce The wild boar or pig, was a very important animal to the Celts. It was essential to both their religion and their diet. The Greek historian, Strabo, relates that the Celts ate both fresh and salt pork. It appears to be a staple of their diet. In fact the pig was a noted delicacy in Irish feasts. Although it is interesting to note that in the Celtic country of Galatia and in the Highlands of Scotland pork was not eaten. Strabo also says that the pigs ran wild in Britain. These pigs were noted for their height, odour, and the speed at which they moved. In fact, they were considered very dangerous to man, and even wolves were said to be at peril from these animals. There was an ancient Celtic God called "Moccus", a swine god depicted in the shape of a pig. This god corresponds to the later Roman god, Mercury. In fact the pig was often considered a representative of the corn-spirit, or of vegetarian divinities by the Celts of Europe. One of the rituals involved mixing the flesh of the pig with the seed corn which was then buried in the fields to promote fertility. To the agricultural Celts the fertility symbol of the pig was of great significance. Archaeologically, the name of Moccus, the pig god, has been found at Langres in France. The boar was frequently used as a symbol in the Celtic world. It appears on the Celtic helmets during the early Celtic era. This is reinforced by the images of warriors on the Danish Gundestrup cauldron, where warriors wear boar crests on their helmets. Boars also appear Gaulish coins. This animal also features on war standards in the Celtic world. The war theme of the boar is also echoed in the Celtic war trumpet, a musical instrument used to scare the enemy. The terminal of this instrument, where the music would come out of, was frequently in the shape of a boar. In Britain the boar appears on coins of Camulos, a Beligic war-god whose name means powerful. In fact, in northern Britain, around Hadrians Wall, images of the boar appear frequently. It is also thought to have been the ensign of the Roman Twentieth Legion. Archaeologically, many artifacts of boars have been found. Small bronze boars were discovered at Houndlow, Middlesex. Other bronze boars were found Lexden, Wattisfield is Suffolk, East Cheap, and two bronze from Ireland. A wonderful example of the Celtic boar was found as part of the Witham shield. Three nearly life-size bronze boars were found in Europe, part of a first century BC find at Neury-en-Sullias. A second century BC boar shaped figurine was found in Bata in Hungary. Mythologically, the boar was also considered important. Magic swine was considered food of the gods. In ancient sagas these boars were supernatural animals which although hunted in the stories, could never be caught. In the Welsh Maginogian tale of Culhwch and Olwen there is the story of the Twrch Trwyth. This is a king who turns into a boar. It is said that one of Arthur's party asked him who the animal was, Arthur replied: "He was a king, and for his wickedness God transformed him into a swine. There is also the story of the Welsh Torc Triath, also known as the Irish Orc or Torc Triath in the Irish book "Lebor Gabala". This was the King of the Boars and belonged to the Celtic fertility goddess Brigid. The boar was certainly a very important symbol in the Celtic world. Sources used: The Gods of the Celts by Miranda Green The Religion of the Ancient Celts by J A MacCulloch Pagan Celtic Britain by Anne Ross Dictionary of Celtic Mythology by Peter Berresford Ellis Back to The Pagan Path