Cosmovision and Metaphor: Monsters and Shamans in Gallo-British Cult-Expression

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Home All Issues Subscribe RSS Email Alerts Search this journal Advanced Journal Search » Cosmovision and Metaphor: Monsters and Shamans in Gallo-British Cult-Expression Miranda Aldhouse Green

SCARAB Research Centre, University of Wales College, Newport, Caerleon Campus, Newport, NP18 3YG, UKmiranda.aldhouse-green{at}newport.ac.uk Abstract The repertoire of cult-iconography produced in Gaul and Britain during the Iron Age and Roman periods contains a group of images that are a blend of human and animal forms. Such pieces are generally interpreted as depictions of divinities, but while it remains probable that they are expressive of cult perceptions, there is a need to re-evaluate their function and identity. The hybridity of the images suggests meanings associated with boundary-crossing, risk and the challenge to `normative' concepts. It is argued here that such contradictive and liminal representations might be identified with transgression between earthworld and spiritworld, and that monstrous images perhaps express the identity of individuals who, within the context of ritual practice, habitually `moved' between worlds, by means of trance and altered states of consciousness. It may be that, in the context of Gallo-British cosmologies, images with antler-head-dresses, horns or other animal attributes should be identified as shamans rather than as gods.

cosmology fantasy shamanism trance-imagery CiteULike Complore Connotea Delicious Digg Reddit Technorati Twitter What's this?

« Previous | Next Article »Table of Contents This Article doi: 10.1177/146195710100400204 European Journal of Archaeology August 2001 vol. 4 no. 2 203-231 » AbstractFree Full Text (PDF)Free to you References Services Email this article to a colleague Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Similar articles in this journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Load patientINFORMation Citing Articles Load citing article information Citing articles via Scopus Citing articles via Web of Science Citing articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Green, M. A. Search for related content Related Content Load related web page information Share CiteULike Complore Connotea Delicious Digg Reddit Technorati Twitter What's this?

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