BSC601 Celtic Cats

The early Celts were a people profoundly connected with the turning of the seasons, the natural world, and the creatures they encountered there. The beasts of the field and forests, the birds in the air and the fishes in the oceans and rivers were all significant to the Celts, not only in terms of basic survival, but also for their highly developed spiritual life and. It’s not surprising that the depiction of the nature became an intrinsic part of the complex designs of Celtic art. The Fairy Cat: Known as the Cat-sìth in Scottish folklore and Cat sí in Irish tradition, this legendary creature is described as a large black cat with a white spot on its chest. They were the Otherworld Guardians, and people believed these enormous felines could walk on their hind legs and act as guardians of the spirit realm, capable of stealing a dead person's soul before the gods could claim it. During the ancient festival of Samhain (which evolved into Halloween), households would leave a saucer of milk out on their doorsteps. Homes that gave this treat were blessed, while those that forgot risked having their cows go dry. The Cave of the Cats is located in County Roscommon, Ireland, this real archaeological cave was viewed in ancient tales as the literal gateway to the Celtic Otherworld, from which magical, fierce wild cats would emerge. Dating back to the 9th century, an anonymous Irish monk wrote a famous, heartwarming poem comparing his daily scholarly pursuits to the joyful mouse-hunting of his white cat, Pangur Bán.