THE ISLES OF THE MANY GODS
An A-Z of the Pagan Gods & Goddesses worshipped in Ancient Britain during the First Millennium CE through to the Middle Ages
By David Rankine and Sorita d’Este
The British Isles have long been seen as a place of mystery & magic. For many thousands of years successive waves of invaders each brought their own gods & goddesses with them, often assimilating the beliefs of the tribes they conquered. The Celtic races merged with the indigenous people, but were then conquered by the Romans, who brought with them deities from all over the Roman Empire (including Greece & Egypt). After them came the Saxons & other Germanic tribes, further adding to the rich tapestry that forms part of our spiritual heritage today.
The Isles of the Many Gods brings together, for the first time, information on the worship of these deities in Britain, in an easy to use A-Z. It includes both the native & immigrant gods & goddesses, from well-known figures such as Apollo, Brigit, Freya, Herne, Isis, Mars & Woden to lesser-known ones like Abandinus, Arianrhod, Genii Cucullati, Midir, Vitiris & the Wheel God. There are more than 240 entries providing information regarding the evidence of their worship in England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland & the Isle of Man.
The book draws from archaeology, architecture, art, artefacts, currency, place-names & literature, thereby providing an excellent reference work for those interested in the spiritual beliefs of our ancestors.
2007, 308 pages. Paperback & Kindle editions available.
ISBN 978-1-905297-10-8
B&W 5.5 x 8.5 in or 216 x 140 mm (Demy 8vo) Perfect Bound on Creme w/Gloss Lam
The Isles of the Many Gods by David Rankine and Sorita d'Este
Author’s Foreword
Author’s Notes
Evidence for Inclusion
The Argument for Divinity
The Origins of the Gods
Literary Evidence
Literature Timeline
The Unnamed Gods
The Christian Influence
A –Z OF ENTRIES
Key to understanding A-Z entries
Genealogies
The Welsh Pantheon
The Irish Pantheon
Timelines
Historical Timeline
The Return of the Pagan Gods
Bibliography
Index
Sorita d’Este has been experimenting with ways of walking on the liminal since she was a child, exploring along the way many pathways of experiencing magic, mysticism and religion. Her own personal practice integrates aspects of Hellenic (Greek), Egyptian and Hermetic practices with a lived Orphic inspired philosophy, and experience gained in Initiatory Craft, traditions preserved in Italian, French and British grimoires and other contemporary esoteric teachings of the East and West.
More on her website at www.sorita.co.uk.
David is an author, researcher and qabalist based in Glastonbury, UK. He is the author or co-author of numerous books published by Avalonia, including The Complete Grimoire of Pope Honorius, The Grimoire of Arthur Gauntlet, A Collection of Magical Secrets, The Book of Treasure Spirits, The Book of Gold, Climbing the Tree of Life, The Cosmic Shekinah, Practical Qabalah Magick, The Isles of the Many Gods, and The Guises of the Morrigan.