The Religion of the Anglo-Saxons and its ‎Influence on Literature and Different Aspects of ‎Life

Abstract

This research paper aims to explore the influence of the religion adopted by the old British Isles inhabitants on literature and many aspects of their life. Before discussing the religion of the Anglo-Saxons, I think it would be more convenient if we discuss the religion of the Celts and then of Romanized Britain.Long before the Roman took military interest in the British island (about 600BC.) the Celtic tribes settled in two waves of invasion: the Goidels (Gaels) who went west and north towards Ireland while the second invasion the Britons who settled in the fertile mid-plains.

There is nothing known about the religion of these barbarian tribesmen except what little can be deduced from the fairy folklore of Celts in Christian times. The most detailed account of old Celtic religion by a contemporary was written by Julius Caesar. The Celtic religion was known as the Druidian, they practiced magic and human sacrifice. It was a form of nature-worship. The priestly leaders (Druids) acted as prophets. They supervised the offering of sacrifices, and trained new priests, and this was the only form of education at that time. It was a religion of fear and priesthood and the Roman detested this power of the priesthood.