or CELTES, an ancient nation, by which most of the countries of Europe are thought to have been peopled. The compilers of the Universal History are of opinion, that they are descended from Gomer the eldest son of Japhet, the son of Noah. They think that Gomer settled in the province of Phrygia in Asia: Ashkenaz his eldest son, or Togarmah his youngest, or both, in Armenia, and Riphath the second son in Cappadocia. When they spread themselves wider, they seem to have moved regularly in columns without interfering with or disturbing their neighbours. The descendants of Gomer, or the Celts, took the left hand, insensibly spreading themselves westward towards Poland, Hungary, Germany, France, and Spain; while the descendants of Magog, Gomer's brother, moving eastward, peopled Tartary.

In this large European tract, the Celtes began to appear a powerful nation under a regular monarchy, or rather under several considerable kingdoms. Mention is made of them indeed in so many parts of Europe, by ancient geographers and historians, that Ortelius took Celtica to be a general name for the continent of Europe, and made a map of it bearing this title. In those parts of Asia which they possessed, as well as in the different parts of Europe, the Celtes went by various names. In Lesser Asia they were known by the names of Titans and Sacks; in the northern parts of Europe, by those of Gymnosophists, Gymnosophists, &c.; and in the southern parts they were called Celtes, Gauls, or Galatians.

With respect to the government of the Celtes we are entirely in the dark. All we know is, that the curates, and afterwards druids and bards, were the interpreters of their laws; judged all causes whether criminal or civil; and their sentence was reckoned sacred, that whoever refused to abide by it was by them excluded from attending at their sacred rites; after which no man dared converse with him; so that this punishment was reckoned the most severe of all, even severer than death itself.

They neither reared temples nor statues to the deity, but destroyed them wherever they could find them, planting in their stead large spacious groves; which being open on the top and sides, were, in their opinion, more acceptable to the divine Being, who is absolutely unconfined. In this their religion seems to have resembled that of the Perses and disciples of Zoroaster. The Celtes only differed from them in making the oak, instead of the fir, the emblem of the deity; in choosing that tree above all others to plant their groves with, and attributing several supernatural virtues both to its wood, leaves, fruit, and mistletoe; all which were made use of in their sacrifices and other parts of their worship. But after they had adopted the idolatrous superstition of the Romans and other nations, and the apotheosis of their heroes and princes, they came to worship them much in the same manner: as Jupiter under the name of Taran, which in the Celtic signifies thunder: Mercury, whom some authors call Hesus, or Hesus, probably from the Celtic hundh, which signifies a dog, and might be the Anubis latrans of the Egyptians. But Mars was held in the greatest veneration by the warlike, and Mercury by the trading part of the nation. The care of religion was immediately under their curates, since known by the name of druids and bards. These were, as Caesar tells us, the performers of sacrifices and all religious rites, and expounders of religion to the people. They also instructed youth in all kinds of learning, such as philosophy, astronomy, astrology, &c. Their doctrines were taught only by word of mouth, esteeming them too sacred to be committed to writing. Other more common subjects, such as their hymns to their gods, the exploits of princes and generals in time of war, and especially before a battle, were couched in elegant verse, and recited, or rather sung, on all proper occasions; though even these were also kept from vulgar eyes, and either committed to memory, or if to writing, the whole was a secret to all the laity. The latter indeed seems the most probable, if what Caesar hints be true; namely, that these poetical records were increased in his time to such a bulk, that it took up a young bard near 20 years to learn them by heart. Diodorus tells us farther, that these poets used to accompany their songs with instrumental music, such as that of organs, harps, and the like; and that they were held in such veneration, that if, in the time of an engagement between two armies, one of these bards appeared, both sides immediately ceased fighting. The reason of this was, that they were universally believed to be prophets, as well as poets; so that it was thought dangerous, as well as injurious, to disobey what they supposed came from their gods. These prophetic philosophers kept academies, which were resorted to not only by a great number of their own youth, but but also of those from other countries, inasmuch that Aristotle says, their philosophy passed from thence into Greece, and not from Greece thither. Diodorus likewise quotes a passage from Hecateus, which is greatly in their praise; viz. that the druids had some kind of instruments by which they could draw distant objects nearer, and make them appear larger and plainer; and by which they could discover even seas, mountains, and valleys, in the moon. But whatever might be their learning, it is certain, that in process of time they adopted several very barbarous customs, such as sacrificing human victims to their gods as more acceptable to them than those of any other animals. And Diodorus tells us of another inhuman custom they used in their divinations, especially in great matters, which was done by killing some of their slaves, or some prisoners of war, if any they had, with a scimitar, to draw their augury from the running of his blood from his mangled limbs.

For the history, &c. of the different Celtic nations see the article Gaul, &c.

Celtes, certain ancient instruments of a wedge-like form, of which several have been discovered in different parts of Great Britain. Antiquarians have generally attributed them to the Celts; but, not agreeing as to their use, distinguished them by the above unmeaning appellation. But Mr Whittaker makes it probable that they were British battle-axes. See Battle-ax.

Celtiberia (anc. geog.) a country of the Hither Spain, along the right or south-west side of the river Iberus; though sometimes the greatest part of Spain was called by the name of Celtiberia. The people were denominated Celtiberi, or the Celts seated on the Iberus. They were very brave and warlike, their cavalry in particular was excellent. They wore a black and rough cloak, the flag of which was like goats hair. Some of them had light bucklers like the Gauls; others hollow and round ones like those of other nations. They all wore boots made of hair, and iron helmets adorned with crests of a purple colour. They used swords which cut on both sides, and poniards of a foot long. Their arms were of an admirable temper, and are said to have been prepared in the following manner: they buried plates of iron underground, where they let them remain till the rust had eaten the weakest part of the metal, and the rest was consequently hard and firm. Of this excellent iron they made their swords, which were so strong and well tempered, that there was neither buckler nor helmet that could resist their edge. The Celtiberians were very cruel towards their enemies and malefactors, but showed the greatest humanity to their guests. They not only cheerfully granted their hospitality to strangers, who travelled in their country, but were desirous that they should seek protection under their roof.