What do history, archaeology, and mythology tell us about the (alleged) Celtic practice of severed head worship?

FYI: You can read a text-version of this essay—complete with links to references and resources—over on IrishMyths.com: https://irishmyths.com/2024/10/17/cel...

00:00 Intro
01:05 The Head or the Heart? (Cephalocentrism vs. Cardiocentrism)
02:08 Classical Evidence for a Celtic Head Cult
04:08 Archaeological Evidence for a Celtic Head Cult
05:26 Mythological Evidence for a Celtic Head Cult
08:26 The Talking Heads of Welsh and Irish Mythology
11:08 The Samhain/Jack-O'-Lantern/Celtic Head Cult Connection
12:26 Cult of the Head or Cult of the Godhead?

Want to learn more about headless heroes from Irish mythology?

“Did the Dullahan, the Irish Headless Horseman, Really Inspire ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’?”: https://irishmyths.com/2021/09/22/hea...

“The Green Knight’s Irish Origins: How Bricriu’s Feast Inspired the Arthurian Legend”: https://irishmyths.com/2024/05/30/gre...

Green Knight video:    • Was the Green Knight Inspired by Iris...  

Want to learn more about the origins of Samhain, jack-o’-lanterns, and/or Irish paganism?

Samhain Explained: Halloween’s Celtic Origins:    • Samhain Explained: Halloween’s Celtic...  

The Jack-o'-Lantern's Irish Origins:    • The Jack-o'-Lantern's Irish Origins  

The Great Celtic Paganism Hoax?:    • The Great Celtic Paganism Hoax?  

Books by me, I. E. Kneverday:
(Note: I may earn a small affiliate commission if you buy through the links below.)

-Neon Druid: An Anthology of Urban Celtic Fantasy: https://amzn.to/3BJE7yc
-Irish Myths in Your Pocket: https://amzn.to/3Qi5xjg
-Samhain in Your Pocket: https://amzn.to/3Bkp2D0
-Irish Monsters in Your Pocket: https://amzn.to/3SXQgFO
-Saint Patrick in Your Pocket: https://amzn.to/3ZWMWxG
-The Woburn Chronicles: A Trio of Supernatural Tales Set in New England’s Most Mysterious City https://amzn.to/4e8JU0v

Music by me (under my stage name Bard of Boston)

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/3ID5N3...
Amazon: https://amazon.com/music/player/album...
Apple:   / celtic-grab-bag