Religion Cimbri

gundestrup cauldron, plate e

strabo gives vivid description of cimbric folklore (geogr. 7.2.3, trans. h.l. jones):

(the priestess mentioned below called, in danish: en vølve (a voelve)).

their wives, accompany them on expeditions, attended priestesses seers; these grey-haired, clad in white, flaxen cloaks fastened on clasps, girt girdles of bronze, , bare-footed; sword in hand these priestesses meet prisoners of war throughout camp, , having first crowned them wreaths lead them brazen vessel of twenty amphorae; , had raised platform priestess mount, , then, bending on kettle, cut throat of each prisoner after had been lifted up; , blood poured forth vessel of priestesses draw prophecy, while still others split open body , inspection of entrails utter prophecy of victory own people; , during battles beat on hides stretched on wicker-bodies of wagons , in way produce unearthly noise.

the cimbri depicted ferocious warriors did not fear death. host followed women , children on carts. aged women, priestesses, dressed in white sacrificed prisoners of war , sprinkled blood, nature of allowed them see come.

if cimbri did in fact come jutland, evidence practised ritualistic sacrifice may found in haraldskær woman discovered in jutland in year 1835. noosemarks , skin piercing evident , had been thrown bog rather buried or cremated. furthermore, gundestrup cauldron, found in himmerland, may sacrificial vessel 1 described in strabo s text. work of thracian origin.