Celtic Articles: Warrior Women & Training
Since becoming more interested in fitness, I couldn’t help but wonder how the women of the ancient Celts might have trained for years on end (who knows, even decades considering the druids did the same). Or the men for that matter. What kind of tests, challenges and trials they might have gone through as warriors of their tribes.
Now, we have quite a few ancient references by historians which allude to the fitness and strength of Celtic women. Another thing that is quite clear among academics is the importance of strength and fitness to the Celtic cultures as a general rule (or at least, to the predominant tribes).
“The [Celts] endeavor not to grow fat or pot-bellied, and any young man who exceeds the standard measure of the girdle is punished.“ - Strabo
"A whole band of foreigners will be unable to cope with one [Gaul] in a fight, if he calls in his wife, stronger than he by far and with flashing eyes; least of all when she swells her neck and gnashes her teeth, and poising her huge white arms, begins to rain blows mingled with kicks, like shots discharged by the twisted cords of a catapult.” - Ammianus Marcellinus (A bit dramatic Marcel, but ok.)
“Here the women met them holding swords and axes in their hands. With hideous shrieks of rage they tried to drive back the hunted and the hunters. The fugitives as deserters, the pursuers as foes. With bare hands the women tore away the shields of the Romans or grasped their swords, enduring mutilating wounds.“ - Plutarch
"The women of the Celtic tribes are bigger and stronger than our Roman women. This is most likely due to their natures as well as their peculiar fondness for all things martial and robust. The flaxen haired maidens of the north are trained in sports and war while our gentle ladies are content to do their womanly duties and thus are less powerful than most young girls from Gaul and the hinterlands.” - Marcus Borealis
Given this, let’s discuss this fascinating topic and entertain a couple of theories, a fun little imagination game if you may, of how this might have gone.
Difficulty: first of all, the trainings were certainly grueling. The purpose would be to challenge both their bodies and willpower, to go harder and harder, become stronger and gain more muscles.
Frequency: It would make sense for warriors to train as often as possible, every day in the mornings, in the evenings as well just to ensure the agility of both mind and body.
Diet: They probably had a certain diet to follow, to ensure enough protein intake etc.
Alongside physical training, learning how to fight, wield swords, defend themselves etc, there would also be trainings for mental/emotional/spiritual discipline. This is where the “they feared no death during battle as they believed in reincarnation” bit comes in.
Training was specific to their age. The younger ones focused on endurance, posture, discipline, habit. Then finally on technique, strategy, weapons-expertise, etc.
What other factors or aspects do you think were part of their training? Do you think the men and women trained the same, or with smaller/greater differences? Let me know your thoughts below!
(Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m feeling inspired to write a book on ancient Celtic warriors going through their training daily with their friends and kinsmen, teasing each other with inside jokes and games, always challenging each other and showing off their new gains to their love interests in as much a silly and awkward fashion as modern people do…..)
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