Wicker Man
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The Wicker Man was a large wicker statue of a human used by the ancient Druids (priests of Celtic paganism) for human sacrifice by burning it in effigy, according to Julius Caesar in his Commentarii de Bello Gallico (Commentary on the Gallic Wars).[1] In modern times the figure has been adopted for festivals as part of some neopagan-themed ceremonies, notably without the human sacrifice element.[2]
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[edit] In history
While other Roman writers of the time, such as Cicero, Suetonius, Lucan, Tacitus and Pliny the Elder, described human sacrifice among the Celts, only Caesar mentions the wicker man as one of many ways the Druids of Gaul performed sacrifices.[3] Not having witnessed the ritual himself, Caesar reports that some of the Gauls built the effigies out of sticks and placed living men inside, then set them on fire to pay tribute to the gods. Caesar writes that though the Druids generally used thieves and criminals, as they pleased the gods more, they sometimes used innocent men when no delinquents could be found.
While some modern authors like Barry Cunliffe, author of The Ancient Celts are convinced that the Druids practiced human sacrifice[4], others dispute Caesar's accounts as repeating a sensationalistic rumor as propaganda to encourage his supporters back home. By the first century AD, human sacrifice "was a thing of the past" among the Celts.[5] One medieval commentary, the 10th century Commenta Bernensia, states that men were burned in a wooden manikin in sacrifice to Taranis.[6]
[edit] Contemporary Usage
In the modern world, wicker men are used for various events. Most notable among these is usage by Celtic Neopagans, though it has also been used as a theme for performance art and rock music festivals, songs, and films.
[edit] Neopaganism
Wicker Men are set ablaze during some neopagan festivities. Typically, Celtic neopagans, Neo-druids, or Wiccans are those who use such a motif in their festivities because they, unlike other neopagan groups, are either inspired by, or follow a reconstructed form of, Celtic paganism. At other times, neopagans do not burn wicker men, but keep them as idols for protection, often merging them with the Green Man.
Wicker men range from life sized to huge, humanoid, temporary sculptures that are set ablaze during a celebration, usually toward the end of the event. They are constructed with a wooden frame that is woven with flexible sticks such as willow often used in wicker furniture and fencing. Some Wicker men are extremely complex and require days of construction.[7]
[edit] Wickerman Festival
The Wickerman Festival is an annual rock and dance music event that takes place in Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland; its main feature is the burning of a large wooden effigy on the last night.[8] Similarly, a Wicker Man is burned each year at Butser Ancient Farm in Hampshire, England, in Saratoga Springs, NY on November 1 as a Samhain celebration for the Celtic New Year.[9]
Additionally, a wicker man effigy is burned as a part of some performance art celebrations, notably the Burning Man festival[10] that takes place each summer in the American Nevada desert in Black Rock City. However, the Burning Man is not constructed solely with wood, nor is the event meant to evoke the image of the Celtic Wicker Man.[11]
[edit] In film
In 1973 a British horror film was produced titled The Wicker Man, directed by Robin Hardy. The film tells the story of a devout Christian policeman played by Edward Woodward who uncovers the malevolent secrets of a pagan cult on a remote Scottish island. An American remake of the film produced by Boaz Davidson starring Nicolas Cage was released in 2006 with the story being set on a private island in Puget Sound, Washington.
[edit] In music
The set for Iron Maiden's 2000 Brave New World tour featured a large mechanical wicker man as part of the special effects as a reference to their song "The Wicker Man", based on the 1973 film.
[edit] References
- ^ Caesar, Julius; Hammond, Carolyn (translator) (1998). The Gallic War. The Gallic War, p. 128. ISBN 0-19-283582-3.
- ^ Wicker-Man: The Burning Question. Retrieved October 23, 2006.
- ^ http://www.lugodoc.demon.co.uk/Druids/DRUIDS.htm
- ^ http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/T/timeteam/2007_ang_druids.html
- ^ Ellis, Peter Berresford, The Celts, A History Constible and Robinson (1998), p. 178
- ^ Mircea Eliade, A History of Religious Ideas, Vol. 2. University of Chicago Press (1982). § 171.
- ^ http://www.wickermanburn.org/_Dev/index.htm
- ^ http://www.thewickermanfestival.co.uk/gallery/gallery.html
- ^ http://www.facebook.com/editalbum.php?oid=31888743951&add=1&htmlup=1#/group.php?gid=31888743951
- ^ [1]
- ^ http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&id=FHN4DMcG_M8C&dq=burning+man&printsec=frontcover&source=web&ots=YH9QAvvthj&sig=m1YD75n_uPuqmWYrC8ew13p9k3g&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=8&ct=result
[edit] External links
- Caesar, De Bello Gallico, English translation by W. A. McDevitte and W. S. Bohn (1869); Latin text edition, from the Perseus Project
- Project Gutenberg text for Frazer's The Golden Bough
