Savage goddesses of war, sun-gods, human sacrifice and the mysteries of the Otherworld are some of the themes explored in this title. The ancient Celts inhabited much of Europe between about 600 BC and AD 400. They were not a literate society, but important sources of evidence for their mythology and beliefs do survive. The vernacular myths of Ireland and Wales – tales of deities, superhuman heroes and magical beasts – were written down in a later period by Christian scribes but preserve much of the earlier pagan mythology. Archaeology and the comments of contemporary classical writers present an array of Celtic names, images and symbols, as well as evidence of the rituals and ceremonies through which the Celts communicated with the realm of the supernatural.