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Annwn – The Romans Arrived

Annwn-Heaven series: volume three: Leaving Annwn

How Roman Influences Shaped Perceptions of Annwn in Ancient Britain

Successive Imperialists used the same tactics of attrition of belief as the Romans for thousands of years!

Annwn is often translated as the “Otherworld” or “Underworld” when referring to ancient Welsh and Brythonic belief systems. It was a mystical and revered concept among the Celtic peoples of ancient Britain. The Celtic Heaven was not merely a place of the dead, but a realm of divine beings, eternal youth, abundance. It was also a land free from the hardships of the earthly world. However, the Romans’ conquest and cultural influences significantly reshaped how the ancient Britons perceived and interacted with their own spiritual landscapes, including Annwn.

The Roman Conquest of Britain

When the Romans invaded Britain in AD 43, they brought with them not only their military might but also their extensive and deeply ingrained cultural and religious beliefs. Their pantheon of gods, philosophy, and structured societal norms began to influence the native Celtic belief systems. Romanisation was a deliberate strategy the Roman Empire used to integrate conquered peoples. It often involved merging local deities with Roman gods (a practice known as interpretatio Romana) and imposing Roman religious practices.

The Mystical Realm of Annwn

Before Roman influence, Annwn was envisioned as a paradisaical realm, a place of beauty and eternal happiness, ruled by powerful Otherworldly beings. It was accessible through mystical portals, often hidden in natural landscapes such as lakes, caves, or hills. The concept of Annwn was fluid, not strictly divided between good and evil. Rather, it was a complex and multifaceted part of the natural world that deeply intertwined with daily life and spiritual practices.

Roman Views of the Underworld

The Romans had a structured and somewhat grim view of the Underworld, largely influenced by Greco-Roman mythology. Their Underworld was ruled by gods like Pluto (Hades in Greek mythology). It was usually depicted as a gloomy place of judgment and finality. The moral dualism of Heaven and Hell was not so prevalent in their beliefs. Nevertheless, they did have clear demarcations of the Afterlife. These were based on one’s actions in life. The Roman focus on judgment, order, and a rigid Afterlife stood in contrast to the more ambiguous and holistic view of Annwn.

Syncretism and the Transformation of Annwn

As the Romans began to integrate their own gods with the local deities, the perception of Annwn inevitably changed. Celtic deities that presided over the Otherworld were often equated with Roman gods. For example, the Celtic god Nodens, associated with healing and the sea, was likened to the Roman god Mars. This process of syncretism blurred the lines between Celtic and Roman spiritual beliefs. It lead to a re-interpretation of Annwn that incorporated Roman ideas of order and the Afterlife.

Annwn and the Christian Influence

While Roman paganism was a significant influence, the eventual spread of Christianity, which gained ground after the Roman Empire embraced it, further transformed the perception of Annwn. Early Christians in Britain, influenced by Roman interpretations of the afterlife, began to view the mystical aspects of Annwn with suspicion. The Christian dichotomy of Heaven and Hell cast Annwn into a new light. People began to associate it with a more infernal, Hell-like place due to its underground nature and its association with the unknown.

The early Christian missionaries aimed to replace local beliefs with Christian doctrine, which contributed to the demonisation of Celtic deities and their realms. Annwn, which most Celts had once regarded as a place of beauty and eternal peace, became a domain of evil spirits or a purgatorial space, aligning more with the Christian concept of Hell.

The Rôle of Druids and the Repression of Native Beliefs

The Druids, as the spiritual leaders and keepers of Celtic traditions, were instrumental in maintaining the native belief systems, including the reverence of Annwn. The Romans, perceiving Druids as a threat due to their influence and resistance to Roman rule, sought to suppress them. This suppression also served to undermine the traditional perceptions of Annwn, as the Druids were its primary interpreters and protectors.

The systematic destruction of Druidic sites and sacred groves, combined with the suppression of their practices, further distanced the native Britons from their original spiritual beliefs. Without the guidance of the Druids, the understanding of Annwn became fragmented, and Romanised or Christianised interpretations became more prevalent. The Roman suppression of the Druids peaked with the massacre on Anglesey.

Roman troops, led by General Suetonius Paulinus, launched an assault on the island of Anglesey (it then had the name Mona) in AD 60 or 61, targeting the Druids whom they regarded as a source of resistance to Roman rule in Britain. Roman forces, consisting of both infantry and cavalry, slaughtered many Druids, along with non-clerical men, women, and children. The Romans also destroyed sacred groves and Druidic altars, attempting to eliminate the Druids’ influence and suppress their religious practices. The exact number of Druids they killed in this assault is disputable.

The Enduring Legacy of Annwn

Despite the Roman and later Christian influences that sought to reshape or suppress it, the concept of Annwn did not vanish entirely. It persisted in Welsh mythology and literature. For example, in the tales of the Mabinogion, storytellers write of Annwn as a land of enchantment and eternal youth. These stories, while influenced by centuries of external cultural forces, retained echoes of the original beliefs surrounding Annwn.

Annwn’s enduring legacy highlights the resilience of native traditions even in the face of overwhelming external pressures. It serves as a testament to the complex interplay of cultural assimilation, resistance, and adaptation that characterised ancient Britain under Roman rule and beyond.

Roman influence significantly reshaped perceptions of Annwn in ancient Britain, transforming it from a mystical, multifaceted realm into a concept more aligned with Roman and later Christian views of the afterlife. The blending of belief systems through syncretism, the suppression and slaughter of native spiritual leaders like the Druids, and the pervasive impact of Christianity, all contributed to this transformation. Yet, despite these changes, the essence of Annwn remained a potent symbol of the Otherworld in Welsh mythology. It preserved the core of its ancient significance amidst a sea of cultural change.

Written by: Owen Jones

A Night in Annwn” is available from most on and off line bookshops. There are three volumes in the Annwn – Heaven series of books.

The articles in this series on Annwn:

1] Heaven in the Land of the Ancient Brits!https://bit.ly/3zc2SEw

2] The Druids and Annwn in Ancient Britainhttps://bit.ly/3XB93vx

3] How Roman Influences Shaped Perceptions of Annwn in Ancient Britainhttps://bit.ly/3zr0lGE

4] Parallels between Welsh Annwn and other cultural interpretations of the Afterlife – https://bit.ly/3XPfyux

5] Has modern culture continued to reinterpret the symbolism of Annwn? – https://bit.ly/3BmDhcP

References

General Suetonius Paulinus
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaius_Suetonius_Paulinus

Nodens
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nodens

Mars
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_(mythology)

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