The so-called Galatae, Celts, and Gauls in the Early Hellenistic Balkans and the Attack on Delphi in 280â279 BC
This thesis examines the roles played by the Celts and Gauls of the Balkans in the early Hellenistic period based upon archaeological and primary source material. The principal events studied are those associated with the archaeological validity of the Celts, Galatae, and Gauls and the Celtic or Gallic invasion of Macedonia and Greece in 280 BC. The work considers the role of these people in the light of the recent archaeological disestablishment of the Celts as a pan-European culture and the rejection of their traditionally understood migration from Europe into the Balkans. It identifies the origins of the invaders, their reasons for invading, and attempts to clarify their activities. It argues that the invaders were not Celts or Gauls of traditional understanding, but Iron Age tribes from Illyria and the Danube valley. The invasion was little more than an adventurous temple-raiding and settlement-plundering incursion, and was successful beyond expectation due to the political instability of Macedonia and the weakness of the Greek states. The invasion was used by some Greek states for their own political and social ends, and they were guilty of exaggerating many of the incidents and falsely equating them
Campbell, Duncan Robert John
The so-called Galatae, Celts, and Gauls in the Early Hellenistic Balkans and the Attack on Delphi in 280â279 BC. This thesis examines the roles played by the Celts and Gauls of the Balkans in the early Hellenistic period based upon archaeological and primary source material. The principal events studied are those associated with the archaeological validity of the Celts, Galatae, and Gauls and the Celtic or Gallic invasion of Macedonia and Greece in 280 BC. The work considers the role of these people in the light of the recent archaeological disestablishment of the Celts as a pan-European culture and the rejection of their traditionally understood migration from Europe into the Balkans. It identifies the origins of the invaders, their reasons for invading, and attempts to clarify their activities. It argues that the invaders were not Celts or Gauls of traditional understanding, but Iron Age tribes from Illyria and the Danube valley. The invasion was little more than an adventurous temple-raiding and settlement-plundering incursion, and was successful beyond expectation due to the political instability of Macedonia and the weakness of the Greek states. The invasion was used by some Greek states for their own political and social ends, and they were guilty of exaggerating many of the incidents and falsely equating them
so_called celts early_hellenistic balkans attack delphi examines_role play celts balkans early_hellenistic period base_upon archaeological primary_source_material principal event study associated archaeological validity celts celtic gallic invasion macedonia greece work considers_role people light_recent archaeological disestablishment celts pan european culture rejection traditionally understood migration europe balkans identify origins invader reason invade attempt_clarify activity argues invader celts traditional iron_age tribes valley invasion little temple raiding settlement incursion successful beyond expectation due political_instability macedonia weakness greek state invasion use greek state political_social end exaggerate many incident equate