Everything about Vates totally explained
The earliest Latin writers used
vates to denote "prophets" and soothsayers in general; the word fell into disuse in Latin until it was revived by
Virgil (External Link
). Then
Ovid could describe himself as the
vates of
Eros (
Amores 3.9). Also, Vates are known as those that rejoice in the freewill of others.
According to
Strabo,
(External Link) Diodorus Siculus,
(External Link) and
Poseidonius, the
vates (ουατεις) were one of three classes of
Celtic
priesthood, the other two being the
druids and the
bards. The Vates had the role of
seers and performed
sacrifices (in particular administering
human sacrifice), under the presidence of a druid. Their role therefore corresponded to that of an
Adhvaryu in
Vedic religion. Celtic
Vates is continued by Irish
fáith "prophet, seer"
(External Link).
Work
divination,
healing, and
geomancy. Vate development took years and it was based on observation and the use of dreams and visions. As specialists in the art of healing they learned to use the power of suggestion. The Roman
Strabo referred to this process of healing as
physiology in his writings. Some Vates applied
natural law to the problems of the human body and mind. They often used
natural remedies, such as
plants,
herbs,
spices and the derivatives or combinations of these. Some Vates combined this knowledge with
solar,
lunar, and
stellar powers of healing (relational to effects caused by astronomic or astrological influences). Due to an advanced use of dreams, visions and power of suggestion and use of medicinal plants, the Vates, through Queen
Macha Mong Ruadh, formed the first hospital in the world in
Armagh,
Ireland, around 658 BC. The hospital/training center operated for about 1000 years before falling into disuse.
The Vates studied the processes of
death and regeneration, and explored the Druidic relationship with their
ancestors of blood and spirit through seeking the wisdom of the night,
dreams, and of the
moon. They conversed (via one of the four vision states) with these ancestors in order to receive knowledge or
prophecy of the future. The ability to foresee has several names the Vates used, the most common being '
fey', or having '
second sight' and the act of visioning 'to
scry'. These efforts reflected their belief and knowledge that death was the doorway to another life (
reincarnation). The Vates taught that only by letting go (not 'pushing' it) does the seeker find the solution in life.
Etymology
It is unknown whether the Latin and
Gaulish usages are
cognates, or if the former should be considered a Celtic
loanword. The word may be derived from a
PIE root
*wāt "to inspire, spiritually arouse"; however that root may not go back to
Proto-Indo-European, since it's only certainly attested for Celtic and Germanic (though it may be present natively in Italic, and possibly also in Greek and Indo-Iranian; see also
Vedas).
Virgil uses the Latin
vannus "
winnowing fan" (from
*wat-nos, compare
Old High German wadal, modern German
Wedel, with the same meaning, from
*wat-lo) for something borne about in the
Bacchic festival, suggesting that the root may have had an
ecstatic sense in Italic also.
Rübekeil (2003) suggested that the name of the
Germanic god
*Wōđinaz may in fact be an early loanword, an adjective
*vatinos based on Celtic
vates.
Modern usage
Vates (or
Ovates, due to a misinterpretation of the Greek spelling) make up one of the three grades of the
Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids, a
Neo-druidry order based in
England.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Vates'.
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