nemeton
Druidic worship space
A nemeton is a sacred grove or woodland sanctuary in ancient Celtic religion—a natural space set apart for worship and ritual.
The Celts held certain forests, clearings, or groves as dwelling places of gods or spirits.
The term appears in classical accounts of Celtic practices and survives in place names across Europe: Drunemeton, Medionemeton, Nemetobriga.
Celtic priestly caste
- GaulishAncient Celtic language
- GalatiaAncient Anatolian region
- La TèneLate Iron Age culture
- Iron AgePost-bronze historical period
Britons · Celtiberians · Boudicca · Gaelic · tribal
Woodland's open space
- clearingTreeless space in forest
- woodlandForested land area
- copseSmall group of trees
- thicketDense shrub cluster
forest · spinney · stand · dell · coppice · oak grove · tree-ring · canopy
Dedicated to the divine
- consecratedDeclared sacred through ritual
- sanctifiedMade sacred through blessing
- hallowedMade or regarded holy
- divineOf or from gods
sacrosanct · venerated · revered · taboo · inviolable · numinous · spiritual · sanctuary
Formal event marking occasions
- ritesFormal ceremonial acts
- sacrificeGiving up something precious
- priestOne who performs sacraments
- divinationForetelling through mystical means
oracle · offering · invocation · chant · worship · votive · augury · libation
Place of safety
- havenShelter from danger
- asylumShelter from persecution
- retreatSanctuary or withdrawal
- shelterProtected place or structure
sanctum · respite · seclusion · peace · protection · inviolability · hermitage · pilgrimage site
Druids
Celtic priestly caste
Iron Age · Britons · Celtiberians · Boudicca · Gaelic · tribal
glade
Woodland's open space
thicket · forest · spinney · stand · dell · coppice · oak grove · tree-ring · canopy · enclosure
holy
Dedicated to the divine
- consecratedDeclared sacred through ritual
- sanctifiedMade sacred through blessing
- hallowedMade or regarded holy
divine · sacrosanct · venerated · revered · taboo · inviolable · numinous · spiritual · sanctuary · shrine
ceremony
Formal event marking occasions
divination · oracle · offering · invocation · chant · worship · votive · augury · libation · propitiation
refuge
Place of safety
shelter · sanctum · respite · seclusion · peace · protection · inviolability · hermitage · pilgrimage site · holy place
- Enchanted Woodsenchanted forest, dark forest, haunted forest, sacred grove, Mirkwood
- sacred treessacred trees, world tree, sacred oak, sacred tree, tree of life
- sacred grovesdruid grove
- sacred placestemple complex, basilica, abbey, church, chapel
- Celtic godsSabrina, mother goddesses