Woad

**Celtic_Punk** · 08-18-2009, 10:24

So my query here is directed at the academics, and those who know.. So don't spam this please.

Woad paint... Was its use isolated to the Isles? also was its use prevalent during EB's time or was it more of a later invention... and my main question. Was it PURELY meant for warfare? I have a hunch that it use in warfare was because of a religious thing(other than the religious event that was battle), and that its use was also in religious ceremonies outside of warfare. Like one gets dressed up for church or something.

thanks.

**Cute Wolf** · 08-18-2009, 11:03

Well, according to "De Bello Gallicio" by Julius Caesar, he describe the paint that britons used as blue-dye.... maybe we could refer to Isatis Tinctoria for the source of that dye... but from their purpose, and the description that they are long lasted when used in battle (natural dye (organic) from plants are suspectible to be dissloved in sweats, because the formic acid present....), gives the probability that they are also mixed with copper or iron based mineral dye.... (note, the reason I said about the latter IS hypothesis, is because if it was used on purpose of creating a magical pattern that protect the user... it isn't funny when you are sweating and your dyes are gone...)

From Wikipedia:

Woad is native to the steppe and desert zones of the Caucasus, Central Asia to eastern Siberia and Western Asia (Hegi), but is now found in southeastern and some parts of Central Europe as well. It has been cultivated throughout Europe, especially in Western and southern Europe, since ancient times.

They are long used for dyeing textiles and some products... even found as painting, maybe their most famous usage was for warpaint... but with their extremely wide usage on britons, one can bet safely that they are also used as dye for cloth and trousers. As making a paint that only usable in war / battle is non - economic for such large scale.

And while I didn't know much about their religious use, it was a logical assumption that they was used not only in war... but also in peace to create some fancy blue trousers....

**Megas Methuselah** · 08-18-2009, 11:08

Originally Posted by Cute Wolf

And while I didn't know much about their religious use, it was a logical assumption that they was used not only in war... but also in peace to create some fancy blue trousers....

Yeah. That's probably why all the Britons in Vanilla RTW wore blue clothes.

Anyways, I remember reading in a thread a long time ago about how the Britons were somewhat behind the times (in a manner of speaking). Perhaps the blue woad was once more popular amongst the mainland Celts, but eventually diminished in use?

I don't know, it's 4:08 AM, and I'm tired. Goodnight.

**Celtic_Punk** · 08-18-2009, 11:13

Did other celts use them? not just the britons? I used to think it was just Isles celts that used them, but the more I think about it, the more it makes sense that its use spread to the isles, especially since you can find woad in other parts of the world.

**Cute Wolf** · 08-18-2009, 11:20

Originally Posted by Celtic_Punk

Did other celts use them? not just the britons? I used to think it was just Isles celts that used them, but the more I think about it, the more it makes sense that its use spread to the isles, especially since you can find woad in other parts of the world.

As I allready point out.... Another Celts use them for fancy blue trousers..... but only Britons that use them as warpaint as late as EB timeframe...

**Celtic_Punk** · 08-18-2009, 11:31

ahh... Also an interesting thing to not...

quoted from wikipedia, and the segment I've clipped has sources.

"Recently, scientists have discovered woad might be used to prevent cancer, having more than 20 times the amount of glucobrassicin contained in broccoli. Young leaves when damaged can produce more glucobrassicin, up to 65 times as much."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isatis_...te_note-bbc1-4

**Cute Wolf** · 08-18-2009, 11:46

Bet the Celts didn't eat their woads.... it more likely they mix them with mineral based dyes instead...

And don't forget.... In EB timeframe, we didn't have analytical chemistry