Celts in Asia Minor

Generally when we advise visitors to our Encampment, that the Celts had a very large presence in Asia Minor, we are greeted with much skepticism. And that is scarcely to be wondered at when one considers archaeologists and historians have placed them in Turkey; a place where modern day Irish, Scottish, etc., people do not expect to find themselves.  Bu we have no less an authority than the Bible, to wit, St. Paul's epistle to the Galatians, who were the descendents of the original Celtic tribes, as  proof that they WERE there.  Little resources have been used to identify their dwelling places; perhaps that is changing.  To date, there has been scant evidence of them with the exception of some La Tene bracelets and the remains of several hill forts and fortresses have been located in Turkey - one near Karalar, northeast of Ankara.

While the presence of the Celts in Turkey has been meager when one compares the wealth of information available in Galatia as chronicled by such as Livy,  Polybius and Strabo...on reading these reports one can get the idea that the Celts had a memorable and long stay in Galatia.  This which follows is a brief outline of their story.

At this juncture, I do not know where the Celts initially came from but I do know that in approximately 200 plus years Before the Common Era, they reportedly crossed into Asia Minor  (again only approximate - about 20,000 people - having women and children in their number) and consisted of three tribes.  I actually know the names of these tribes, and, no, I can't pronounce the tribal names as Gaelic has changed considerably over the years.  They apparently made use of the Bosporus (for more info) and the Hellespont (for more info. Prior to their crossing, they seemed to have resided in the mid-Danube area, and as before stated due to the paucity of relics not much can be firmly established. Once the presence of the Celts was learned if by the warring Kings of that area (north) of Greece) their assistance was sought notably be one King Nicodemes who was having a difficult time with Antiochus. In return for their services they were granted a large section of territory which became know as Galatia. Not necessarily out of the generosity of Nicodemes' heart, but because as it lay southeast of Bithynia which acted as a buff against the Seleucid empire. We speak here of Western Asia Minor.  The Celts were busy as bees over the next decades making a reputation as marauders - with at least 12 cities on the Mediterranean Coast feeling their blades.