Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids

The Order of Bards, Ovates & Druids (OBOD)
OBOD's Awen Logo
Founder
Ross Nichols, refounded by Philip Carr-Gomm
Religions
Contemporary druidism
Scriptures
None; influence from the Lebor Gabála Érenn, Mabinogion etc.
Languages
Welsh, Irish, German, English, French, Portuguese
Website
druidry.org

The Order of Bards, Ovates & Druids or OBOD is a Neo-Druidic organisation based in England,[1] but based in part on the Welsh Gorsedd of Bards.[2][3] It has grown to become a dynamic druid organisation, with members in all parts of the world.[4]

The concept of the three roles of bards, ovates and druids originates from the writings of the ancient Greek historian and geographer Strabo, who in his Geographica, written in the 20s CE, stated that amongst the Gauls, there were three types of honoured figures: the poets and singers known as bardoi, the diviners and specialists in the natural world known as o'vateis, and those who studied "moral philosophy", the druidai.[5] Nonetheless, Strabo's accuracy has been called into question, as he was not actually well acquainted with Gaul and was likely relying on earlier sources whose accuracy is also disputed.[6]

  1. ^ "About the Order". Archived from the original on 9 July 2011. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
  2. ^ "Alban Arthan - The Winter Solstice". Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
  3. ^ "About OBOD - bardwood.org". Archived from the original on 23 June 2011. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
  4. ^ "OBOD in Various Languages". Archived from the original on 9 July 2011. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
  5. ^ Strabo. Geographica. IV.4.4-5.
  6. ^ Hutton, Ronald (2009). Blood and Mistletoe: The History of the Druids in Britain. Yale University Press. Page 10.