Vates

The English-Latin noun vates /ˈveɪtiːz/ is a term for a prophet, following the Latin term. It is the origin of the English term ovate for an Irish bard. The earliest Latin writers used vātēs ( to denote "prophets" and soothsayers in general; the word fell into disuse in Latin until it was revived by Virgil. Thus Ovid could describe himself as the vates of Eros (Amores 3.9).

According to the Ancient Greek writers Strabo, Diodorus Siculus, and Poseidonius, the vates (οὐάτεις) 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 according to Roman and Christian interpretation. Their role therefore corresponded to that of an Adhvaryu in Vedic religion. The Celtic word vates is continued by Irish fáith "prophet, seer," and gwawd "scorn, satire, scoff" in Welsh.