IRISH GODDESSES Celtic Goddesses Continental Sphere of Influence

IRISH GODDESSES

Celtic Goddesses Continental Sphere of Influence Matronae childbirth; fertility Rosmerta fertility Epona horse; war; fertility

Celtic Goddesses 1 Continental Irish Sphere of Influence Matronae Eriu fertility Banba fertility Fodla fertility Banba Ireland Fodla Eriu Amairgin encounters Banba Amairgin encounters Fodla Amairgin names land after Eriu

Celtic Goddesses 2 Continental Irish Sphere of Influence Rosmerta Ana/Danu fertility; abundance Boann fertility; abundance Brigit fertility; abundance; healing

Celtic Goddesses 3 Continental Irish Sphere of Influence Epona Macha (3) horse; fertility; kingship Badb war; sexuality; kingship Mórrígan (3) war; sexuality; kingship Macha Badb Nemain Mórrígan Badb Mórrígan

Machas 1 : Macha (“Meadow”) Machas 1 Macha (1) marries Nemed; gives name to Ard Macha (Armaugh) ------------------------------(2) marries Cimbaeth; seduces and enslaves sons of rival claimant to throne ------------------------------(3) marries Cruniuch; gives birth (and name) to Emain Macha (“Twins of Macha”); inflicts noínden on men of Ulaid Macha Badb Mórrígan Nemain Badb Mórrígan

Machas 2 : Badb (“Crow”) Machas 2 black crow of battle eel, wolf, red crow Badb -----------------------------pregnant hag (cailleach) young bride (be find) with red ale of kingship Macha Badb Nemain Mórrígan Badb Mórrígan

Machas 2 : Badb (“Crow”) Machas 2 black crow of battle eel, wolf, red crow Badb -----------------------------pregnant hag (cailleach) young bride (be find) with red ale of kingship cailleach (“Veiled One”) • creation of mountains • rules Samhain to Beltaine • approaches young king-to-be for sex • transforms into be find (beautiful woman) after sex • confers kingship (flaith) with gold cup of red ale (laith) • Sovereignty Goddess

Machas 3: Mórrígan (“Great Queen, ” “Nightmare Queen”) Nemain ------Machas 3 Mórrígan Badb ------Mórrígan magically causes battlefield panic marries wargod Neit --------------------marries wargod Neit eel, wolf, crow perches above the dead or dying pregnant hag (cailleach) young bride (be find) --------------------mates with Dagda at Samhain Washer at Ford (bean nighe )

Washer at the Ford (Scot. bean nighe ~ O. Ir. bean sídh) The Dagda mates with the Mórrígan, goddess of fertility and war, as she straddles a stream. She gives him advice on how to conduct the war, and later destroys the Fomorian king.

The Washer at the Ford (bean nighe / bean sídh / Welsh Gwrach-y-Rhibyn) • spirit of woman who died in childbirth • ugly hag (one nostril, one tooth, sagging breasts) • washes grave-clothes/armor of those about to die • bean sídh banshee • prophesies upcoming deaths

Celtic Goddesses & Tripartite Society CLASS DEITY ATTRIBUTE king/priest Macha Mórrígan Badb horse-race at Emain Macha multiple royal husbands be find with red ale warrior Nemain Badb Mórrígan battlefield frenzy and panic theriomorphic appearances (crow) Washer at the Ford (bean nighe) producer Mórrígan Macha Badb ritual mating with Dagda multiple husbands/horse form sheela-na-gig (cailleach) be find (beauty)

Sheela-na-gig • < Sighle-na-gigh (“old cunt hag”? ) • territorial / war / sovereignty / fertility / sexuality goddess ? • positioning over doorways and other entrances • possible apotropaic function • pan-European extension (not limited to insular Celts)

A Quiz ____ Fir Bholg ____ Tuatha De Danann ____ Partholonians ____ Milesians ____ Fomhoire A. terraforming and ale-brewing B. misshapen creatures C. defeated by Tuatha De Danann D. last wave of invaders E. relocate underground

C Fir Bholg E Tuatha De Danann A Partholonians D Milesians B Fomhoire A. terraforming and ale-brewing B. misshapen creatures C. defeated by Tuatha De Danann D. last wave of invaders E. relocate underground

Another Quiz ____ bean sidh ____ cailleach ____ be find ____ laith ____ bean nighe A. seduces king-to-be B. washes armor before battle C. red ale D. confers kingship E. forecasts death

E bean sidh A cailleach D be find C laith B bean nighe A. seduces king-to-be B. washes armor before battle C. red ale D. confers kingship E. forecasts death

Ériu / Dagda / Mórrígan / Nuadu / Badb / Macha / Rosmerta / Epona / Lugh / Sucellus / Dian Cecht gae assail _________ bean nighe _________ be find _________ paired with Mercury _________ silver arm _________ cailleach _________ crow _________ multiple husbands _________ horses and war _________ flaith/laith _________ mating with the Dagda _________ liá fail _________ Ireland _________ cauldron _________ races while pregnant _________

Ériu / Dagda / Mórrígan / Nuadu / Badb / Macha / Rosmerta / Epona / Lugh / Sucellus / Dian Cecht gae assail Lugh bean nighe Mórrígan be find Badb paired with Mercury Rosmerta silver arm Nuadu cailleach Badb crow Badb multiple husbands Macha horses and war Epona flaith/laith Badb mating with the Dagda Mórrígan liá fail Nuadu Ireland Éeriu cauldron Dagda races while pregnant Macha