| Celtic Gods & Goddesses continued |
 |
| Lugh (aka Ioldnach or Samhioldananach or Llamhfada) From "Celtic Myth & Magick" by Edain McCoy "The Shining One". "Master of all Arts". A God of the sun, light and the grain harvest who is honored at the Sabbat which bears his name Lughnasadh. Like Brid, he is a deity of many skills and was even said to be able to come to human form and worship among the Druids. He is worshipped as a god of fire, metallurgy, crafting, weaving and as a protector of the weak. Fertility magic during this festival ensured ripening of the crops and good harvest |
| Llew From Encylopedia Mythica Llew Llaw Gyffes, "the Bright Lion with the Sure Hand", son of the virgin Arianrhod. He could only be killed neither by day nor night, indoors nor out of doors, riding nor walking, clothed nor naked, nor by any weapon lawfully made. Because his mother had cursed him to have no human wife, he married a made woman, created of flowers, Blodeuwedd. She betrayed him with Goronwy, tricked the secret of his death out of him, and led him to it. Llew became an eagle, and was recovered into human form by his uncle Gwydion. He then killed Goronwy, but Blodeuwedd was turned into an owl. |
 |
| Maeve, Queen (aka Medb, Medhbh, Madb and Mabb) From "Celtic Myth & Magick" by Edain McCoy Queen Maeve was the Queen of Connacht who personifies the heights of femine power. She was no doubt a powerful Goddess who merged with a later historical figure. Her name means "intoxicated woman" and she was known for her long golden hair, fiery temperment and iron will. Of the many legends surrounding her, the most famous is The Cattle Raid of Cooley. In this myth, her coveting of a famous Ulster bull began a war with Ulster. As an archetype sovereign, her aging husband, the ineffectual King Ailill, seems as if her was replaced by the great hero Cuchulain, who resists the sacrifical role, and battles Maeve instead. She wins the battle, and Cuchulain's blood is spilled on earth in the manner of all sacrificial Gods. Queen Maeve's sexual images are strong, and she often boasted that she could sexually exhaust thirty men each night. As evidence of her feminine power, battles would pause while she menstruated. Ancient peoples believed this time to be the peak of a woman's power. Maeve was not only a powerful leader, but also an expert warrior, huntress and horseman. Animals, especially horses, are often depicted with her. |
| Merlin (aka Myrddin) From Encyclopedia Mythica Enchanter, wizard and prophet who oversees Arthur's conception and birth, enables his ascension and acts as high counsel to the King in the early phase of his reign. His name, "Merlinus," is a latinized adaptation of the Welsh "Myrddin" - the name of a late sixth century northern bard reported to have the gift of sight who predicted a Celtic uprising. A series of Prophetiae Merlini were written by Geoffrey first and then incorporated into the Historia Regum Britanniae, where he attempts to give weight to his semi-historical character. Geoffrey borrows the story of the "child without a father" from the Historia Brittonum (9th century). A young prophet is brought to Vortigern as a sacrifice but saves himself by displaying feats of magic greater than those of the King's sorcerers. Geoffrey changes the name of this youth to Merlin from "Ambrosius," claiming that this was another name for him. In Geoffrey he is birthed by an incubus and has no human sire. Found at his birthplace, the town later called Carmarthen, he is brought before Vortigern before whom he reveals two underground warring dragons symbolizing the Britons and Saxons. The Prophetiae ensue. He is pictured as a youth instead of a boy savant. Geoffrey knew little at the time about the person of whom he wrote besides his name and reputation. He places Merlin a full century earlier than his Welsh model and, in a greater anachronism, has him oversee the construction of Stonehenge. He also casts the spell that allows Uther to impregnate Ygerna with Arthur. Geoffrey returned to Merlin around 1150 in his poem "Vita Merlini" where, having expanded his knowledge of the original bard, he tells Myrddin's tale and attempts unconvincingly to reconcile the dates with those of the Historia. Prominently featured is Ganeida, sister to Merlin and prophetess in her own right. The Historia however, remains the model for the romancers even though in it Merlin never has any contact with Arthur despite hints to the contrary. He begins to assume a larger role with Robert de Boron. The necromancer is now said to be Devilspawn born with the goal of opposing Christ by the formation of an evil prophet. His mother's virtue is responsible for thwarting this black purpose and the powers bestowed by Hell are turned to the good. de Boron and his Vulgate followers echo Geoffrey by placing him again in the 5th century and including Merlin's dealings with Vortigern and Uther. His deeds are also increased. He is now responsible for the making of the Round Table for Uther as a replacement for the table upon which Joseph of Arimathea placed the Grail. He lives to see Arthur born and sees to his care with a foster family. Lastly, he creates the test that will ultimately prove Arthur's royal birthright, the Sword in the Stone. The later romancers go even further. Merlin obtains Excalibur from the Lady of the Lake and assists the King in his early struggles for unification. He lays the foundation for the Grail Quest but is seduced by Nimue (Viviane), who steals his magic and then imprisons him with enchantment. Malory takes this version as his end. However, a late Welsh legend has him make a voluntary retreat to an underground wyr or invisible glass house on Bardsey Island. There he guards the Thirteen Treasures of Britain along with the True Throne of the Realm where Arthur will sit upon his return. Merlin's role as a whole is that of advisor and scholar. His genius guides the realm. Though in modern times he is usually depicted as old, his youth during the events with Vortigern cancel out the possibility of his being much older than forty by the end of his recorded deeds. The character Geoffrey created combines two people, the 5th century prophet and the 6th century poet. He possibly included a third, a hero or god associated with Stonehenge. Merlin is a happy accident arising out of Geoffrey's lack of knowledge when he composed the Historia. He may not have been too far from the mark, however. There are indications that "Myrddin" was a generic term applied to those in pre-Christian Wales who had ecstatic visions and Divine guidance. Geoffrey may have been conscious of a plethora of Myrddins and, without knowledge of the term, thought they were one and the same. Hence his unification of them into one person. In the 16th century, Welsh chronicler Elis Gruffudd claims the first Merlin was reborn as the second and in addition as the bard Taliesin, another who gains his identity by inspiration. Regardless, Merlin is a cryptic figure who occupies a transitional state, slightly Christian with heavy ties to the older, Druidic world. |
| Morgan Le Fay From Encylopeida Mythica Introduced in Geoffrey of Monmouth's Vita Merlini, her name (there spelled "Morgen") implies ties to the realm of Fairy. She is also a magical figure as well as a priestess presiding over a sisterhood of nine inhabiting an enchanted isle. She receives the wounded king after the last battle and offers to cure him if he remains long enough. There are many Celtic traditions evident here, not just of fairy queens ruling magic lands, but of actual sisterhoods of healers and miracle workers recorded in classical literature. Such a group might have been led by a priestess that served as the earthly manifestation of a goddess. Giraldus Cambrensis and other medieval authors were well aware of Morgan's divinity. Comparison of Welsh and non-Welsh Arthurian matter show her to be somewhat identified with Modron and ultimately with the river goddess Matrona, similar to and possibly derived from the Irish goddess Morrigan. Christianity humanizes and eventually vilifies her. Early on she is a type of benevolent fairy that aids Arthur throughout his life, not just at the end. The Welsh claim her father to be the obscure Avallach, king of the magical island with it's Welsh name, but he fades from legend. Morgan is essentially the sole personage of Avalon, the Isle of Apples. She is further humanized with the progress of Arthurian storytelling. The former goddess becomes a daughter of Ygerna and her first husband Gorlois, the Duke of Cornwall, making Morgan Arthur's half sister. Glastonbury's identification with Avalon leads to beliefs that she ruled in that area but romances place her in various locations. She becomes the owner of the Castle of Maidens, possibly near Edinburgh while a few continental romancers move her to the Mediterranean entirely. Sicliy is one such place. She is named Fata Morgana by the Italians and that name is given to a mirage that appears in the Straits of Messina attributed to her magic in the past. Medieval Christianity had a difficult time assimilating a benevolent enchantress, she becomes more and more sinister. She is now a witch taught the black arts by Merlin and is a bedevilment to Arthur and his knights with a special hatred towards Queen Guinevere. Oft times she is involved in a plan to ensnare a knight for her own pleasure by sending them into a "valley of no return," or against a mighty adversary. Other times she is married to Urien and bears a son, Owain or Yvain. Yet she never becomes purely evil. Many attractive qualities remain and Morgan is associated with art and culture. Despite the scheming and plotting at court, she is still the one who bears the wounded King to his place of healing on Avalon. Part of Christianity's failure to understand the character of Morgan was their misapplied versions of morality. They imposed a Judeo-Christian ethical structure over a Celtic one and tried to eradicate the conflicts. The monks basically misunderstood the beliefs of Celtic rule. Women had equal if not greater power than men and were expected to take lovers. This is evident in the transcription of the Tain, the national epic of Ireland (except here scribal ignorance of Celtic ways actually preserved many of them). This is also the reason why Guinevere is seen as unfaithful rather than a free woman free to make her own choices in who she beds. Morgan necessarily becomes a witch to explain her sexuality. |
|
| Mabon From Encylopedia Mythica Mabon son of Modron ("young man" son of "mother goddess") was a hunter-god. He was stolen from his mother at three days, and lived in Annwn, whence he was rescued by Culhwch (and Arthur) as an adult. He was ever-young as a result of this sojourn. He assisted Culhwch in the quest for Olwen. Culhwch's stepmother wished him to marry her own daughter. When he demurred, she cursed him to marry no one but Olwen, daughter of Ysbaddaden. He has the power to make a land flourish or waste away. He enlisted the aid of Arthur to search for Olwen. When they found her, she said her father would not permit her to marry for that would cause his own death. Nonetheless, Culhwych overcame many trials and eventually married her. |
| Ogmios From Encylopedia Mythica The Celtic patron god of scholars and personification of eloquence and persuasiveness. It is he who invented the runic language of the Druids. Ogmius escorts souls on their journey to the after-live. He is represented as an old man, with a bald head, and dressed in a lion skin. His attributes are a bow and stick. He was worshipped in Gaul (Celtic France). His Irish counterpart is Ogma. |
|
| Taranis From Encylopedia Mythica "Thunder". The thunder-god of ancient Gaul, and master of the sky. He may be compared to the Roman Jupiter, although his place in the Celtic pantheon was not as prominent as that of Jupiter in the Roman pantheon. His attribute is the wheel, which could be the symbol of thunder |
|
 |
 |