Celtic Mythology

The Gaels, Gauls, Britons, Irish, and Galatians were all Celtic.

7th or 8th century B.C. First evident.

Romans name: Galli and the Greeks name: Keltoi– both meaning barbarians.

3rd to 5th century B.C. Occupied much of Europe north of the Alps.

2nd to 3rd century B.C.Arrived in British Island and Ireland, probably displacing and absorbing exiting tribes.

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The Book of Invasions

This mythology roughly parallel migrations of various people groups to Ireland.

Leabhar Gahbala

• Partholonians• Nemedians• Formorians• Fir Bolg• Tuatha de

Danann• Milesians

Pseudo-history.

One group of gods conquers the older group ReflectsInvasions of one people group after another

Tuatha De DanannMeans Tribes of the Gods

equivalent to Greek Olympians

Formorians equivalent to greek Titans

Mother GoddessWaters, Fertility,

Abundance & Protection

Mother of the Tuatha de Dannan

Danu

Bile

Shining one“Sacred Tree”

Welsh: King Beli MawrGreek: Zeus

Spring holiday “Beltane” build a bonfire to celebrate spring.

daghdha

Eochaidh Ollathair – The All Father

God of earth, magic, time, protector of crops

Symbols:ClubCauldronHarp

Unique to Irish Pantheon

HARPDuring a war, a rival tribe stole Dagda’s harp and took it to an abandoned castle. Dagda followed the tribe and called to the harp. The harp came to Dagda and he struck the chords. The harp let out the Music of Tears and everyone in the castle began to cry. Dagda struck the chords again and the harp played the Music of Mirth and all the warriors began to laugh. Then, Dagda struck the chords a final time and the harp let out the Music of Sleep. Everyone but Dagda fell into a deep sleep, allowing him to escape with his magical harp unharmed.

Harp continues to be a Celtic symbol

BRIGIDThree daughters of Daghdha

Goddess of Sovereignty, Fertility, Poetry,Craftsmanship.Healing.

Fire

Welsh: Cerridwyn

Angus or aengus og

God of love, beauty, dreams

Son of DaghdhaLover of Caer

Symbols:HarpFour white birds

Unique to Irish Pantheon

Mannan mac lir

God of the Sea

Otherworld

NUADAGod of War, weapons, oceans, poetry, writing, magic

First Leader, kingSilver handAbilities :LeadershipInvincible Sword

Welsh – NuddBritish – NodensRoman – NeptuneNorse – Tyr (also lost a hand)

Read his story here

Dian cecht

God of healing

Abilities:CraftsHealing

Welsh – Bran the BlessedGreek – Apollo

LugH

Sun godAbilities: Champion (battle), Craftsman,Poet, Historian,Sorcerer

Symbol & gift –Long Spear

Read his story here

The Morrigan Goddess of battle, strife, fertility, fate

Abilities: Assist or hinder warriorsSovereignty

Symbol: Raven

One of the Babd trioWelshSimilar to: Valkyries

Eponia

Eponia also worshipped by Germans and RomansWelsh – Rhiannon(ushered dead into afterlife)Greek - Demeter

Goddess of Horses, Fertility, Crops

Symbols: Cornucopia, Crops

balor

God of deathOne-eyed giant (The Greeks had those too!)

Fomorian – Evil Giants (similar to the Titans or Frost Giants)

Welsh - Ysbaddaden, Chief of Giants

Read his story here

donn

Lord of the dead

Father of the Irish race

Millesian – came after the Tuatha de Danann

Welsh celtic mythology

Otherworld

avalonWelsh called their Otherworld Annwyn or Afallon.

Eventually the Arthurian Legends called it Avalon.

faeries

Sidhe– a portal into the Otherworld, a parallel universe where fairy folk dwell.

The myth is that the Tuatha de Danann retreated to the otherworld and appear in this one as fairies

Leprechauns

Tricksters

Spend most of their time making shoes.

banshee

Fairy woman who screams when someone is about to die.

Scottish – Bean Nighe

Stone of destiny

• Stone of Destiny is used as part of the coronation ceremony for kings of Ireland and Britain. The Irish stone sits on a hill at Tara. The mainland stone was brought by Gaels from Ireland to Scotland and resided in Scone. It’s travelled over the British isles between Britain, Scotland, Wales. In 1996 it was returned to Scotland and sits with the crown jewels in Edinburgh Castle

Cu Chulainn

Celtic HeroAKA Setana

Strong, brave ( like Achilles)

Demi-god son of Lugh

Also known as the Hound of Chulainn

The hound of culann

Finn Mac Cool

AKA FIONN MAC CUMHAILL

Giant hunter-warrior

The Fianna

druid

“OAK – KNOWER”Priests of Celtic religion

MythologySeers, magicians, wizards, foretell future, shape-shifters

Tales with welsh celtic roots

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

King Arthur