IRISH GODDESSES

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

Celtic Goddesses 1 Ireland Banba Fodla Eriu Amairgin encounters Banba Continental Irish Sphere of Influence Matronae Eriu fertility Banba Fodla Ireland Banba 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 Brigit fertility; abundance; healing

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

Machas 1 : Macha (“Meadow”) (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 Macha Badb Nemain Mórrígan Badb Mórrígan

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

Machas 2 : Badb (“Crow”) Machas 2 Badb black crow of battle eel, wolf, red crow ----------------------------------------------------------- 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 ------------- Badb magically causes battlefield panic 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 battlefield frenzy and panic theriomorphic appearances (crow) Washer at the Ford (bean nighe) producer 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 A. terraforming and ale-brewing ____ Tuatha De Danann B. misshapen creatures ____ Partholonians C. defeated by Tuatha De Danann ____ Milesians D. last wave of invaders ____ Fomhoire E. relocate underground

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

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

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