Celtic Gods and Goddess

1. Celtic Gods and Goddess

2. Belenus Apollo Belenus • God of agriculture • Associated with the healing power of the sun (and so comparable to Apollo) • Beltane was a festival in his honor on May 1 where great bonfires were used to re-warm the earth

3. Cernunnos (Kur-noo-nohs) • The “horned one” - has stag antlers • Lord of the beasts • God of fertility and abundance • Found on ancient Paleolithic cave paintings • Shape shifter (could turn into a snake or a wolf)

4. Epona • Horse goddess • Father mated with a horse (hated women) • The Romans held a festival in her honor on December 18th. She is the only Celtic deity to be accorded this honor by the Romans • Often shown riding side saddle or standing between two ponies • It is possible that Epona was really the horse and that the person pictured to the right is just a rider.

5. Nantosuelta • “wandering river” • Probably a fertility goddess (water heavily associated with childbirth) • Patron of hearth and home • Consort of Sucellus • Usually seen carrying a basket of apples

6. Sucellus • King of the gods • Fertility god • Name means “good striker” (if you’re dying, he’ll come and end your suffering by hitting you with his hammer) • Usually shown carrying a long handled hammer which he uses to wake up the plants for springtime and a pot o’ potatoes (spuds, taters)

7. Taranis • Thunder god • Rides the sky in a chariot – wheels make thunder and lightning comes from the sparks of his horses’ hooves • A war god as well • Had human sacrifices made to him

8. IrishCeltic Gods and Goddess

9. These gods were worshipped by the Irish and written down at a later time. Since the Romans did not take Ireland, their mythology was able to continued unabated long after Europe’s was squashed. They are mostly known as the TUATHA-DE-DANANN

10. The Tuatha eventually get beaten by the current race of Celts and they become fairies and “the little people”

11. Brigid • “exalted one” • Fertility and war goddess • Her tasks are: healing, fire, blacksmiths, poetry, wisdom, and protecting flocks • Her feast day was Feb. 2nd and called Candlemas • She was “borrowed” by Christian missionaries and made into St. Bridet (she prayed for ugliness to help her stay pure)

12. Daghda • Known as the “good god” • “father of the gods” – not so muchlike Zeus, but fat, kind, and a bit unmannered • Wears a tunic way too short for him • Has a magic club that he uses to kill with one end and heal with the other • God of magic, wisdom, and life and death • A provider (he has a never empty cauldron) • He secured Ireland’s protection by holding hands with Morrigan

13. Danu • Mother of Daghda and entire race of the Tuatha • Possiblity even the daughter of Daghda – (don’t ask me how) • Finds places for the gods to go when they were defeated

14. Lugh (loo) • Shining God • Related to both the Tuatha and the Fomorians (rival giants) • His evil grandfather threw him into the sea, but he was saved and raised by a sea god • Has a sword that cuts through anything and a spear that guarantees victory • Father of Cu Chulainn • His name became leprechaun

15. Morrigan (more-ree-an) • The Phantom Queen • Goddess of horses and war • Shape shifter (can turn into animals) – when in raven form, death is nearby • Stands near rivers and washes corpses (sometimes known as “washer of the ford”) • Cu Chulainn rejects her advances

16. Nuada • Supreme king of the Irish Celts • Loses his arm in battle and must give up his kingship (no deformities allowed in kings) • Makes a silver arm to regain throne • Eventually loses courage and gives throne to Lugh