Damona - Celtic Goddess of Cattle and Healing

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Damona was the goddess of cattle and healing who was worshipped by the Celts in Gaul, specifically Burgundy.

Damona, meaning "Divine Cow", was often worshipped at healing springs either on her own or with a male consort, such as the god Borvo. The main centers of her worship were Bourbon-Lancy, Bourbonne-Les-Bains and Alise-Sainte-Reine in Gaul

The goddess was often associated with the cow and her worship demonstrates the importance of cattle and farming in Celtic culture.

Milk, butter, cheese and beef were a staple source of food and their hides used for clothing. Oxen were used for ploughing and in religious ceremonies Cows also represented wealth in Celtic culture and were an important part of the Celtic economy.

A sculpture of Damona found at Arnay-le-Duc shows her holding a snake which was a symbol of healing and regeneration. Other representations of Damona (Alise-Sainte-Raine) include the goddess with a crown of ears of corn, an association with fertility and health.

The Celtic god Abilus, the god of health, was worshipped with the goddess as his consort in Arnay-le-Duc (France) during the Bronze and Iron age. He was venerated by the sick and was associated with the snake by the Gallic tribe of the Sequaini. His worship continued into the era of the Roman Empire.

Damona's link to sleep was found on an inscription at a shrine in Bourbon-Lancy . Worshippers would sleep in her temple in the hope they would be cured after being visited by the goddess. The implication was Damona was also associated with prophecy.

The god Borvo, the god of hot springs, usually accompanied the goddess (Bourbonne-les-Bains) and the association of Damona with healing waters. The Roman god Apollo and Apollo Moritasgus (Alesia), were sometimes associated with her as was the god Abilus at Arnay-le-Duc. Links to Damona and the Irish goddess Boann have been made by modern scholars.

The gallic tribe of the Lingones were most closely associated the the worship of the goddess.

Jewellery designers today use depictions of Damona in their designs, such as engagement rings.

Celtic Gods and Goddesses in Today's Society

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Celtic Gods and Goddesses in Today's Society

Are the Celtic gods and goddesses whom the ancient Celts paid homage to thousands of years ago, still with us today? The traditional answer is "no" but this may not be exactly true. The influence or the message of the various Celtic delties may be returning in perhaps a different form.

The names of Celtic deities are known world-wide because of famous landmarks such as the Danube river which was named after the goddess Anu (or Danu) who was an earth-goddess. The word "burbon" is usually associated with sweets and is derived from the god Borvo, the god of hot spings and healing waters. Amaethon, the Welsh god of argiculture, is a popular name used by farming businesses today such as Amatheon agri. Rosmerta, the goddess of healing and prosperity, is the name of a well-known character from the Harry Potter books and film series. References to Celtic deities may be found in today's society and are a testimony to the importance they had thousands of years ago.

A many-god (or polytheistic) idelogy is very difficult to understand for those brought up in a modern Christian society where the idea of one god is clearly understood. The attributes or qualities of Celtic gods and goddesses are possibly easier to understand. For example Loucetios, the Celtic god of lightning, would be possibly portrayed and understood today as a "superhero"because of his extraordinary ability to create electricity. Recent medical break-throughs now include hand transplants. Diancecht, the Irish god of medicine, made a prostheic arm for his brother Nuada, the king of the Tuatha Dé Danann. who were the ruling tribe of gods. Miach transformed the prosthetic arm into one of flesh and blood. The legend definitely has contemprary associations.

Diancecht and his son Miach may be the Celtic world's combined equivalent to Nostradamus when predicting the idea of a modern society. The comparison of the legend of a Celtic god who was worshipped in the Bronze age and today's newspaper headlines about hand transplants seems to be incredibly accurate. Diancecht's belief in a common law where the injured party should receive some form of payment has been realised with the modern legal term "suing". It is possible the ideals of a Bronze age society who may have considered the methods used by the Druids (who were the law-makers)unfair and are now realised in modern Celtic culture.

The Celtis lived a life-style that would be described today as "holistic". Holistic is defined as meaning "a form of healing that considers the whole person -- body, mind, spirit, and emotions -- in the quest for optimal health and wellness."( Holostic Medicine). The druids, who were thought of as spiritual guardians, would ensure each person would lead a holistic (or balanced) lifestyle that included exercise, a proper diet as well as proper spitiritual well-being. Holisitic, complementary and alternative medicines are popular in modern mainstream culture but do not possess the same legal status as traditional medical treatments.

Many Celtic gods and goddesses were associated with health. Borvo, the god of hot and healing springs, was worshipped in Continental Europe. Water was one of the four important elements in the Celtic religion because it could "soak up"and carry the magical power of prayers and spells. The power of water to heal is often referred to in myths such as the "Well of Slaine" which could heal the Tuath de Danann because Diancecht put all of the herbs of ireland into it. Healing Wells and springs could be found in most parts of the Celtic world where they were associated with healing and eye afflicitions (although the reason why this is the case is unknown). Health spas still exist in the same places where Celtic gods and goddesses were worshipped in Continental Europe, Britain and Ireland. Large numbers of people still have confidence in the therapeutic value of healing waters and springs.

The healing power of herbs is still used today in modern medicine. In March 2015 scientists at Nottingham University discovered a possible cure for the MRSA infection that was found in a thousand year old book about a herbal remedy for an eye infection used by monks (BBC). Medicine in the early Middle Ages had its roots in an Celtic tradition and folk practices.

Fire was another important element in the Celtic tradition and the sun was thought of as a source of healing energy. The festival of Beltane was a common and popular traditional ritual that embodied both these beliefs. Fires, which represented the Sun, were lit at the beginning of summer and cows were herded between the fires so the regenerative power of Belenos, the god of the Sun, would both cure and protect the herds of cattle from disease. The Beltane festival was recently revived in Scotland and Ireland where it is celebrated as an artistic festival on the traditonal date of 1st of May. It could be argued the Celts belief in the regenerative and restorative power of the Sun is still present today with solar energy now being used as a viable source of energy.

The Celtic religion was a nature based religion with the central concept of keeping a balance in nature. Chaotic consequences occurred if the balance was disturbed. The majority of Celts were farmers and lived in rural communities. They relied on rituals and ceremonies that were carried out by Druids ( or priests) to ensure the balance of nature was restored. The worship of Celtic deities such as Nantosuelta, the goddesss of nature and Anu (or Danu), an regenerative earth-goddess was thought to restore order and harmony.

The modern equivalent of an imbalance in nature with problematic changes in weather conditions is referred to as "climate change". The same uncertainties exists today as they did during the time of the Celtic era. These concerns are that countries and communites will not prosper if some form of action is not taken about the weather. The regeneration and healing of the earth is as popular today in the general population as it was thousands of years ago. The concept of ensuring agricultural land and produce is healthly is also present in modern culture with many opting for organically grown produce rather than produce grown using intensive farming practices. There is s general feeling that genetically modified food should be avoided because it is not natural and so unhealthy. Environmentally friendly or "green products" can also be found in any supermarket.

Accurately predicting weather patterns using animals and plants has been in use for thousands of years. Many methods used today date back to the Celtic era but are remembered in a Christian context such as saints and feastdays because the early Christians renamed celtic gods and goddess as saints. For example the Celtic festival of Samhain (the "blood month") which was celebrated on the 1st November is known today as "All Saints Day". According to the apparently precise myth, if ducks slide on icy in November, then they will be swimming in ice-free water in December and onwards (Weather-lore). A television weather presenter in Ireland recently gave a short televised lecture as to why the population should not use plants and animals to predict long-range weather forecasts ( RTE).

The Celtic religion was revived in the twentieth century and called the Celtic neopaganism movement. Practitioners of the relgion are now able to worship freely in today's more tolerent society. There is a re-newed interest in Celtic gods and goddessess and this may be due to the fact there is a similarity of ideas with modern society about (for example) treating the earth and mother-nature with respect.

Sky News reported in December 2015 that Paganism was the fastest growing religion in Britain. Thousands of people attended and celebrated the winter solstice on 22nd December (of each year) 2015, with the Sun rising over Stonehenge in Wilshire. "The Sun is directly overhead of the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere during the December solstice and is closer to the horizon than at any other time in the year, meaning shorter days and longer nights" (Daily Telegraph). Stonehenge is carefully aligned on a sight-line that points to the winter solstice sunset. "The solstice only lasts for a few minutes... It is thought that the Winter Solstice was actually more important to the people who constructed Stonehenge ...These observations informed our decisions about sowing crops, mating animals and judging food reserves between harvests. ...The Winter Solstice was a time when most cattle were slaughtered (so they would not have to be fed during the winter) and the majority of wine and beer was finally fermented." (Daily Express). Google has created the new Doodle which celebrates the December solstice.

The message of the various gods and goddesses in the Celtic religion is one voice among many who share the same ideas and concerns the ancient Celts did thousands of years ago. Their"status" seens to have been re-affirmed in modern culture due a growing intesest in the religion especially among the younger generation. The positive phrase of "new age" may be one possible future reference to the Celtic deities and their presence in our society is assured for generations to come.

Borvo - Celtic God of Healing and Healing waters 

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Borvo was the Celtic god of healing and healing waters (or spas) and his worship was popular across much of western Europe.

Borvo's name means "One who boils". He was the son of the the goddess Sirona, one of the Celtic goddesses of cattle. The devine companion or consort of Borvo was Damona, who was the Celtic goddess of cattle although in some areas, such as Saone-et-Loire in Bourbon-Lancy (France) he is accompanied by Bormana, who was the female equivalent of Borvo.

Borvo was worshipped in areas with spas because the waters , especially thermal waters, were thought to have the capacity to heal.

The remains of shrines to the god have been discovered in towns, such as Aix-en-Diois and Aix-en-Diois, principally in Gaul (modern day France).

Inscibed tablets have been found which were offerings made by Borvo's worshippers asking for his help in healing themselves or someone they knew.

Borvo was worshipped across most of western Europe, from Gaul to Portugal, the Netherlands and to the British Isles. He would have therefore been a well-known god in Celtic culture. The god seems to have been particularly poplular in areas, such as Bourbon-Les-Bains and Bourbon-Lancy, where a significant number of inscriptions have been discovered in these towns. The name Bourbon is thought to have originated from Borvo.

Apollo, the Roman god of healing, and Borvo were usually joined with together as a latin version. Roman deities were often associated with Celtic gods due to a similarity in their powers, as in this case healing. Depictions of this kind were common during the time of Roman occupation of Gaul and other countries in Europe because it encouraged the idea of a harmonious relationship between the conquered Celts and the Romans.

Numerous depictions have been found of Borvo in Europe with the most well-known one representing the god as a warrior, holding a helmet and shield , and facing a large,raised snake (Vicky in France). Borvo is also shown sitting on a rock holidng a cup of bubbling liquid (Vichy in France and Colbridge in England). Others depict him holding a bag of money, a plate of fruit as well as a goblet which indicates he may have also been associated with fertility and the prosperity of cities in some areas (Entrains in France).

The influence of Borvo may still be found today with spas in Europe, such as the one at Bourboule in France, deriving an ancient link to the past in their literature.

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Epona - Goddess of Horses in Celtic Mythology

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Epona, meaning "Divine Mare", was the goddess of horses, including those who worked with them, as well as fertility during the Iron age. Her worship originated with nomadic Celts in Gaul and extended throughout Continental Europe and the Roman Empire. Epona was the only Celtic deity venerated in Rome itself.

The myth states Epona was the beautiful child of a horse and human male. The importance of horses in Celtic culture may have contributed to her cult spreading from Gaul to Germany and eventually to Rome. For example, Celtic nobles were usually buried with their horses and saddles indicating horses were important in the after-life. The extensive worship of Epona may also be the reason why the Celts did not eat horse meat.

The connection between Epona and horses was also present in the rites of Celtic kings as the goddess was thought to bestow on the king his authority to rule during a ritual. Epona's importance was later signified with a shrine in nearly every stable in the Roman Empire because she protected not only the horses but also those who worked with them.

Epona's cult spread from Gaul to Germany and the Roman Empire between 1AD and 3AD. The goddess was worshipped not only by ordinary people but by Roman soldiers, especially the cavalry. It is possible the spread of the cult was principally due to the recruitment of the Roman cavalry, such as the Imperial Horse Guard, from Gaul and Germany. The Romans are credited with introducing her worship into not only areas of the Roman Empire, such as Britain, but also to Rome itself.

Epona was the only Celtic goddess to be venerated in Rome and was officially included in the gods of the Emperor as "Epona Augusta" and "Epona Regina". The 18th December was dedicated to Epona and was celebrated in the Roman calendar as a feast day.

A large number of depictions of Epona have been found all over Europe and the British Isles, particularly in Gaul and the Rhineland. For example, statues have been found on the remains of stables and barns. Epona is usually represented as woman riding side-saddled on a white horse, such as those found in the Rhineland, which was the symbol of purity. The goddess was occasionally accompanied by a dog, a foal or holding ears of corn, such as those found in England, the symbol of fertility. Other representations show her surrounded by horses or feeding a horse. The "Uffinton White Horse" on White Horse hill in England is supposed to be an Iron Age representation of Epona.

Epona is also depicted holding a key or set of keys, denoting a link to the after-life. The goddess was supposedly carrying souls of those who died on her horse to and from the Other-world.

The various incarnations of Epona included the goddesses associated with horses such as Rhiannon in Wales, Macha in Ireland, the cult of Rigatonia in Britain and the Celtic goddess Edain.

The early Christians absorbed Epona and other Celtic dieties into the religion. Remnants of the goddess may be found today with the pantomime horse and the eleventh century legend of Lady Godiva.

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Loucetios - Leucetius - Celtic god of Lightning

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Loucetios was a Celtic god of lightning and was possibly an air god who originated in Gaul. He was predominantly worshipped in France, Britain and and Germany during the era of the Roman Empire where he was equated to the Roman god Mars.

Loucetios, meaning "Shining One" or "Bright One", was the god of thunder and lightning, and would have been known across the Celtic world. The Latin version of his name was Leucetius.

There seems to have been only a handful of "air gods" in the Celtic religion. Modern scholars have identified Vintios who was probably a god of wind, Taranis the god of thunder, Sulis in Bath in England who was a goddess of the sun, Belenus who was also a god associated with the sun and Loucetios who was the god of lightning. The reason why this should be the case still eludes modern historians.

Inscriptions found in Bath in England and Angers in France refer to the goddess Nemetona, the goddess of the "Sacred Grove", as being the divine consort of Loucetios. The association with Nemetona suggests he may also have been a god of healing.

The centre of his worship seems to have been eastern Gaul and archaeological evidence indicates the Rhenish tribe called the Vangiones was most closely associated with the god.

The Vangiones were a Celtic tribe who were defeated by Julius Caesar in 58BC. They were allowed to join the Roman army and were used for garrison duty on Rome's northern frontier of Britain, specifically Hadrian's Wall.

The inscriptions in eastern Gaul, such as the modern day towns of Maintz and Altripp, refer to a connection between Loucetios and the Roman god Mars, the god of war.

At least a dozen inscriptions dedicated to Loucetios have been discovered in Britain, France and Germany.

The worship of Loucetios was confirmed when an altar was found in Bath and similarly in other spa towns. The town of Luguvalium, which is the modern day city of Carlisle, was named after him.

Loucetios was also known as Leu in Belgium and may have been the basis of the Celtic "God of Light" as Lugh in Ireland and Lleu in Wales.

The influence of Loucetios in modern culture consists of a reference to him in a book called "American Gods" (by Neil Galman) and companies involved with electrical lighting named after him.

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Belenus or Belenos - a "Sun God" in Celtic Mythology

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Belenus and Belenos means "the Shining God". He was worshipped as a "Sun God" by the Celts across Continental Europe, Britain and Ireland and is regarded by modern historians as a common Celtic god.

The term "Sun God" describes Belenus in the context of an important pastoral deity who was associated with the restorative and healing powers of the sun. The Irish festival of Beltaine or the "Fires of Bel" was held on first of May and fires were lit to encourage the Sun's heat. Cattle were purified by herding them between these fires before being put out to pasture. Historical evidence suggests the ancient Celts did not worship the sun but used it in a descriptive way such as images.

The festival marked the beginning of summer in Ireland. The ritualistic purpose of such festivals in Ireland and Europe was to ask for the god's help in encouraging the crops to grow and protect the herds of cattle from disease. The festival of Beltane was one of the most important festivals in Celtic culture. The Beltane Festival is still celebrated in Scotland and Ireland as as an artistic festival on the traditional date of 30th April or 1st May.

Belenos was usually depicted riding the sun across the sky in a horse drawn chariot. A model horse and chariot carrying a sun-disc was found in Denmark and thought to be a representation of Belenus.

Other representations include Belenus riding a horse throwing thunder-bolts while using his wheel as a shield. The wheel, a head with solar rays and halos are associated with Belenus. The goddess Belisama in Gaul is sometimes shown as the consort of Belenus.

Healing shrines with a duel Roman association to the god Apollo and Belenus, such as the one found in Sainte-Sabine in Burgundy, demonstrates the god's association with healing and regeneration. Objects in the shape of limbs found at Sainte-Sabine suggest they were left as a payment for the prayers which were offered. Clay horses were also discovered and are thought to be representations of Belenus. Shrines to Belenus have been also found at Inveresk in Scotland and Bourbon-Les-Bains in France, which was apparently named after him.

The cult of Belenus spread from Italy to Gaul, modern day Austria, Britain and Ireland. The thirty one or more archaeological finds in Europe, Britain and Ireland are the most found for any Celtic god. These finds demonstrate not only the importance the cult of Belenus but that he was a common god in Celtic culture until the introduction of Christianity.

The most famous and most numerous finds of Belenus were inscriptions dedicated to him from the emperors Maximian and Diocietian in Aquileia in Italy. References were made to Belenus by Roman historians, such as Herodianos in 278BC, who described Roman soldiers seeing an image of Belenus (the protector of the city) in the sky during the siege of Aquileia by the emperor Maximus. Tertullian mentions the worship of Belenus in the Norican Alps in 4AD.

Archaeological evidence of Belenus also include a coin found in 1AD depicting Belenus with large brown eyes, a heavy moustache and his hair shown in a corona representing the rays of the sun. A carved piece of jewellery found in Nimes (France) depicts Belenus as an old man wearing a tunic with solar symbols and an inscription.

Julius Caesar apparently referred to Belenus as the god Apollo and this association was common throughout the Celtic-Roman world. A number of gods in other countries were based on him such as Beli, the god of death, in Welsh mythology and Belatucadros whose cult flourished in northern England. The god Bile in Irish Celtic mythology is credited with being another incarnation of Belenus.

In Medieval times, Beli Mawr, a mythological king in Britain, was apparently the basis of Pellinor, the father of Sir Percival, in Arthurian legends.

Belenus's influence can be found in the modern day Europe. For example the name Llywelyn is thought to be a combination of the god Lugus and Belenus. Billinsgate in England is also thought to named after the god.

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