Wolves in Celtic Mythology

Wolves were regarded as majestic animals who roamed freely in the vast ancient forests of Britain, Ireland and Europe for thousands of years. The Celtic tribes who lived side by side with wolves both feared and admired them.

The Celts were so impressed by the hunting skills of wolves that they were treated as sacred animals who were traditionally associated with shape-shifters. Wolves became the companions of the pagan deities who also took the form of a wolf in numerous myths and legends.

The relationship between the Celts and wolves dated back to the earliest times of European history.
A carving of a wolf was discovered in the Highlands of Scotland dating to the sixth century BC.

Some of the first wild animals to be domesticated by man were wolf cubs. Their sharp eyesight, sense of smell and hearing made them ideal as hunting dogs in the vast ancient mountains, woods and forests that once covered much of Europe.

Wolves were part of the everyday lives of the Celts, particularly forest-dwellers. They competed with hunters for prey such as stags, deer and boar.

Farms and villages feared attacks from packs of wolves and considered them a menace to their flocks of sheep.

The warrior class admired wolves as cunning predators who possessed strength and swiftness. Numerous Celtic tribes claimed descent from wolves possibly because they were loyal, sociable animals who hunted in nomadic families.

Some tribes may have venerated wolves and assumed their characteristics.

The Irish chieftain, Laignech Fáelad, was said to be half man and half wolf. He sired a tribe of warriors who were known in legends as the werewolves of Ossory. The warriors of the clan apparently dressed in wolf-skins and cut their hair to resemble the mane of a wolf.

The tribe of the Lingones in Gaul paid homage to a woodland god called Vosegus during the Iron Age. Vosegus was the protector of the vast forests of the Vosges mountain range in France. He was depicted as a hunter-god wearing a wolf-skin at a Roman-Celtic temple in Le Donon in the Vosges mountains.

Cernunnos was widely venerated as a horned woodland god of fertility and hunting. He was depicted with a wolf and a stag on the Gundestrup Cauldron. The numerous motifs of Cernunnos in the company of a wolf-dog indicated wolves were sacred animals of Cernunnos as a god of woods and forests.

Numerous gods and goddesses were associated with wolves, Their ability to shape-shift into wolves emphasised the supernatural powers of the deities.

There were a great number of legends and myths about wolves in Irish mythology. The gods and goddesses of the Tuatha de Danann often transformed themselves into wolves. 

The Morrigan was the beautiful Celtic goddess of war and death, She offered to help the legendary Irish hero, Cuchulainn, defeat the warrior queen, Medb, and her army during the Cattle Raid of Cooley.

Cuchulainn refused the offer made by the Morrigan. The goddess became the adversary of the Irish hero during the war with Queen Medb.

The Morrigan transformed herself into numerous creatures, including the shape of a red she-wolf.

The red wolf herded some cattle towards Cuchulainn while he was fighting for his life. One of the wolf's eyes was destroyed by a stone hurled from Cuchulainn's sling.

According to the Fenian Cycle, Airitech was a being from the Otheworld, The three daughters of Airitech could shape-shift into the form of wolves at will.

They emerged from the Cave of Cruachan as wolves during the feast of Samhain so they could kill the flocks of sheep in the area.

A bard of the Tuatha de Danann called Cas Corach played his harp to the daughters of Airitech while they were in the guise of wolves. The beautiful music brought forth by Cas Corach from the strings of harp entranced the daughters of Airitech.

Cas Corach convinced the daughters of Airitech to return to the form of mortal women while they listened to the soothing music.

Caílte mac Rónáin killed the three daughters of Airitech with his spear. Cas Corach cut off their heads so they could not escape by shape-shifting into the form of animals.

Other tales in ancient Ireland told of mortals who were abducted by wolves. The High King of Ireland, Cormac mac Airt was stolen by a she-wolf when he was born.

Cormac mac Airt was reared as one of the wolf's own cubs in the Caves of Keshcorran in County Sligo. He was eventually found as a child and reunited with his family. Cormac mac Airt was renowned for understanding the language of wolves

Numerous legends imbued sorcerers with the supernatural power to transform themselves or others into wolves.

Math, the Celtic god of magic in Welsh mythology, punished his nephews, Gilfaethwy and Gwydion, for seducing his royal foot-holder, Goewin. He changed Gilfaethwy and Gwydion into the form of deer, wild boars and wolves.

Wolves were traditionally the companions of moon goddessess such as Cerridwen, in Wales.

The puca was an Irish nature spirit who took the form of numerous animals such as a wolf, hare, dog or raven Other supernatural creatures which were similar to the puca were found in the folklore of Wales, Brittany, Cornwall and the Channel Islands.

European folklore portrayed wolves as powerful and terrifying predators who attacked their unsuspecting victims in the night.

Wolves suffered persecution because they were considered a menace to farmers and rural villages. They were blamed for killing lambs and sheep,

Wolves were hunted for centuries in Europe by kings, the nobility and farmers. The felling of forests for settlements and farmland deprived wolves of valuable hunting grounds.

The abundance of wolves in Ireland was evident as the Irish Wolfhound was bred to hunt wolves. Sadly, the last wolf in Ireland was killed in 1786.

The English wolf was a sub-species of the Grey Wolf. English wolves were also hunted to extinction in England and Wales by the beginning of the sixteenth century.

The kings and nobility of Scotland were responsible for the persecution of wolves and regularly took part in wolf hunts. The last wolf in Scotland was shot in 1680.

The demise of the wolves in Britain, Ireland and Europe has been lamented by many. The remaining wolves in Europe are considered an endangered species and hunting them is illegal.

There have been calls from environmentalists for the reintroduction of wolves in Scotland in order to reduce the population of deer. They argue woodland habitats are under threat from huge numbers of grazing deer.

Wolves became extinct in Germany over 150 years ago. However, some crossed the border from Poland in 2000. There are now 65 pack of wolves roaming freely in Germany.

France's wolf population became extinct in the 1930s. Wolves also crossed the border from the Alps and Italy in the 1990s. Their numbers have risen to 430 individuals in recent years.

Wolves are facing the same difficulties in modern times as they did in the distant past. Packs of wolves are blamed by farmers for killing large numbers of sheep. The destruction of their natural habitat is ongoing.

There is still a conflict between humans and wolves. Wolves are unable to live peacefully near areas of human habitation because of persecution.

The Celtic tribes held wolves in the highest esteem during the Bronze and Iron Ages as well as the era of the Roman Empire.

Wolves were considered magical beasts who were worthy of their close association with the pagan gods and goddesses. The power of the gods and goddesses over the mortal world was embodied by their ability to shape-shift into the form of a wolf, raven, stag or other sacred creature.

Wolves were important n the Celtic religion because they represented a spiritual connection between the mortal realm and the divine beings of the Otherworld.

For more information on the Celtic gods and goddesses of Britain, Ireland and Europe, please visit
http://celtsandmyths.mzzhost.com/index.html 

Interesting Articles

DW – Rising Wolf Population in Germany - https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-wolf-population-on-the-rise-new-data-shows/a-41503395-0

The Local – France's Wolf Population - https://www.thelocal.fr/20190608/growth-of-french-wolf-population-leads-to-increase-in-hunting-quota

NPR – Wolves in Scotland - https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2018/05/03/607700542/landowner-aims-to-bring-wolves-back-to-scotland-centuries-after-they-were-wiped?t=1562959295584

Tarvos Trigaranus - the Bull-God of Fertility in Gaul

Tarvos Trigaranus was a fairly obscure god of Gaul who was famously depicted as a bull on the Pillar of the Boatman dating to the first century AD. He was portrayed in the company of Esus, the god of war and fertility, on the Pillar of the Boatman and at Maiden Castle.. Bulls were widely venerated in the Celtic world as symbols of fertility, ferocity and strength.

The god, Tarvos Trigaranus was identified by an inscription on the Pillar of the Boatmen as “Tarvostrigaranos “, or “the bull with three cranes”. Tarvos Trigaranus was depicted as a bull standing near a willow tree with three egrets on his back.

The Romanised Celts of Gaul venerated Tarvos Trigaranus as a god of male virility, fertility, strength, death and rebirth. The egrets may represent the flight of the immortal soul after death.

The next panel of the Pillar of the Boatman shows Esus, the Celtic god of fertility, cutting the branches of a willow tree. The willow on the panel may represent a sacred tree beneath which the druids carried out sacrifices of white bulls as a fertility rite. There may also be a reference to ancestor worship as their souls were thought to reside in trees.

The Pillar of the Boatman was dedicated to Jupiter, the Roman god of the sky and thunder. An array of Celtic and Roman deities such as Cernunnos, the Celtic god of forests, and Fortuna, the Roman goddess of luck, were also carved on the monument.

The Pillar of the Boatman, or Pillar des Nautes, was a huge decorated column of a temple dating to the first century AD. The ruins of the temple were discovered beneath the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris.

The monument honoured Emperor Tiberius as an act of loyalty by the guild of mariners and merchants of the town of Lutetia or present-day Paris. Lutetia was the capital of the Parisii tribes who inhabited the area. The members of the guild prospered because of trade along the River Seine.

Esus and Tarvos Trigaranus appeared again on a sacred stone in Trier dating to the first century AD. The sacred stone was dedicated to Mercury, the Roman god of trade. The carving depicted Esus as a woodsman, who chops down a willow tree with an axe. Three egrets and the head of a bull are present among the branches of the willow tree.

The symbolism of the willow is the “Tree of Life”, which Esus cuts down so it may flourish and become fertile again. The vegetation on the tree may represent the wild unseen forces of the gods of nature which the druids wished to harness for the benefit of mankind.

A similar relief of Tarvos Trigaranus was discovered at Maiden Castle in Dorset, England. The god was portrayed as a three-horned bull with three goddesses standing on his back. Tarvos Trigaranus was venerated in Dorset as a god of fertility, life, death and rebirth.

Maiden Castle was an Iron Age hill fort in the territory of the tribe known as the Durotriges. The hill fort was abandoned after the Romans invaded Britain during the first century AD.

The three-horned bull aptly portrayed Tarvos Trigaranus as a divine supernatural being of the Otherworld. The great power of the god was enhanced by the number three which was thought to possess immense magical power in the Celtic world.

A healing shrine at Biere-le-Chapel in Burgundy was home to numerous motifs of three-horned bulls. The bulls may have been part of a cult dedicated to Tarvos Trigaranus. The presence of the three-horned bulls added strength, or potency, of the healing powers of the sanctuary.

Images of Apollo, the Roman god of healing, and Ianuaria, the Celtic goddess of music, were also found at Beire-le-Chapel.

Most of the depictions of the three-horned bull were found in the artwork of north-eastern Gaul during the years of the Roman occupation. Some were also found in England after the Claudian invasion of 43 AD.

Motifs of bulls often decorated items belonging to the Celtic tribes. A coin from Gaul depicted a bull with a bird on its back. Votive offerings of small figurines of bullS were discovered among the grave goods of the Celts in Austria dating to the seventh century BC. A man with dogs attacks a bull on the Gundestrup cauldron.

Miranda Green stated in her book “Symbol & Image in Celtic Art”, “It is certain that animals, whether wild or domesticated, played a crucial role in Celtic beliefs. They appear consistently in imagery from before the Roman period in Celtic lands, either with anthropomorphic divine representations or alone. ”.

For more information on Esus, the Celtic god of war and fertility, please visit
http://celtsandmyths.mzzhost.com/esus.html


Interesting Articles
Message to Eagle -
http://www.messagetoeagle.com/pillar-of-the-boatmen-carved-by-brotherhood-of-mariners-in-lutetia-that-became-paris/
Ireland's Eye -
http://www.irelandseye.com/aarticles/culture/talk/complete_celtic_mythology/spirits_earth_air_02.htm

Nemetona – Celtic Goddess of Healing and Sacred Groves

Nemetona was the Celtic goddess of healing and sacred groves among the Celts in Britain, France and Germany. The Nemetes in the Rhineland were the tribe most associated with Nemetona during the Iron Age and era of the Roman Empire.

Nemetona was derived from nemeton which means “sacred groves”. Other interpretations of Nemetona include “she of the sacred grove” and “goddess of the shrine”.

Sacred groves were feared and respected places as the abode of the Celtic deities. Only the druids could enter and leave the sacred groves without angering the gods and goddesses of the Otherworld.

The druids spent a great deal of their time in sacred groves communing with the gods of nature and tree spirits. They regarded oak trees as the most mystical of all the tree species. Oak trees were enchanted entrances or gateways, to the Otherworld through which the deities travelled to the mortal realm.

Shrines were made in the clearings of sacred groves. The druids performed rituals at the shrines in an attempt to appease and win the favour of the gods and goddesses.

Nemetona protected both the shrines and the sacred groves in the woods and forests of France, Britain and Germany.

The Nemetes were a Germanic tribe who claimed Nemetona as their divine ancestor. There is evidence that Nemetona was venerated in the territory of the Nemetes in Germany.

Nemetona was honoured as a goddess of a healing spring near Altrip near Spires in Germany. The sacred spring was located in a sacred grove dedicated to Nemetona.

Five inscriptions mentioned Nemetona with Mars, the Roman god of war, in Trier in Germany. A similar inscription was discovered in Altrip.

An inscription to Nemetona was discovered on an altar at the healing spring dedicated to Sulis. Loucetios Mars, the Celtic god of lightning, was also venerated as the divine consort of Nemetona. Loucetios may have been transformed into a god of healing as the companion of the goddess.

Oak trees were often revered in sacred groves in the Celtic world. They are particularly susceptible to lightning strikes during storms. The connection between Nemetona as a goddess of sacred groves and Loucetios, the Celtic god of lightning, may reflect the presence of a sky god among the shrines of the druids in woods and forests.

Nemhain, the Celtic goddess of wars, battles and death, in Ireland may be another incarnation of Nemetona. Warriors often guarded the shrines in sacred groves and other natural places.

The legends of Ireland portrayed Nemhain as a beautiful warrior goddess who lived a
promiscuous lifestyle. The battle cry of Nemhain could instil such dread that a hundred men or more died of fear.

Nemhain means “frenzy” as she caused havoc among her enemies during battles.

The Irish chieftains and warriors called on Nemhain in the midst of battles as she was responsible for panicking and confusing their foes.

For more information on Loucetios and the Celtic gods and goddesses of Britain, Ireland and Europe, please visit
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The Lost Ninth Legion of Rome and Boudica's Curse – in Celtic Mythology

Legends claimed the soldiers of the Ninth Legion marched into the mists of the hills and valleys of Scotland in 117 AD and were never seen or heard of again. The fate of the Ninth Legion became one of the most famous legends in the history of the Roman Empire.

The Ninth Legion was one of three legions stationed in the Roman province of Britannia during the turbulent times of the second century AD. The soldiers of the Ninth Legion were involved in numerous military campaigns in Caledonia, or present-day Scotland, because of fighting against the fierce tribes of Picts.

The soldiers of the Ninth Legion, or IX Hispanica , were an elite military unit. They were recruited from the four corners of the Roman Empire. The men of the Ninth Legion earned a reputation for being one of the toughest and most experienced fighting units from Rome.

The Ninth Legion was founded in 65 BC by the Roman general  Pompey. The legion was first commanded by Julius Caesar while he was governor of Spain. He led the Ninth Legion to a great number famous victories over the Celts in Gaul, the Germanic tribes in the Rhineland and the Balkans.

The Claudian invasion of Britain in 43 AD brought the Ninth Legion to the shores of England. They fought against Boudica, the legendary warrior queen of the Iceni, in the Roman town of Londinium , or present-day London, 61 AD. Boudica and her army earned the distinction of defeating the Ninth Legion.

Accounts of the times claimed Boudica killed over 70,000 civilians in Colchester, London and St Albans during her bloody revolt against Rome.

Tacitus wrote, “In the groves of their terrible dark goddess, Andraste, they tortured their captives to death”. Boudica described Roman rule over the native Britons as “'hares trying to rule over wolves".

The tribes in the Roman province of Britannia proved so troublesome that three Roman legions were permanently stationed on the small island. Only one Roman legion was needed to control the whole of Spain and the North African coast.

Suetonius Paulinus, the Roman governor and commander of the Ninth Legion, annihilated Boudica and her army during the Battle of Watling Street in the East Midlands in 61 AD. Boudica committed suicide by taking poison.

Boudica was a druidess who regularly performed divination rituals to the goddess Andraste, the Celtic goddess of victory and revenge. A hare was often used in her pagan ceremonies. Legends claimed Boudica cursed the Ninth Legions for destroying her people as she lay dying from poison.

The Ninth Legion was later stationed in Roman fortress of York as part of a policy of subduing the whole island. They fought against the Brigantes in northern England and the Picts in Scotland.

The soldiers of the Ninth Legion fought bravely against the Brigantes and defeated them. However, the threat of open revolt by the Brigantes could not be tolerated by Rome because they controlled the whole of northern England.

The area patrolled by the Ninth Legion was filled with the remote mountainous terrain of the Scottish Borders and Highlands.  The Picts, or Picti, in Scotland often raided northern Britain and ambushed Roman outposts.

Picti means “The Painted Ones” or “The Painted People”. The Picts painted red stripes across their faces during times of wars and conflicts. The druids, or “Druithyn” accompanied the Pictish warriors into battles wearing headpieces with the antlers of deer. They cursed the Romans and even summoned the ghosts of their ancestors to wage war against the legions.

Agricola, the Roman governor of Britain, led numerous military campaigns into Caledonia, or present-day Scotland, between 78 and 84 AD. He became known in history for finally bringing the Roman province of Britannia under Roman control.

A decisive battle was fought and won by Agricola against Calgacus, the leader of the Caledonii  in 84 AD.  The Caledonii were a Pictish tribe and the last tribe in Britain to be conquered by the Romans.

Calgacus was regarded as a military genius by the Romans who called him the “Swordsman”. The battle between Agricloa and Calgacus became known as Mons Graupius and took place in the wilderness of Scotland.

The sight of a fierce army of Picts and their druids was a terrifying sight to the Ninth Legion and the  other Roman soldiers. The Romans were a superstitious people and feared the druids because they were sorcerers.

Agricola marched south afterwards believing the Picts were finally defeated. The Ninth Legion was ordered to subdue the Picts again when a serious rebellion occurred in 117 AD.

Six thousand legionaries set out one morning on a routine patrol from their fortress in York. They vanished without a trace among the hills and valleys of Scotland.

Numerous theories have been put forward concerning the fate of the Ninth Legion after they left York.

The mists of Scotland were thick so the Picts were known to successfully ambush Roman soldiers. However, none of the tribes in Scotland claimed to have won a victory over the Ninth Legion as was the custom of the time.

The mystery deepened because not one survivor returned to tell the tale of the fate of the Ninth Legion. There was no evidence in the way of a captured Eagle or any debris found to relate the events which had unfolded.

Rumours abounded of the druids' enchantment and Boudica's curse.  The Celts and Romans fear of the supernatural abilities of the druids and druidesses was obvious in the tales of the lost Ninth Legion.

The druids were famous for their magical abilities and their abilities to communicate with the divine beings and ancestors in the Otherworld, or spirit world.

The deities of the Celtic religion wielded a great deal of power in the imagination of those living in the era of the Roman Empire. The strength of the Celt's belief in the gods and goddesses of the Otherworld caused even the fiercest of the Roman soldiers to be wary of their influence. The Romano-Celtic shrines and temples dedicated to the pagan deities attracted a huge following in the Celtic world.

Some accounts claimed the Ninth Legion had been massacred in the mountains of Scotland by the Picts.

Roman records described another legion, VI Victrix, being ordered to Britain from the Rhineland during 117 AD. They were stationed in the same fortress in York as the Ninth Legion.

Emperor Hadrian ordered an immense wall be built in 122 AD because of the loss of the Ninth Legion. The Roman army suffered heavy casualties because of rebellions in Britain between 117 and 138 AD.

Some modern historian believed the Ninth Legion was disbanded but there is no evidence the famous legion ever left Britain.

The legacy of the lost Ninth Legion was the creation of a border in the form of Hadrian's Wall. The kingdoms of England and Scotland developed independently from one another because of the barrier created between England and Scotland during the second century AD.  The mystery of the lost Ninth Legions is a haunting and fascinating story that has attracted a worldwide audience.

For more information on the Celtic gods and goddesses of Britain, Ireland and Europe, please visit
http://celtsandmyths.mzzhost.com/index.html

Interesting Articles

https://www.express.co.uk/expressyourself/234990/They-vanished-into-thin-air 

The Matres in Celtic Mythology

The Matres in Celtic Mythology

The Matres, or “Mothers, were depicted as a trio of goddesses of fertility, prosperity and health in France, Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium during the Bronze and Iron Ages. The cult of the Matres spread among the Celtic tribes of other countries such as Britain and Spain during the era of the Roman Empire.

The Matres, or Deae Matres, were maternal goddesses  of fertility, childbirth and nursing mothers
(Balkan Celts - https://balkancelts.wordpress.com/…/to-the-3-almighty-moth…/).

The maternal aspects of the Matres were highlighted in various depictions. For example, one of the numerous reliefs of the Matres shows the goddesses holding a baby, a sponge and a napkin in the Roman settlement of Vertillum in eastern France.
 (Wikimedia Commons – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bibracte_Deesses.jpg).

The Matres were sometimes portrayed as a single goddess. An inscription found Balesmes-sur-Marne (Haute-Marne) dating to the second century AD is dedicated to the goddess Matrona as the personification of the river Marne. The Matres were therefore considered goddesses of protection.

The Matres were often shown as three hooded spirits, or genii cucullati which seems to reflect the popularity of the goddesses among the Celts and Romanised Celts of Britain and Europe.

For example, three hooded spirits were present in the corner of a relief of Rosmerta and Mercury in the Roman baths of Somerset in England.

Rosmerta, the goddess of fertility and prosperity, was the divine consort of Mercury, the Roman god of merchants and trade. The Matres are goddesses who bestowed prosperity and commercial success
 (Age Fotostock - https://www.agefotostock.com/…/Rights-Manag…/IAM-WHA-4000-PC ).

Other representations of the Matres show each goddess in different positions. For example, two of the goddesses are standing in Vertillum. One the deities holds a cornucopia, the symbol of prosperity, while the other holds a patera.

The triple form of the Matres indicates the combined powers of the goddesses were particularly potent in the Celtic religion.

The Matres were worshipped widely among the Celts during the era of the Roman Empire. Depictions and inscriptions of the Matres have been found in France, Germany, Britain, Luxembourg, Belgium, Spain and northern Italy.

The goddesses were particularly popular among the lower ranks of the Roman army, freedmen and slaves.

The tribe of the Treveri in modern-day Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg were mostly associated with the Matres when they were linked with fertility.

For more information on the Celtic gods and goddesses of Britain, Ireland and Europe, please visit
http://celtsandmyths.mzzhost.com/index.html

Interesting Articles

Polytheist
http://polytheist.com/…/interpretatio-romana-and-matronae-…/

The Winter Solstice in the Celtic Religion

The druids and Celtic tribes celebrated the winter solstice as the waning of the dark half of the year because it was the shortest day and longest night of the year. The longer hours of sunlight after the winter solstice heralded the beginning of the light half of the year.  The winter solstice was also a magical time when Belenus, the Celtic god of the sun, died and was reborn as a powerful sky god. The moon goddess was also venerated as an enchanted deity who brought light into the darkness.

The Irish goddess, Caer Ibormeith, was one of the many moon goddesses who helped guide the two-day celebration of the winter solstice because the moon was present in the sky for the longest night of the year.

The Yew, Elder, Holly and Silver Fir played were used as symbols of death and rebirth in the ceremonies and rituals performed by the druids.

The winter solstice took place during the shortest day and longest night of the year. The celebration marked the end of the dark half of the year and the beginning of the light half of the year.

The spiritual meaning of the shortest day of the year was the death of the old sun god, Belenus. The rebirth of Belenus was welcomed and celebrated by the Celts when the hours of sunlight began to grow longer.

The festival began with rituals taking place on the eve of the winter solstice. The druids performed sacrifices to honour Belenus, as the old sun god as he sadly passed away. The death of Belenus took place at the end of the winter solstice.

The death of the old sun god was mourned by lighting a fire with the branches of Elder trees, the tree most associated with death in the Celtic religion. The holly tree and the Lynx were considered sacred to the old sun god, Belenus, during the dark half of the year.

The rebirth of Belenus was celebrated as a feast day as it marked the first day of the light half of the year. Belenus was born-again as the new sun god. The new sun god began his life-cycle with longer hours of sunlight during the day. The Celts and druids regarded this time as a new spiritual beginning filled with hope and joy. Feasts were prepared to celebrate the rebirth of Belenus.

Veneration of the moon goddess was important as the goddess brought light into the darkness of night. Aine was the young, beautiful goddess of the moon in Ireland as well as a deity of light, cattle, love and growth. Cerridwen was associated with the waning of the moon in Wales and normally portrayed as an old crone.

Epona was a goddess of horses in many Celtic nations. The goddess, Epona, was connected to the moon and night as a divine prophetess of dreams and magic.

The start of the light half of the year was a happy, magical time. The Celtic tribes gathered branches of red and white berries from plants such as mistletoe, yew, ivy and holly to decorate their homes.

Mistletoe was important because it was a magical healing plant associated with fertility, love and good fortune. The druids ritually gathered mistletoe which grew around Oak trees. They believed mistletoe harvested during the winter solstice contained the soul of the Oak tree until the spring.

Some tribes as, for example, the Treveri in the Rhineland collected boughs of Silver Fir to honour Artio, the goddess of fertility. Artio was venerated during the winter solstice in the hope goddess would help with births.

The Celts chanted and danced, sometimes into a frenzy, around campfires on the eve of the light half of the year. They awaited the rebirth of the sun god, Belenus, in a joyful and festive mood. The bull and the Oak tree were considered sacred to Belenus as a sun god of the light half of the year.

The feasts began when the rays of a born-again Belenus finally appeared in the sky. The Celtic tribes celebrated with an excess of food and wine. Presents were exchanged such as charms and amulets to ensure good fortune and abundance for the coming year.

Dianos was venerated as a Celtic god of the light half of the year among the Celts of Britain, Ireland, the Rhineland, Gaul and Iberia (or modern-day Spain and Portugal) during the Iron Age. The god, Dianos, means “Bright One” and “Light Half”.

He was portrayed as a two-headed god who guarded the entrance to the Land of the Dead in the Otherworld.  The attributes of Dianos in the mortal realm included the winter solstice, reincarnation, portals and lightning. The Oak tree was considered sacred to Dianos possibly because he was an enchanted god of portals to the Otherworld.

A famous sculpture of Dianos was found in a cemetery on Boa Island in Northern Ireland. Dianos was depicted as two male figures who faced in opposite directions and were connected by their hair ( Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:JanusFigureBoaIsland.jpg)

The strength of the traditions of the druids and the Celtic tribes of Britain, Ireland and Europe are still present today. The rituals and practices of the Celtic religion were popular because they offered followers a deep, spiritual experience. The celebration of the winter solstice represented a celebration of the mysticism and rebirth of nature. The winter solstice attracts a worldwide audience because the sheer beauty of nature still resembles a miracle of the gods.

For more information on the Celtic gods and goddesses of Britain, Ireland and Europe, please visit http://celtsandmyths.mzzhost.com/index.html

Bran - Bendigeidfran - God of Ravens and Prophecy in Celtic Mythology

http://celtsandmyths.mzzhost.com/bran.html

Bran ap Llyr was the legendary Welsh king of Britain. He was a popular god and well-known figure in the mythology of Wales during the Iron Age. Legends described him as a giant of semi-divine heritage as his father was Llyr, the god of the sea. Bran was eventually venerated as a god, a hero and a powerful king among the numerous tribes of Britain where he was associated with ravens as a god of prophecy.

Bran ap Llyr was a god of poetry, music, prophecy and sovereignty in Britain. He was known as Bendigeidfran in the ancient texts of the Mabinogion of Welsh mythology.

Bran and Bendigeidfran mean “Raven”, “Holy Raven” or “Blessed Crow”. Black Ravens came to symbolise the presence of Bran and were sacred to him.

Ravens were revered in the Celtic world as they were thought to be messengers between the mortal world and the world of the spirits or Otherworld.

Bran was portrayed as a giant of semi-divine heritage who possessed supernatural strength and abilities.

Llyr, the god of the sea, was the father of Bran and his siblings, Manawyddan and Branwen. Their mother was a mortal woman Penardim. Nisien and Evnissyen were described as their half-brothers or, in some accounts, their cousins.

The children of Llyr represented the powers of darkness in Welsh mythology. They were constantly at war with the children of the mother-goddess, Don, who represented the power of light.

Llyr was a god of the sun of the Coritani tribe in some of the older myths. He was venerated in the area known today as Leicester in England. Llyr married the sea goddess Iwerydd, meaning “Atlantic”, from a god-like race called the Tuatha Dé Danann in Ireland.

The offspring of Llyr and Iwerydd were Bran and Branwen. A second marriage took place between Llyr and a noblewoman called Penarddun from the Belgae tribe and a son called Manawyddan was born from the union.

The most famous legend about Bran ap Llyr began when he was the most powerful chieftain in Britain, or “Island of the Mighty”. Bran lived with his family at their home in Harlech on the coast of north-west Wales.

One day Bran and his brother, Manawyddan, saw a fleet of thirteen ships sailing swiftly across the sea towards Wales. He recognised Matholwch, the High King of Ireland, who held his shield upside down as a sign of peace as the ships entered the harbour.

Matholwch sailed to Wales to ask for Branwen's hand in marriage. The Irish king hoped the marriage would lead to a political alliance between Britain and Ireland. A son born to Branwen would be the future ruler of both islands.

Bran gave his blessing to the marriage. King Matholwch and Branwen were married in Aberffaw on the island of Anglesey. The wedding took place in a huge tent as Bran was too large to fit into an ordinary house.

Efnisien arrived home and learned of his sister's wedding. He was furious that his brother, Bran, excluded him from the meetings with Matholwch and allowed marriage to take place without him.

Branwen was one of the three most important goddesses of Britain which made the matter even more serious in Elfnisien's mind.

Bran's refusal to include Elfnisien in the negotiations was understandable. Efnisien was a well-known troublemaker with a fiery temper.

Bran gave Matholwch a herd of magnificent horses as a wedding gift. Elfnisien walked over to the stables and attacked all of the Irish king's horses in revenge for the insult caused by his brother, Bran.

Matholwch and the Irish were distressed by the attack on their horses and prepared to leave Harlech immediately.

Bran panicked and offered the Irish king more horses, a silver staff and a huge golden plate as an apology for Efnisien's crime. He could not order Efnisien's death because they were blood relatives.

Sadly Matholwch was still upset and continued with the preparations to leave Wales without Branwen. Bran then offered Matholwch his magical cauldron of rebirth which could bring dead warrior back to life.

Bran warned Matholwch the returning warriors would not only be deaf and mute but also would keep fighting.

Matholwch wished to own Bran's magical cauldron as it came from the Lake of Cauldron in Ireland. He was delighted with the gifts given by Bran and restored Branwen's good name by making her as his wife.

Branwen's arrival was met with jubilation by the people of Ireland as they were happy to see their new queen.

Matholwch and Branwen spent the first year of their marriage in wedded bliss. The couple soon welcomed a son whom they named Gwern. Gwern's birth was a symbol that the people of Britain and Ireland would one day be reunited.

The Irish nobles at court whispered in Matholwch's ear that she was unpopular as a foreign queen. They also reminded him of the earlier insult that was caused by Efnisien's crime.

Sadly Matholwch soon became disappointed with his new wife and rarely saw her. He decided to send their son Gwern to be fostered by a respected Irish family and banished Branwen to his kitchens far below the palace.

Branwen was forced to work long hours in the kitchens preparing food and cleaning dishes. The head cook slapped her every day for no reason.

One day Branwen found an injured starling and kept it as a pet. She taught the starling to speak and told the bird of her home and her family.

The starling was sent by Branwen to her brother, Bran, and told him of his sister's plight. Bran was furious when he learned of his sister's mistreatment.

He immediately summoned his army which sailed to Ireland. The warriors of his army used a dye made from alder trees to paint their faces red. It seemed to be the reason the alder tree was associated with Bran.

Bran left his only son Caradawg along with seven chieftains, who became known as the Seven Horseman, to guard Britain.

The fleet left Wales and sailed across the Celtic Sea. Bran was a giant and easily waded through the waters of the Celtic Sea with his huge club.

Bran and his army marched through Ireland towards King Matholwch. They found the crossing the River Liffey very difficult. Bran lay across the river so his men could travel over his back to the other side. The place where these mythical events took place is known today as Hurdle Ford and part of the city of Dublin.

News soon reached Matholwch of the arrival of Bran and his army on the coast of Ireland. The frightened Irish king attempted to quickly make peace with Bran.

Matholwch offered to stand aside and proposed that his young son, Gwern, be made the new king of Ireland as part of the peace negotiations. He also arranged for a great feasting hall to be built which was large enough for Bran to live in.

Bran agreed to the terms of the peace treaty proposed by Matholwch the Irish. The two warring sides celebrated with a great feast in the newly built hall.

Everything seemed to be going well until Efnisien became angry when his young nephew Gwern avoided him at the feast. Efnisien asked Matholwch if he may hug Gwern as they were kinsmen. Gwern walked towards Efnisien to greet him.

The joyous mood of the Irish at the feast turned to rage and fury when Efnisien grabbed the child and threw him into a huge fire. The poor boy died screaming as he was burned alive.

A ferocious battle took place between King Matholwch and the Irish warriors and Bran and his men.

Matholwch and the Irish were winning on the battlefield because the magic cauldron of rebirth brought their dead warriors back to life. Most of Bran's army were killed during the conflict and it seemed they had lost the battle against the enemy.

Efnisien realised his brother Bran was losing the battle and decided to sacrifice his own life to save Bran and the remaining Welsh warriors.

He hid among the dead bodies of the Irish warriors and was thrown into the magic cauldron by mistake. No living thing could be placed in the magic cauldron and it broke into four pieces when it exploded. Efnisien was killed by the explosion.

The battle continued on fairer terms until King Matholwch and all of his warriors died. Bran, Branwen and seven of his warriors were the only survivors from Britain. Neither side won because of the terrible carnage that happened during the battle.

Sadly Bran was mortally wounded by a poisoned spear thrown by an Irish warrior. He ordered his remaining men to cut off his head and told them to “bear it even unto the White Mount, in London, and bury it there, with the face towards France”. The “White Mount” is the place where the tower of London now stands.

Branwen and the seven surviving warriors returned to Britain. They arrived on the shore of Aber Alaw on the small island of Anglesey, off the north coast of Wales.

A terrible wave of sadness and grief swept across Branwen. She cried out “Oh Son of God, woe to me that I was born. Two fair islands have been laid waste because of me!”. Branwen died of a broken heart for causing so much death and destruction.

The seven warriors buried the body of the beautiful Branwen in a four-sided grave in Aber Alaw. The burial site of Branwen may be found in a place called Bedd Branwen, or “Branwen's grave” on the Island of Anglesey.

They journeyed on to Harlech and spent seven years with the goddess Rhiannon and her magical singing birds. The warriors then travelled to the magical Island of Gwales in Pembrokeshire. They remained on the magical island in a dream-like state for another eighty years

Bran's head possessed the ability to speak and was good company during the long trip to London.

The warriors finally reached Caer Lludd or modern-day London. They buried Bran's head on the site of the White Hill.

Bran's head was traditionally thought of as a talisman which protected Britain from a foreign invasion. Seven captive ravens are kept in the Tower of London because of the legend that Britain will fall if they fly away from the sacred place.

The magical ability of Bran's head to talk on its own symbolised the so-called “cult of the head” among the Celtic tribes in Britain, Ireland and Europe.

The Celts believed the soul was immortal and dwelt in the head of a human being. The soul continued to live in the head even when it was removed from the body. Heads were often taken as trophies by Celtic warriors during a battle and displayed with pride in a prominent place.

The importance of Bran's head represented the belief that the head was a talisman. It possessed the power of prophecy and fertility (meaning “regeneration”). It also reinforced the idea that Bran was a powerful god of prophecy.

Some historians believe Branwen was an earth goddess who represented the land meaning Britain. Bran relinquished the sovereignty of Britain to a foreign king, Matholowch. Bran also caused Britain to become defenceless when he gave the magical cauldron of rebirth to Matholwch.

Bran paid dearly for his errors of judgement because his sister, Branwen, committed suicide and he was mortally wounded. He redeemed himself to a certain extent as his severed head became a talisman of great power which protected Britain from invasion.

The name “Bran the Blessed”, or Bendigeid Vran, was another name Bran was commonly known by because he was the first king of Britain to introduce the Christian faith to the island.

Medieval legends described Bran "the Blessed King of Britain", “Bran the Blessed”, or Bendigeid Vran because he first brought Christianity to Britain.

Historical records said Bran and his family were taken by the Romans to Rome as hostages for his son, Caradawc. It was in Rome that Bran converted to Christianity and introduced the religion on his return to Britain. The approximate time is given as 58AD.

Bran was a major Celtic god in Britain as a god of prophecy and kingship. He was regarded as Britain's protector who willingly sacrificed himself to keep the island from invasion. His connection with ravens is still considered sacred even to this day because of the superstitions surrounding ravens in the Tower of London.