Celtic Mythology and Legends

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Celtic Mythology is another general all-encompasing term that actually covers many different areas. Celtic mythology is the mythology of Celtic polytheism, apparently the religion of the Iron Age Celts. Most of what we consider Celitc Mythology today, came after the Vikings left Ireland, but the origins of Celtic Mythology are far older than that. Many Celtic Myths of today are from the areas of Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Cornwall, and France. As you read through this area of the website and the other mythologies, you will notice that many gods and godddesses and their attributes overlap and contribute to one another. Celtic Mythology has its roots based in ancient religion and you will see that impact throughout this website.

Though the Celtic world at its greatest extent covered much of western and central Europe, it was not politically unified nor was there any substantial central source of cultural influence or homogeneity; as a result, there was a great deal of variation in local practices of Celtic religion (although certain motifs—for example, the god Lugh—appear to have diffused throughout the Celtic world). Inscriptions to more than three hundred deities, often equated with their Roman counterparts, have survived, but of these most appear to have been genii locorum, local or tribal gods, and few were widely worshipped. However, from what has survived of Celtic mythology, it is possible to discern commonalities which hint at a more unified pantheon than is often given credit. The nature and functions of these ancient gods can be deduced from their names, the location of their inscriptions, their iconography, the Roman gods they are equated with, and similar figures from later bodies of Celtic mythology.

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Camulos was the god of the Remi, a Belgic tribe of the region. He was possibly worshipped as a war god in the town of Camulodunum.

Associated: Mars, Jupiter, Epona, Arduinna, Mercury, Hercules, Mithras, Rosmerta

Weapon: Invincible Sword

Other Names: Camulos of the Invincible Sword, Camulus

Cult Locations: Bar Hill, Dunbartonshire; Croy Hill; Colchester, Essex; Almondbury, Yorkshire; Castle Greg, West Lothian, Scotland

Depiction: Coinage discovered shows a ram-horned diety with a mix of the attributes of Jupiter and Egyptian Ammon.

[PerseH ~Staff Wrangler~]

Excellent thank you.

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Goddess of love and fertility; also known as the Fairy Queen of Munster. She encouraged human love, but was of course opposed to rape and the forceful nature of love. Aine was also known as a goddess of fertility in that she had control and command over crops and animals. She was known to have made a magical vow to never sleep with a man of grey hair. She was able to hold this vow even after her sister strove to sabotoge her by way of her lover Fionnis.

Other Names: Aine Marina, Aine of Knockaine

Father: Eogalail

Husband: Gerald Earl of Desmond

Lover: King Aillel Olim, Fionnis

Children: Geroid Iarla

Siblings: Miluchrach

Festivals: Midsummer's Eve

Planets: Sun, Moon

Animals: Red Mare, Rabbit, Swan

Element: Air

Direction: Northwest

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Aoifa was a mighty warrior trained in the arts by her sister Scathach. She became the lover of Cuchulainn after he tricked her into believing her chariot was in trouble. Cuchulainn won the battle and Aoifa had to become his lover. They grow to have a child and a life together. Cuchulainn decided that he could not stay with Aoifa and told her to send him his son when he was of age. Word later reaches Aoifa that Cuchulainn has married Emer, and decides that as revenge she will train his son to later kill his father. Her son is unable to ever give his name or lineage and later is killed by Cuchulainn because of this.

Other Names: Aoife, Aife

Father: Ard-Greimne

Mother: Warrior Princess

Siblings: Scathach

Children: Conlai

Lover: Cuchulainn

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Bran was a famous hero from the myths of the sea. On a voyage Bran found a magic silver branch with white flowers. A singing woman managed to captivate Bran and his men, thereby stealing the branch. Bran's travels then began with a crew of 27 men. They first encountered Manannan Mac Lir who told them of everything that awaited them. The boat and crew later emerged at the Isle of Meriment (causing eternal laughter) and later the Isle of Women. The women managed to get the boat to shore and lavished the men for years. This is very similar to what happened to Odysseus and his crew in the Odyssey. When they left they were warned not to step on soil, else they turn into ash. Bran sought his home to be find those he knew, but found none who knew him. Thus deciding to set sail again.

Father: Febal

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Cuchulainn was a hero and king of Ulster. It is said that he was born of a virgin, and later died and was reborn both father and son.

Wife: Aoifa

Children: Conlai

Siblings: Conall

Lovers: Beathnat

Other Names: Cuchulain, Cu Chulainn, Cuchulinn

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Amaethon was a god of agriculture. He was the cause of the Battle of Trees (Cad Goddeu) because of the theft of a hound, deer, and bird from the underworld. His borther aided in this battle by turning trees into warriors. Amaethon's Irish counterpart would be the Dagda.

Mother: Don

Siblings: Gwydion, Govannon

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Arawn was the ruler of the otherworld of Annwn. He even gave his title to his friend Pwyll to try for a short period. They agreed to switch bodies for a year so Pwyll could kill Arawn's enemy Havgan. This had to be done in one single blow because a second would revive him to life

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Arianrhod was the supposidly pure goddess who immediatly gave birth to children upon her test of purity. Her brother immediately took care of the children.

Other Names: Arianrod

Mother: Don

Uncle: Math

Children: Dylan, Lleu

Siblings: Gwydion

Children: Dylan, Lleu

Siblings: Gwydion

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Bran was a very strong and imposing character with magical powers. He owned a magical cauldron which would restore the dead to life (although unable to speak). He was killed when a poison arrow struck his foot.

Father: Llyr

Mother: Penarddun

Siblings: Branwen, Efnisien (half), Manawydan

Other Names: Bran the Blessed

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King Matholuoch came to Branwen's brother Bran's court and it was decided that she would marry him. After a while Matholuoch decided that Branwen wasn't good enough and should work in the kitchens. Over three years she reared a stag and taught it to cross the sea and deliver a note to her brother. Her brother Bran later returned with an army to rescue her.

Father: Llyr

Siblings: Bran, Manawydam, Efnisien

Children: Gwern

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Goddess of fertility and inspiration. She created a cauldron of inspiration to give her son Afagddu superior knowledge and wisdom. Ceridwen's cauldron came with three muses, and helped her to be associated with the field of language, poetry, and letters. She is often associated with being a triple goddess (Boann and Brighid) and as the Lady of the Lake.

Husband: Tegid the Bald

Children: Afagddu, Morfan, Taliesin/Gwion Bach (father Gwion)

Animal: Boar

Other Names: Cerridwen, Caridwen

Magical Item: Cauldron of Knowledge

Literature: Taliesin, or the Bards and Druids of Britain