Ancient Celtic Mythology

May God grant you always...

Celtic Blessing (fife.50megs.com)

The ancient Celts believed in hundreds of gods and goddesses. Some of them
were half-gods and some were humans that became gods because of their close contact with the
underworld. Celtic gods were often tied to one particular place such as a town or a spring, yet
many of them shared similar characteristics. Their names could be spelled differently but they
were worshipped for the same reasons. The Celts had an oral religious culture, which is why
much about the Celtic religion remains a mystery to us today. Below are some of the most
important gods which we know a lot about through stories written down by Roman observers
and Irish monks, or through the images that were found in Celtic art.
BRIGANTIA was the goddess of victory and healing. She ruled over sacred sources and
medicinal waters like the ones in Bath, England. She was often portrayed with a crown, wings,
spear and shield.
CAMULOS was a god of war, worshipped widely across the Celtic world. In Ireland his name
was Cumal and the word ‘cumal’ in old Irish means ‘warrior’ or ‘champion.’
CERNUNNOS means "horned one." Cernunnos was a very important Celtic god, often
connected to death and the underworld, as well as to fertility. He was also the lord of the animals
and portrayed with horns on his head, a long mustache and sideburns.
DAGHDA was the ‘good god’ who symbolized plenty and rebirth. His two most important
attributes were a large club, of which one end could kill while the other end could give life, and
an enormous cauldron that could never be emptied.
DANU was the mother goddess. From her sprang the waters that formed the river Danube. Out
of this water grew an oak tree from which all the Celtic gods came into the world.
EPONA was the horse goddess and was always portrayed on or around horses, and sometimes
with a dish full of corn, baskets of fruit, a dog, and a key. She was connected to fertility, healing,
death and rebirth. In Wales she is called Rhiannon.
ÉRIU was the Celtic goddess that gave Ireland its name. She would offer each new and mortal
king of Ireland a golden goblet filled with red wine, as a symbol of his bond with the country as
well as the prosperity he could bring.
LUGH was the most important of all Celtic gods, known to Celts across Europe. Lugh is also
known as “the radiant one.” He is the god of light and a Celtic summer festival is named after
him: Lughnasad. Lugh was a war hero, a magician and a master craftsman. Many European
towns still show traces of him through their names:Lyon, Leiden, Leignitz.
MATRES DOMESTICAE were three Celtic Mother goddesses, normally worshipped in a triad.
The Latin word Matres mean "mothers." They were often portrayed in art, particularly sculpture,
usually as three seated women, wearing long robes and accompanied by various symbolic
objects. Their symbols included cereal crops, bread, fruit, and other symbols of plenty as well as
babies and children.
MORRIGÁN was one of the Celtic goddesses of war who could appear on the battlefield in the
shape of a raven. This meant death was near. At the same time she was symbolic of fertility.
NANTOSUELTA (NANTOSVELTA) was a goddess of nature, valleys and streams. Her
symbol, the raven, suggests that she may be associated with Irish war-goddess Morrigan.
NUADU was the king of the Tuatha Dé’, children of Danu. He lost his arm in a battle but
another god made him a new one made of silver. His name can also mean ‘cloud maker,’
indicating that he was also a weather god.
OGMIA (SUN FACE) was a hero god, who had gold chains that hung from his tongue and
attached to the ears of his followers. He is the patron god of scholars and eloquence. Ogmia
invented the runic language of the Druids. He is represented as an old man, with a bald head, and
dressed in a lion skin.
SUCELLUS was a Celtic hammer god usually portrayed as an older bearded man with a long-
handled hammer. He was the guardian of forests and the patron of agriculture and is often shown
with the goddess Nanotsuelta.Sucellus and Nanosuelta are often accompanied by other symbols
such as barrels, pots, dogs and ravens. That’s why we believe that they were associated with
beneficence, domesticity and prosperity. The hammer may denote
a connection with thunder, rain and fertility.
TARANIS was the god of thunder, worshipped by Celts under different names across the
Continent and the British Isles.(www.distanttrain.com)
The Tuatha de Danann, the people of the Goddess Danu, were one of the great
ancient tribes of Ireland. The important manuscript 'The Annals of the Four Masters', records that
they ruled Ireland from 1897 B.C. to 1700 B.C.
The arrival of the tribe in Ireland is the stuff of legend. They landed at the Connaught coastline
and emerged from a great mist. It is speculated that they burned their boats to ensure that they
settled down in their new land. The rulers of Ireland at the time were the Fir Bolg, led by Eochid
son of Erc, who was, needless to say, unhappy about the new arrivals.

A poem in the Lebor Gabála Érenn says of their arrival:

It is God who suffered them, though He restrained them

(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

The Tuatha de Danann won the inevitable battle with the Fir Bolg but, out of respect for the
manner in which they had fought, they allowed the Fir Bolg to remain in Connaught while the
victors ruled the rest of Ireland.
The new rulers of Ireland were a civilised and cultured people. The new skills and
traditions that they introduced into Ireland were held in high regard by the peoples they
conquered. They had four great treasures (or talismans) that demonstrated their skills. The first
was the 'Stone of Fal' which would scream when a true King of Ireland stood on it. It was later
placed on the Hill of Tara, the seat of the High-Kings of Ireland. The second was the 'Magic
Sword of Nuadha', which was capable of inflicting only mortal blows when used. The third was
the 'sling-shot of the Sun God Lugh', famed for its accuracy when used. The final treasure was
the 'Cauldron of Daghda' from which an endless supply of food issued.
 The original leader of the Tuatha was Nuada but, having lost an arm in battle it
was decreed that he could not rightly be king. That honour went to Breas, a tribesman of
Fomorian descent. His seven year rule was not a happy one however, and he was ousted by his
people who had become disenchanted with hunger and dissent. Nuada was installed as King,
resplendent with his replacement arm made from silver.
Breas raised an army of Fomorians based in the Hebrides and they battled with
Nuada at Moytura in County Sligo. The Tuatha again prevailed and the power of the Fomorians
was broken forever. The victory had cost the Tuatha their King as Nuadha had died in the battle.
A hero of the conflict named Lugh was instated as the new King of Ireland.
The grandsons of the next King, Daghda, ruled during the invasion by the mighty Melesians. The
Tuatha de Danann were defeated and consigned to mythology. Legend has it that they were
allowed to stay in Ireland, but only underground. Thus they became the bearers of the fairies of
Ireland, consigned to the underworld where they became known as 'Aes sidhe' (the people of the
mound - fairy mounds).
The Melesians used the name of one of the Tuatha de Danann gods, Eriu, as the
name of their new kingdom. Eriu or Eire is still used in modern times as the name of Ireland.