1. IRISH GODDESSES

2. Celtic Goddesses Continental Sphere of Influence Matronae
childbirth; fertility
Rosmerta
fertility
Epona
horse; war; fertility

3. Celtic Goddesses 1 Ireland Banba Fodla Eriu Amairgin encounters Banba
Continental
Irish
Sphere of Influence
Matronae
Eriu
fertility
Banba
Fodla
Ireland
Banba
Fodla
Eriu
Amairgin encounters Banba
Amairgin encounters Fodla
Amairgin names land after Eriu

4. Celtic Goddesses 2 Continental Irish Sphere of Influence Rosmerta
Ana/Danu
fertility; abundance
Boann
Brigit
fertility; abundance; healing

5. Celtic Goddesses 3 Continental Irish Sphere of Influence Epona
Macha (3)
horse; fertility; kingship
Badb
war; sexuality; kingship
Mórrígan (3)
Macha
Macha Badb Nemain Mórrígan Badb
Mórrígan

6. Machas 1 : Macha (“Meadow”)
(1) marries Nemed; gives name to Ard Macha (Armaugh)
(2) marries Cimbaeth; seduces and enslaves sons of rival claimant to throne
(3) marries Cruniuch; gives birth (and name) to Emain Macha (“Twins of Macha”); inflicts noínden on men of Ulaid
Macha
Macha Badb Nemain Mórrígan Badb
Mórrígan

7. Machas 2 : Badb (“Crow”) Machas 2 Badb black crow of battle
eel, wolf, red crow
pregnant hag (cailleach)
young bride (be find) with red ale of kingship
Macha
Macha Badb Nemain
Mórrígan Badb
Mórrígan

8. Machas 2 : Badb (“Crow”) Machas 2 Badb black crow of battle
eel, wolf, red crow
pregnant hag (cailleach)
young bride (be find) with red ale of kingship
cailleach (“Veiled One”)
• creation of mountains
• rules Samhain to Beltaine
• approaches young king-to-be for sex
• transforms into be find (beautiful woman) after sex
• confers kingship (flaith) with gold cup of red ale (laith)
• Sovereignty Goddess

9. Machas 3: Mórrígan (“Great Queen,” “Nightmare Queen”)
Nemain
Badb
magically causes battlefield panic
marries wargod Neit
eel, wolf, crow
perches above the dead or dying
pregnant hag (cailleach)
young bride (be find)
mates with Dagda at Samhain
Washer at Ford (bean nighe )

10. Washer at the Ford (Scot. bean nighe ~ O.Ir. bean sídh)
The Dagda mates with the Mórrígan, goddess of fertility and war, as she straddles a stream. She gives him
advice on how to conduct the war,
and later destroys the Fomorian king.

11. The Washer at the Ford (bean nighe / bean sídh / Welsh Gwrach-y-Rhibyn)
• spirit of woman who died in childbirth • ugly hag (one nostril, one tooth, sagging breasts) • washes grave-clothes/armor of those about to die • bean sídh  banshee • prophesies upcoming deaths

12. Celtic Goddesses & Tripartite Society
CLASS
DEITY
ATTRIBUTE
king/priest
Macha
Mórrígan
Badb
horse-race at Emain Macha
multiple royal husbands
be find with red ale
warrior
Nemain
battlefield frenzy and panic
theriomorphic appearances (crow)
Washer at the Ford (bean nighe)
producer
ritual mating with Dagda
multiple husbands/horse form
sheela-na-gig (cailleach)  be find (beauty)

13. Sheela-na-gig • < Sighle-na-gigh (“old cunt hag”?)
• territorial / war / sovereignty /
fertility / sexuality goddess ?
• positioning over doorways and
other entrances
• possible apotropaic function
• pan-European extension (not
limited to insular Celts)

15. A Quiz
____ Fir Bholg A. terraforming and ale-brewing ____ Tuatha De Danann B. misshapen creatures ____ Partholonians C. defeated by Tuatha De Danann ____ Milesians D. last wave of invaders ____ Fomhoire E. relocate underground

16. C Fir Bholg A. terraforming and ale-brewing E Tuatha De Danann B
C Fir Bholg A. terraforming and ale-brewing E Tuatha De Danann B. misshapen creatures A Partholonians C. defeated by Tuatha De Danann D Milesians D. last wave of invaders B Fomhoire E. relocate underground

17. Another Quiz
____ bean sidh A. seduces king-to-be ____ cailleach B. washes armor before battle ____ be find C. red ale ____ laith D. confers kingship ____ bean nighe E. forecasts death

18. E bean sidh A. seduces king-to-be A cailleach B
E bean sidh A. seduces king-to-be A cailleach B. washes armor before battle D be find C. red ale C laith D. confers kingship B bean nighe E. forecasts death

19. Ériu / Dagda / Mórrígan / Nuadu / Badb / Macha / Rosmerta / Epona / Lugh / Sucellus / Dian Cecht
gae assail _________________ bean nighe _________________ be find _________________ paired with Mercury _________________ silver arm _________________ cailleach _________________ crow _________________ multiple husbands _________________ horses and war _________________ flaith/laith _________________ mating with the Dagda _________________ liá fail _________________ Ireland _________________ cauldron _________________ races while pregnant _________________

20. Ériu / Dagda / Mórrígan / Nuadu / Badb / Macha / Rosmerta / Epona / Lugh / Sucellus / Dian Cecht
gae assail Lugh bean nighe Mórrígan be find Badb paired with Mercury Rosmerta silver arm Nuadu cailleach Badb crow Badb multiple husbands Macha horses and war Epona flaith/laith Badb mating with the Dagda Mórrígan liá fail Nuadu Ireland Éeriu cauldron Dagda races while pregnant Macha