Celtic Goddesses

The myths of the Celtic Goddesses span a large area of Western and Central Europe. It was in these places that the Iron age Celtic speaking tribes settled. After numerous conflicts the Celtic people were mainly confined to Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall and Brittany, their influence here was reduced even further by the Romans and Christianization.

These ancient peoples, although originally united by language were not politically unified and had no centralised religion. Over time even the languages developed distinct regional variations. These factors lead to numerous regional Celtic Goddesses with similar areas of influence but a variety of different spellings. I have attempted to include the most recognized spellings of the Celtic Goddess names in the list below.

Unfortunately as in many areas of the world, the story-telling tradition of the Celts was an oral one. Many of the myths were lost as the worship of the Goddesses was forbidden under the new religion.

In Britain much of the remaining information of the Celtic Goddesses is surmised from archeological evidence and later accounts by Classical Roman and Greek Historians.

Celtic myths on the continent survived only through the works of French writers.

The Goddess myths of Ireland and Wales were better preserved. The church's influence did not extend into Ireland until much later and it was actually due to the work of monastic scholars that the first myths were translated in the twelfth century. More stories were added in the sixteen and seventeen hundreds.

The main source of our knowledge of Welsh myths comes from a collection of stories known as the Mabinogion and legends of Taliesin.

We can sadly conclude that a wealth of information of the Celtic Goddesses has been lost or altered to reflect the times and the influence of foreign invaders. Even now in the schools of my homeland our mythology is silenced in favor of the Greek and Roman Gods and Goddesses.

The myths that have survived show Goddesses that reflect the powers of nature and the needs of the people. They also reflect a belief in the powers of magic and transformation.

List Of Celtic Goddesses

Aerten: (Welsh) is the Goddess of Fate.

Aine: (Irish) Goddess of love, growth, and cattle and light.

Airmid: (Irish) Healing Goddess with a knowledge of medicinal plants.

Arianrhod: (Welch) Goddess of the moon and stars, her silver represents karma, the Wheel of the Year and the web of fate.

Arnemetia: (British) A River Goddess who was worshipped at the Buxton Spring.

Artio: (Gaulish) Celtic Bear Goddess. She was associated with abundance, strength and the harvest.

Aveta: (Gaulish) Goddess of fertility, childbirth and midwives, also linked to fresh water.

Badb: (Irish) A shape shifting warrior Goddess who symbolized the cycles of life and death, wisdom and inspiration.

Belisama: ( Gaulish and British) She was Goddess of the elements of both fire and water associated with lakes and rivers, fire, light and domestic crafts.

Blodeuedd: (Welsh) Goddess of Spring, she was created from flowers. She is also known as Bloddueuth.

Branwen: (Welch) Goddess of love and beauty.

Brigantia: (British) Tribal Goddess of the Brigantes in Northern England.

Brigit: (Irish) A fire Deity and midwife and protector of woman and children. She also ruled over agriculture, healing, divination, occult knowledge, poetry, prophecy and metal work. Other spellings of her name include : Brid, Brig, Brigid, Brighid and Brigindo.

Cailleach Bheur: (Scotish) The hag and destroyer Goddess who presided over disease, death, wisdom, seasonal rites and weather magic.

Caireen: (Irish) A protective Mother Goddess, who looks after of children.

Cally Berry: (Irish) A maiden Goddess, who represents spring, she is the guardian of animals and the hunt. She was also linked to weather magic.

Camma: (Gaulish)) A hunting goddess.

Ceridwen: (Welch ) She was Goddess of moon, magic, agriculture, nature, poetry, music, art, science and astrology. She was also keeper of the cauldron

Coventina: ( Romano-British) Goddess of wells and springs and life cycles. Like many other river deities, she also represented abundance, inspiration, and prophecy

Danu: (Irish) Irish Mother Goddess associated who fertility, prosperity, comfort, health and light. She may originally have been a sun Deity.

Damara: (British) A fertility goddess who was celebrated in May at the festival of Beltaine.

Don: (Welch) Goddess of Heavens, Air and Sea. She was also mother of the Goddess Arianrhod.

Epona: (British, Gaulish) A protector of horses, donkeys, and mules. She was also linked with fertility.

Habondia: (Britain) Goddess of the harvest, abundance and prosperity. She was also known as Abondia, Abunciada, Habonde

Macha: (Irish) linked to fertility and pregnancy, agriculture, justice, war and death.

Modron: (Welsh) Mother Goddess associated with Autumn, the harvest and fertility. She was also responsible for magic and ritual.

Morrigan: The Crow Goddess associated with war and death on the battlefield. She is queen of phantoms, demons,shape-shifters and patroness of priestesses and Witches.

Nehalennia: (Gaulish) A dog Goddess who was the patron deity of sea traders, as she provided them with protection on the water.

Olwen: (Welsh) Her name means "the golden wheel"; she was the Goddess of sunlight.

Rhiannon: (Welsh) This Goddess is associated with horses, birds and the sea. This Deity also signifies travel and fertility.

Scathach: (Scottish): A warrior Goddess and prophetess who taught martial arts healing and protection. She was also known as Scota, Scatha, Scath, Scathach Scathach Buanand, Skatha. Her name means she who strikes fear.

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