BCM - Celtic Mythology Background Lesson
Celtic Mythology
Celtic Mythology is the mythology of Celtic polytheism, apparently the religion of the Iron Age Celts. Like other Iron Age Europeans, the early Celts maintained a polytheistic mythology and religious structure. Among Celts in close contact with Ancient Rome, such as the Gauls and Celtiberians, their mythology did not survive the Roman empire, their subsequent conversion to Christianity, and the loss of their Celtic languages. It is mostly through contemporary Roman and Christian sources that their mythology has been preserved. The Celtic peoples who maintained either their political or linguistic identities (such as the Gaels, Picts, and Brythonic tribes of Great Britain and Ireland) left vestigial remnants of their ancestral mythologies, put into written form during the Middle Ages.
Keep in mind that Celtic mythology may overlap in places with British mythology, as they are from the same area. Ireland and Wales have a few characters that are found more specifically in those regions. Take a look at the information below to learn more about these unique figures.
The Dagda
The Dagda was the figure after which male humans and other gods were based due to his embodiment of the ideal Irish traits. Celtic gods were also considered to be a clan due to their lack of specialization and unknown origins. Irish tales depict the Dagda as a figure of power, armed with a spear.
The Morrigan
She was believed to be the battle goddess. She had three parts, divided into the Nemhain, Macha, and Badb. Each of her parts represented a different area of combat.
Cailleach Bheur
Cailleach Bheur is a divine hag, a creator deity, and possibly an ancestral deity or deified ancestor. The word Cailleach means 'hag' in modern Scottish Gaelic, and has been applied to numerous mythological figures in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man. In Scotland, where she is also known as Beira, Queen of Winter, she is credited with making numerous mountains and large hills, which are said to have been formed when she was striding across the land and accidentally dropped rocks from her apron. In other cases she is said to have built the mountains intentionally, to serve as her stepping-stones. She carries a hammer for shaping the hills and valleys, and is said to be the mother of all the goddesses and gods.
Celtic Myth Podshow
Click here to listen to the Celtic Myth Podshow Links to an external site.
This is the Samhain Holiday Special featuring 6 wonderful pieces of music, a fantastic section of the Celtic novel for Young Adults, "Rowan of the Wood" and an in-depth study on the Celtic Hag Goddess, the Cailleach. We are also very proud to bring you a world exclusive preview of a track from Damh the Bard's new album, Tales From The Crowman.
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