Many of the deities in Celtic mythology were influenced by the pantheons of other groups that invaded the British Isles. No one left any information about the Celtic gods, so much of what we know comes from the writings of Julius Caesar and his contemporaries, as well as from Christian monks who arrived later.
Image gallery of Celtic gods
Celtic gods
Celtic deities were generally connected to various aspects of daily life, such as domestic and work tasks, and elements of the natural world, such as streams, trees, or hills. Are you wondering about some of the most important deities of the ancient Celtic world?
Although the Celts consisted of societies throughout the British Isles and parts of Europe, some of their gods and goddesses have become part of modern pagan practice. Here are some of the Celtic gods honored by ancient Celtic myths.
1.- Brighid
Daughter of the Dagda, Brighid is one of the classic triple goddesses of the Celtic pantheon. Many pagans honor her today as a goddess of the home, divination, and prophecy . She is often associated with the Imbolc sabbat, as well as fire, domesticity, and family life.
Brighid was the patron of poets and bards, as well as healers and magicians. She was especially honored when it came to matters of prophecy and divination. She is depicted as a woman with red hair and a crown of flowers looking down.
2.- Cailleach
Cailleach is known in some parts of the Celtic world as the witch, the bringer of storms, the dark mother of the winter months. However, she has a prominent place in mythology and is not only a destroyer but also a creator goddess. According to the Scottish-Gaelic Etymological Dictionary, the word cailleach means “veiled” or “old woman.”
In some stories, she appears to a hero as a hideous old woman, and when he is kind to her, she turns into a lovely young woman who rewards him for his good deeds. In other stories, she turns into a giant gray rock at the end of winter and remains that way until Beltane, when she comes back to life.
3.- Cernunnos
Cernunnos is the horned god found in many modern Pagan and Wiccan traditions. He is an archetype found predominantly in Celtic regions, symbolizing fertility and masculine energy.
Often celebrated around the Beltane sabbat, Cernunnos is associated with the forest, the greening of the earth, and wild deer. He is a god of vegetation and trees in his green man aspect, and a god of lust and fertility when connected to Pan, the Greek satyr. In some traditions, he is seen as a god of death and the afterlife, and he takes the time to comfort the dead by singing to them on their way to the spiritual world.
4.- Cerridwen
She is known in Welsh mythology as the guardian of the Cauldron of the Underworld, where knowledge and inspiration are brewed. She is considered a goddess of prophetic powers, and because her symbol is the Cauldron, she is a goddess honored in many Wiccan and Pagan traditions.
5.- The Dagda
The Dagda was a father god in the Celtic pantheon and plays an important role in the stories of the Irish invasions. He was the leader of the Tuatha de Danaan and a god of fertility and knowledge. His name means “the good god.” In addition to his powerful club, the Dagda also possessed a large cauldron.
The cauldron was magical in the sense that it had an endless supply of food in it—it was said that the ladle was so large that two men could lie in it. The Dagda is typically portrayed as a plump man with a large phallus, representative of his status as a god of abundance.
6.- Herne
In British tradition, Herne the Hunter is a god of vegetation, the vine, and wild game. Similar in many ways to Cernunnos, Herne is celebrated in the autumn months, when the stags come into rut. He is seen as a god of the common people, and is typically recognized only around the area of Windsor Forest in Berkshire, England.
7.- Lugh
Lugh is the Celtic god honored for his skills and gifts as a craftsman. He is the god of blacksmiths, metalworkers, and craftsmen. In his aspect as a harvest god, he is honored on August 1, at the festival known as Lughnasadh or Lammas.
Lugh is associated with craftsmanship and skill, particularly in endeavors involving creativity. Although not specifically a god of war, Lugh was known as a skilled warrior.
His weapons included a powerful magical spear, which was so bloodthirsty that it often tried to fight without its owner. According to Irish myth, in battle, the spear flashed fire and pierced through enemy ranks uncontrollably.
8.- The Morrigan
The Morrigan is known as a Celtic goddess of war, but there is much more to her than that. She is associated with legitimate royalty and the sovereignty of the land. She often appears in the form of a crow or raven, or is seen accompanied by a group of them.
In the stories of the Ulster cycle, she is also shown as a cow and a wolf. The connection with these two animals suggests that in some areas, she may have been connected to fertility and the earth.
9.- Rhiannon
In the Welsh mythological cycle, the Mabinogion, Rhiannon is known as a horse goddess. However, she also plays a crucial role in the reign of Wales. The horse features prominently in much of Welsh and Irish mythology.
Many parts of the Celtic world, particularly Gaul, used horses in warfare, so it is not surprising that these animals appear in myths and legends in Ireland and Wales.
10.- Taliesin
Although Taliesin is a historical figure documented in Welsh history, he has risen to the status of a minor god. His mythologized story has elevated him to the status of a minor deity, and he appears in the tales of everyone from King Arthur to Bran the Blessed.
Today, many modern pagans honor Taliesin as the patron saint of bards and poets, as he is known as the greatest of all poets.
11.- Aonghus
Aonghus, also known as Angus, Aengus, or Oengus of Bruig, is believed to be the god of love and youth. He is associated with the Boyne River valley. His story is that he searched all of Ireland for a beautiful maiden.
Aonghus finally found Caer, who was with 150 other maidens destined to become swans on November 1, the feast of Samhain. Aonghus transformed himself into a swan so he could join Caer, who followed him to her palace on the River Boyne, now Newgrange.
12.- Danu
Danu is best known as the matriarch of the powerful Irish family of gods, the Tuatha de Danaan (People of the Goddess Danu). Some point to Dagda as her father, one of the most revered Celtic gods.
13.- Arawn
He is the Celtic god of the underworld of the dead. His most famous story involves him switching places with Pwyll for a year and a day to challenge Hafgan, Arawn’s rival for ownership of the underworld. During the time they were switched, Pwyll defeated Hafgan and was rewarded with pigs.
14.- Abandinus
One of the Celtic gods, known as the ‘Defender of the Waters’, not much is known about the Celtic god Abandino, except for an inscription on a bronze votive offering found in Cambridgeshire, England, which read “To the god Abandino, Vatiaucus gave this from his own money.”
Conclusion
The stories of Celtic mythology are rich in folklore characters, including Celtic gods. We hope that our description of each of the gods has helped you learn a little more about the best of Celtic myths and beliefs. Keep in mind that Celtic mythology offers a rich history of the origins of Ireland long ago, with fascinating details and surprising associations.
