3. Get some background information on the Celts and
there Gods
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYXLnrHOWzo
4. Taranis-The Thunder
The sky god
Similar to roman god Jupiter
Also a god of war but is a fair god
Wheel of Taranis-Represents the suns rays as well as
it’s movement, represents the sun and its deities
including Taranis.
5. Articles on Taranis: Learn more about the god!
http://balkancelts.wordpress.com/2012/08/20/taranis-the-thunder-god/
http://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Taranis.html
http://www.muinmound.org/nlarchive/taranis.html
6. She was said to be the daughter of Manannan, some
said she was the morrigan herself. There was a stone,
Cathair Aine, belonging to her and if anyone sat on
the stone, they would be in danger of losing their
wits, sit three times and they would lose them forever.
Aine was very revengeful, and it was not safe thing to
offend her. She was the goddess of light, love, and
fertility.
9. Irish. The god of the underworld, life and death. He
is regarded as the ancestor of the Irish. His consort is
the Goddess Danu. Bile is the father of Mil. Legend
has it that he arrived on May 1 with his son and
grandsons at the river Kenmare and drove the Tuatha
de Danann to the underworld. Upon their arrival they
met three goddesses who embodied Ireland. They
made the invaders promise that they name the island
after one of the goddesses, and they chose Eriu. Thus,
Eire, Eyre, and Eiriu are the Irish names for Ireland.
He is also known as Bel, Belenus, and the Welsh god
Beli.
11. Belenus-Also god of light, associated with healing Belanus was called upon during battle to insure victory. A battle was
a warriors “Shinning” moment, so Belenus was revered
Lugh- also god of skills and talents, helpful in battle
Attributes: carpenter, mason, poet, Druid, physician, and
goldsmith
Father of the hero Cuchulain
14. Horned god
The Horned One" is a Celtic god of fertility, life,
animals, wealth, and the underworld. He was
worshipped all over Gaul, and his cult spread into
Britain as well. Cernunnos is depicted with the antlers
of a stag, sometimes carries a purse filled with coin.
The Horned God is born at the winter solstice,
marries the goddess at Beltane, and dies at the
summer solstice. He alternates with the goddess of
the moon in ruling over life and death, continuing the
cycle of death, rebirth and reincarnation.
(http://www.pantheon.org/articles/c/cernunnos.html
)
16. Horse and fertility goddess
Called to honor equinox ceremonies;
As an Earth goddess, she is hailed for her grounding
nature, particularly needed during times of crisis or
flux in life.
Serves as the guardian of new life.
Welcomes safe arrival of new babies as well as new
crops.
18. Cuchulain:
Son of the god Lugh. Was a fearless warrior who when
in battle his eyes glow red and he roars which terrifies
his opponent. His spear in invincible.
Hero of the Ulster Cycle: Ulster is at war with Queen
Maeve of Connaught after she steels there finest
creature, the Brown bull of Cooley. Killed many of the
enemy but sadly died in battle.
19. Finn
The Fenian Cycle: Warrior, hunter, and prophet
Followers: Called Fian
Original name: Demhne. Name was changed to Finn after he
accidently gained knowledge after he burned his thumb wall
cooking the Salmon of Knowledge for his teacher (a poet and druid
named Finn). He burned his thumb when touching the cooked fish,
by butting his thumb in his mouth he gained knowledge.
The stories of Finn and his followers are a source of
wisdom
Read More:
http://www.timelessmyths.com/celtic/ossian.html#OldMen
20. Philosophers, teachers, counselors, and magicians
Priestly class-did not have to fight in wars or pay taxes
Though, there are many benefits of becoming a druid, it is still not an
easy life. It may take over 20 years to learn the philosophy, divination,
poetry, healing, religious rites and magic. And all this without
committing anything to writing. The druids were fully aware of
writing down their knowledge, but chose not to do so, because they
preferred to rely on memories. For the druids, their pupils were
required to exercise their mind.
21. The Arthurian Legends happened
at the same time as Celtic Mythology
King Arthur: The king of Camelot, son of Uther
Pendragon. Married to Guinevere. “The once and future
king.” Guinevere cheated on Arthur with his knight and
close friend Lancelot. This leads to Arthurs destruction
and tears him apart. Arthur also fights his son Mordred
who is trying to kill him for his throne. Mordred dies and
Arthur is near death. Goes to Avalon for a long sleep to
heal. It is said that when England is in dire need of a great
leader he will return from Avalon
22. Queen Guinevere: Wife of Arthur,
lover of Lancelot
Lancelot: Arthur’s close friend and Knight, betrays him by
having an affair with his wife. Leads to the destruction of
Arthur.
Merlin: A Wizard, Prophet, and Arthur’s Mentor
Mordred: Son of Arthur, Tries to kill his father for his
throne
Other Knights Of The Round Table: Galahad (pure of
heart, found Holy Grail), Percival (Naïve, Went on quest to
find the Holy Grail), Bors, Gawain, Pellinore
“Lady of the Lake”- Mystrious character,
gave Arthur the magical sword Excalibur
25. Timeless Myths. Celtic Mythology.
http://www.timelessmyths.com/celtic/druids.html#B
ackground
Carr-Gomm, Philip. The Order of Bards Ovates &
Druids. What is a Druid?
http://www.druidry.org/druid-way/whatdruidry/what-druidism/what-druid
FatherOaks’ Druidism. Celtic gods, goddesses, and
Mythology.
http://www.fatheroak.com/Celtic_Gods.html
Smart, Anthony E. Encyclopedia Mythica.
Cernunnos.
http://www.pantheon.org/articles/c/cernunnos.html
26. Gill, N.S. Ancient/Classical History. Celtic Gods and
Goddesses.
http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/celtsmyth/tp/010
209celticgods.htm
Draeconin’s Background Designs. A Short Celtic God
List. http://draeconin.com/database/godlist.htm
Wilkinson, Philip. Myths & Legends: An Illustrated
Guide To Their Origins and Meanings. 2011.
