Celtic Mythology and

Irish Folklore

By Amanda Stafford

Celtic Mythology•Aegnus: God of love, young and handsome, is said to have four birds fly around his head and anyone who heard them were inspired with love• Aeval: Fairy Queen of Munster, held a court at night to see if husbands were satisfying their wives or not•Arawn: God of the dead and the underworld•Badb: Goddess of war, takes the form of a raven where she is known as Badb Catha

Celtic Mythology•Danu: Mother of the Gods, earth goddess•Epona: Horse goddess, accompanied the sould on its final journey•Gwydion: God of magic, enchantment and illusion•Gwynn ap Nudd: Welsh god of the underworld, is said to have taken Creiddylad when she eloped with his rival•Macha: Goddess of war, cunning, and death•Morrigan: Goddess of battle, strife and fertility, name translates to either “Great Queen” or “Phantom Queen”

Celtic Mythology•Ogma: God of eloquence and learning•Scathach: Goddess of healing, magic, martial arts and prophecy, also called “the shadowy one”•White Lady: Goddess of death and destruction,

Irish Folklore•Fairies: Originally, fairies gave gifts such as beauty, wealth and kindness to newborn children. Their roles stay basically the same as time went on and they meddled in other human affairs. Fairies are rarely seen by humans, other than a few exceptions, such as when they use their powers. The fairies are ruled by Queen Tatiana and her consort Prince Oberon.

Arthurian LegendAccording to legend, Arthur was a boy who pulled the sword from the stone and became king (this sword was not Excalibur, that was given to him later by the Lady of the Lake). As king, he and his Knights of the Round Table went on many quests, both as one group and on separate missions. Their most famous quest was the search for the Sangraal, or Holy Grail. Arthur’s nemesis was Morgan le Fay, his half sister and a sorceress, and one of his most trusted allies was Merlin the magician. Arthur bore a son with Morgan when she enchanted him; his name was Mordred, and he was rasied as an enemy of Arthur. Mordred killed Arthur in battle. Arthur’s body was taken to Avalon and Excalibur was returned to the Lady of the Lake.

Arthurian Legend

Works Citedhttp://www.pantheon.org/areas/mythology/europe/celtic/

http://www.pantheon.org/areas/folklore/

http://www.arthurian-legend.com/le-mort-darthur.php