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Celtic and Irish Mythology. It’s not all leprechauns and fairies…. The Celts. Who were the Celts?. Although they are most normally associated with Ireland, at their most powerful the Celts controlled vast areas ranging from Turkey all the way to Ireland.
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Celtic and Irish Mythology It’s not all leprechauns and fairies…
Who were the Celts? • Although they are most normally associated with Ireland, at their most powerful the Celts controlled vast areas ranging from Turkey all the way to Ireland. A nomadic tribe of warriors whose appearance in Europe dates back to at least 800 BC.
The Celts • Herodotus (a classical Greek writer) described the Celts in the following way: • Light skin, hair, and eyes • Boastful, proud, overly vain, but demonic in battle • Childlike, ostentatious, but hospitable • Fond of hunting, feasting, music, poetry, glittering jewels and bright colors. The Celts are referenced by Roman historians as well as in Greek mythology.
What happened to them? • Their free-spiritedness was no match for the Roman Empire though. • The Celts were driven back to the westernmost parts of Europe, on the Irish Sea. With their energy and warlike temperament, the Celts were able to spread quickly through Europe.
Why Ireland? • Therefore, the Celtic Irish culture stayed mostly the same until the arrival of Christianity. Due to it’s western location, Ireland, unlike Britain where they were driven back by various invaders, was relatively isolated and stayed free from Roman colonization.
The Celtic Nations • There were other areas that managed to hold on to their Celtic heritage. • Ireland • Isle of Man • Scotland • Brittany, France • Wales • Cornwall, England Ireland was not the only place where the Celts flourished.
Celtic Mythology • While there are some stories and characteristics that carry over from one location to the next, there are also distinctly different stories. • Some of the most famous Celtic myths are: • Beowulf • Morte D’Arthur (the stories of King Arthur) Celtic mythology is made up of varied stories from the different Celtic nations.
So we’ll start with… Ireland!
Ireland • To understand Irish mythology, a basic knowledge of geography is necessary. • Ireland is located in west of Britain, with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Irish Sea on the other. The Celtic culture infused itself with the already existing Irish culture to produce what we see today.
Irish Geography • Leinster (east coast) • Munster (south coast) • Connaught (northwest coast) • Ulster (north coast) • Meath (comprised parts of both Leinster and Ulster, was later incorporated) Although the island is now divided up into two separate countries (Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland), it was originally 5 different provinces.
Important Cities & Sites • Now only a field, it was the ancient seat of the high kings of Ireland. • In the center is the Lia Fail, or “Stone of Destiny” Tara (“Temair” in Gaelic) – originally located in the province of Meath, now a part of Leinster.
Important Cities & Sites • It is 500 years older than the pyramids in Giza and 1000 years older than Stonehenge (according to carbon dating). • It figures very importantly in Irish mythology, even though it dates before the Celts arrived. • Every year on the winter solstice (shortest day of the year), the sun rises and shines directly down the tunnel and illuminates the chamber floor. Newgrange (Sí an Bhrú in Gaelic) – one of the most famous prehistoric monuments in the world. It is visible from the hill at Tara.
Important Cities & Sites • The capital of Ulster, where the king of that province lived. • It is named after the goddess, Macha. • Dates to 95 BC and has similar architecture to Tara. Navan Fort (Eamhain Macha) – believed to be an ancient ritual or ceremonial site. Located in Armagh, Northern Ireland (Ulster province).
Irish Mythology • No one knows for sure what this civilization was like, and when the Celts arrived for sure is uncertain. A portion of Irish mythology actually pre-dates the arrival of the Celts.
Irish Mythology • The Mythological Cycle • The Ulster Cycle • The Fenian Cycle • The Historical Cycle • We will be focusing on the first three cycles. There are four different cycles of Irish myth:
Irish Mythology • No real hierarchy of gods • Gods are less specifically drawn, no distinct physical description is given. • The Irish didn’t have a Homer or a Hesiod or a Herodotus to write their stories. • Their stories are less romantic and more battle-oriented. Irish mythology differs from Greek mythology in a lot of ways:
The Irish Gods • Different gods had importance with different regions and clans. • Important gods: Ériu, The Dagda, The Morrigan, Lugh, Brigid There was no real “king” of the gods.
Irish Heroes Each cycle has its own distinctive hero. These heroes have a multitude of different stories about them. Most of the mythology deals with mortals, not gods.
Irish Calendar • Imbolc – February 1, First day of Spring (now St. Brigid’s Day) • Beltane – May 1, First day of Summer (now May Day) • Lughnasa – August 1, Beginning of the Harvest (still celebrated) • Samhain – November 1, End of the Harvest/Festival of the Dead (had a direct influence on how our Halloween) • The Irish calendar was based around the four different festivals celebrated during the year.
