Image from Google Images

(ancient-origins.net)
In the Beginning...
● There are many myths, but
this one is the most popular.
● According to this myth, in the
beginning, there was no time,
no gods or humans.
● There was the Sea and where
the sea met the land, a mare
named Eiocha was born from
sea-foam

Image: Education
Scotland
The First God
● Eiocha ate the
seeds/berries from a
nearby Oak Tree to stay
alive.
● These seeds became a
child.
● She birthed Cernunnos,
and in the process, created
the Giants.
Image: Google
Images
More Gods
● Cernunnos was lonely so
he ‘coupled’ with Eiocha to
make: Maponos, Tauranis,
and Teutates, and the
goddess, Epona.

Image: Google
Images
Tethra: Goddess of the Sea
● Eiocha got tired of the
land because she was
from the sea.
● She returned to The
Sea and became Tethra
(or Tethys); Goddess of
The Deep.

Image: Google Images

First Man and Woman
● The Gods became lonely
because they had no one to
command rule over and they
had no worshippers.
● They made Man and Woman
from the wood of the Oak
Tree.
● (The Green Man is an ancient
mystery that appears all over
the world)

Image: Google Images

First Animals
● Cernunnos used the Oak ● Epona made the horse in
Tree to create animals. remembrance of Eiocha.
● Cernunnos was God of
Animals and made the deer,
and the hound, the boar and
the raven, & the hare and
the snake.
● Commanded the Tree to
make a forest for them to
live in.
(Google
Images +
Blogspot)
The Gods and The Tree
● Teutates (God of War) used
limbs from the tree to
fashion a bow, arrows, and
a club.
● Tauranis used the tree to
make thunderbolts made
from fire and noise.
● Maponos used the tree to
make a Harp instead of a
weapon. Images:
Google
Images
Giant Betrayal
● The giants grew jealous
that the Gods had people
to worship them and
wanted some of their own.
● The plotted against them,
planning to overflow the
land and take it under the
sea

image from: Google Images

Giant Battle
● Tethra heard about the
Giants plans from the deep
and warned her children.
● The Gods took refuge in
the Oak Tree and attacked
them with Thunderbolts,
the sky, and arrows.

Image from Google Images

The Battle is Won
● The Gods
overwhelmed the
Giants but could not
destroy them
● The Giants returned to
the sea where they
faced Tethra, but some
escaped.

Image from Google Images

The Aftermath
● The Gods repaired the
land, the sky, and the sea.
● They rescued one man and
one woman from the
battle who would become
the ancestors of the
humans.
● The Gods returned to the
Oak Tree

Image from Google Images

New Gods
● The pieces of sky that
Maponos ripped down
mingled with the sea and
created new gods
● Belanus, Danu, Lir,
Manannan, Branwen, Bran,
Dagda, Nuadha of the
Silver Hand, Dienceght,
Goihbhio, Morrigan, and
Brighid Image From marvel comic (Google
Image)
Celtic Gods and Goddess
• Belenus (Apollo Belenus)
• God of agriculture
• Associated with the healing
power of the sun (and so
comparable to Apollo)
• Beltane was a festival in his
honor on May 1 where great
bonfires were used to re-warm
the earth
Cernunnos (read as Kur-noo-nohs)
• The “horned one” - has
stag antlers
• Lord of the beasts
• God of fertility and
abundance
• Found on ancient Paleolithic
cave paintings
• Shape shifter (could turn
into a snake or a wolf)
Epona
• Horse goddess
• Father mated with a horse (hated
women)
• The Romans held a festival in her
honor on December 18th. She is
the only Celtic deity to be
accorded this honor by the
Romans
• Often shown riding side saddle or
standing between two ponies
• It is possible that Epona was
really the horse and that the
person pictured to the right is just
a rider.
Nantosuelta
• “wandering river”
• Probably a fertility goddess
(water heavily associated
with childbirth)
• Patron of hearth and home
• Consort of Sucellus
• Usually seen carrying a
basket of apples
Sucellus
• King of the gods
• Fertility god
• Name means “good striker” (if
you’re dying, he’ll come and end
your suffering by hitting you with
his hammer)
• Usually shown carrying a long
handled hammer which he uses
to wake up the plants for
springtime and a pot o’ potatoes
(spuds, taters)
Taranis
• Thunder god
• Rides the sky in a chariot –
wheels make thunder and
lightning comes from the
sparks of his horses’ hooves
• A war god as well
• Had human sacrifices made
to hima
 Irish

Irish Celtic Gods and Goddess

• TUATHA-DE-DANANN
• These gods were worshipped by
the Irish and written down at a
later time. Since the Romans did
not take Ireland, their mythology
was able to continued unabated
long after Europe’s was squashed.
• The Tuatha eventually get beaten
by the current race of Celts and
they become fairies and “the
little people”
Brigid
• “exalted one”
• Fertility and war goddess
• Her tasks are: healing, fire,
blacksmiths, poetry, wisdom, and
protecting flocks
• Her feast day was Feb. 2nd and
called Candlemas
• She was “borrowed” by Christian
missionaries and made into St.
Bridet (she prayed for ugliness to
help her stay pure
Daghda
• Known as the “good god”
• “father of the gods” – not so much
like Zeus, but fat, kind, and a bit
unmannered
• Wears a tunic way too short for him
• Has a magic club that he uses to kill
with one end and heal with the other
• God of magic, wisdom, and life and death
• A provider (he has a never empty
cauldron)
• He secured Ireland’s protection by holding
hands with Morrigan
Danu
• Mother of Daghda and
entire race of the Tuatha
• Possibility even the
daughter of Daghda – (don’t
ask me how)
• Finds places for the gods to
go when they were
defeated
Lugh (loo)
• Shining God
• Related to both the Tuatha and
the Fomorians (rival giants)
• His evil grandfather threw him
into the sea, but he was saved
and raised by a sea god
• Has a sword that cuts through
anything and a spear that
guarantees victory
• Father of Cu Chulainn
• His name became leprechaun
Morrigan (more-ree-an)
• The Phantom Queen
• Goddess of horses and war
• Shape shifter (can turn into
animals) – when in raven
form, death is nearby
• Stands near rivers and
washes corpses (sometimes
known as “washer of the
ford”)
• Cu Chulainn rejects her
advances
Nuada
• Supreme king of the Irish
Celts
• Loses his arm in battle and
must give up his kingship
(no deformities allowed in
kings)
• Makes a silver arm to regain
throne
• Eventually loses courage
and gives throne to Lugh
Belenus (also Belenos, Belinus, Bel, Beli Mawr)
• sun god from Celtic Mythology and, in
the third century, the patron deity of
the Italian city of Aquileia. Called the
"Fair Shining One" (or "The Shining
God"), he was one of the most ancient
and most-widely worshiped Celtic
deities and is associated with the
ancient fire festival and modern Sabbat
Beltane
Danu (modern Irish Dana)
• hypothetical mother
goddess of the Tuatha De
Danann (Old Irish: "The
peoples of the goddess
Danu"). Though primarily
seen as an ancestral figure,
some Victorian sources also
associate her with the land
Lir
• The Children of Lir is an Iris legend.
The original Irish title is Clann
Liror Leanaí Lir], but Lir is the genitative
case of Lear. Lir is more often used as
the name of the character in English.
The legend is part of the
Irish Mythological Cycle, which consists
of numerous prose tales and poems
found in medieval manuscripts, but
originally part of a strong oral story
telling tradition.
Manannán mac Lir
• son of the sea
• He is affiliated with both
the Tuatha Dé Danann and
the Fomorians. In the tales,
he is said to own a boat
named Scuabtuinne ("Wav
e Sweeper")
Branwen, Daughter of Llŷr
• is a major character in the Second
Branch of the Mabinogi, which is
sometimes called the "Mabinogi of
Branwen" after her.
• Branwen is a daughter
of Llŷr and Penarddun. She is
married to the King of Ireland (
Matholwch ), but the marriage
does not bring peace.
 Nuada or Nuadu (modern spelling: Nuadha), known by the
epithet Airgetlám (modern spelling: Airgeadlámh, meaning "silver hand/arm")

• was the first king of the Tuatha

Dé Danann. He is cognate with
the Gaulish and Britishgod Noden
s. His Welsh equivalent is Nudd
or Lludd Llaw Eraint.
Dienceght
• Dienceght- also written
Dien Cecht, Irish god of
healing.
 The Harp of the Dagda (Major myth)
When the fairy race of the Tuatha dé Danann arrived in Ireland, they came like a mist across the waters,
bringing with them magical gifts. These were the lia fail – the coronation stone, the spear of Lugh, the sword of Nuada, and the
great cauldron of the Dagda, which was said to be able to restore life.The Dagda himself was known as the Good God and he was
chief of the gods at this time. Besides his cauldron, he had a harp which was battle-scarred and made of oak. It was covered in rich
decorations including a double-headed fish which ran up and down the curved pillar and had jewels for its eyes. Although he had a
harper, Uaithne, he could also play it himself.The Dagda had this harp with him always – he even took it into battle. So it was, that
after the second Battle of Mag Tuiread, or Moytura, the Dagda discovered that his harp, together with his harper, had been captured
by the Formorians and taken with them in their flight. Angered beyond measure, he set out with his son Aengus Og to reclaim it.
Stealthily they approached the Formorian camp. Soon they could hear the sounds of the feasting hall in which Bres, the Formorian
king, was dining. Approaching the doorway, they could just make out through the smoke and candle-flame the outline of the old
harp hanging on the wall. Then the Dagda entered boldly and summoned his harp with this chant:

Come Daurdabla, apple-sweet murmurer

Come, Coir-cethair-chuir, four-angled frame of harmony,
Come summer, come winter,
Out of the mouths of harps and bags and pipes!

Immediately the old harp flew to his hand across the hall, killing nine men as it came. A shocked hush fell on
the company. In the silence the Dagda laid his hands on the strings and unleashed the Three Noble Strains of Ireland that he had
bound into his harp. First he played the goltrai, or strain of weeping, so that all present began to mourn and lament their defeat.
Then he played the geantrai, the strain of merriment, so that the company turned to laughter and drunken foolery. Lastly he played
the suantrai, or sleep-strain, whereupon the warriors fell into a profound slumber. After this the Dagda and Aengus Og left the camp
as quietly as they had come, taking Uaithne and the harp with them.
References
Eva. Celtic Creation Story. Sept. 6,2004. History
Archive. 2 Sept. 2014
Celtic Creation Myth. Education Scotland. 2 Sept.
2014
Wigington, Patti. The Green Man, Spirit of the
Forest. About Religion. 2 Sept. 2014
QUIZ
1. Who is the Irish god of healing?
a. Dienceght c. Branwen
b. Nuada d. Taranis

2. He was the first king of the Tuatha Dé Danann. He is cognate

with the Gaulish and Britishgod Nodens.
a. Branwen c. Taranis
b. Nuada d. Deinceght
3. She is the daughter of Llŷr and Penarddun. She is married to
the King of Ireland ( Matholwch ), but the marriage does not
bring peace.
a. Danu c. Branwen
b. Lir d. Taranis
4. This god is affiliated with both the Tuatha Dé Danann and
the Fomorians. In the tales, he is said to own a boat
named Scuabtuinne ("Wave Sweeper") and also named as son of
the sea.
a. Dienceght c. Branwen
b. Nuada d. Manannán mac Lir
5. She is the hypothetical mother goddess of the Tuatha De
Danann (Old Irish: "The peoples of the goddess"). Though
primarily seen as an ancestral figure, some Victorian sources also
associate her with the land.
a. Danu c. Belenus
b. Lir d. Bel
6. He is named as the sun god from Celtic Mythology and, in the third century, the
patron deity of the Italian city of Aquileia..
a. Lear c. Sabbat Beltane
b. Beli Mawr d. Aquileia
7. Who is the supreme king of the Irish Celts?
a. Danu c. Nuada
b. Lugh d. Bel
8. Who is the Phantom Queen, goddess of horses; and war in the Celtic
Mythology?
a. Brigid c. Lir
b. Bel d. Morrigan
9. Who is the Shining God related to both the Tuatha and the Fomorians (rival
giants)?
a. Lugh c. Brigid
b. Sabbat Beltane d. Aquileia
10. She is the mother of Daghda and finds places for the gods to go
when they were defeated.
a. Lear c. Sabbat Beltane
b. Danu d. Aquileia
11. Who is the supreme king of the Irish Celts?
a. Danu c. Nuada
b. Lugh d. Bel
12. She is the Horse goddess and her father mated with a horse
(hated women).
a. Brigid c. Lir
b. Bel d. Epona
13. Who is the Lord of the beasts?
a. Cernunnos c. Brigid
b. Sabbat Beltane d. Aquileia
14. She is a mare and mare named was born from sea-foam.
a. Lear c. Sabbat Beltane
b. Eiocha d. Aquileia
15. What fruit did Eiocha eat to make her stay alive and became a
child?
a. Apple c. Berries
b. Grapes d. Star Apple
16. At first, he was so lonely so he ‘coupled’ with Eiocha to make:
Maponos, Tauranis, and Teutates, and the goddess, Epona.
a. Brigid c. Lir
b. Bel d. Cernunnos
17. Who is the Goddess of The Deep?
a. Tethra c. Brigid
b. Sabbat Beltane d. Aquileia
 18. It is an ancient mystery that appears all over the world?
a. Lear c. Sabbat Beltane
b. Green Man d. Aquileia
19. In Celtic Mythology, the gods created man and woman from?
a. an Apple c. the wood of An Oak Tree
b. an ash d. a lava
20. Who made the horse in remembrance of Eiocha?
a. Brigid c. Lir
b. Bel d. Epona
21. The pieces of sky that Maponos ripped down mingled with the
sea and created new _______?
a. gods c. City
b. weapon d. Kingdom
 22. Who is the God of fertility and abundance?
a. Lear c. Sabbat Beltane
b. Cernunnos d. Aquileia
23. Who is the Patron of hearth and home?
a. Tethys c. Nantosuelta
b. Epona d. Hercules
24. His name means “good striker” (if you’re dying, he’ll come and
end your suffering by hitting you with his hammer)?
a. Brigid c. Lir
b. Bel d. Sucellus
25. He had human sacrifices made to hima?
a. Taranis c. Agamemnon
b. King Lear d. Epona
ANSWER KEY
1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D
5. A
6. B
7. C
8. D
9. A
10. B
11. C
12. D
13. A
14. B
15. C
16. D
17. A
18. B
19. C
20. D
21. A
22. B
23. C
24. D
25. A