The Ancient Irish Goddess of War

By Hennessey, WM

Book Id: WPLBN0003467054
Format Type: PDF eBook :
File Size:
Reproduction Date: 2014

Title:	The Ancient Irish Goddess of War
Author:	Hennessey, WM
Volume:	Vol. 1
Language:	English
Subject:	Sacred Texts, Ireland, Celtic
Collections:	Sacred Texts
Historic Publication Date:	1870
Publisher:	Internet Sacred Text Archive (ISTA)


Citation APA MLA Chicago Wm, H. (1870). The Ancient Irish Goddess of War. Retrieved from http://gutenberg.cc/

Description
Description: The Morrígan is usually interpreted as a war goddess: W.M. Hennessey's The Ancient Irish Goddess of War, written in 1870, was influential in establishing this interpretation. The Morrígan (terror or phantom queen) or Mórrígan (great queen) (aka Morrígu, Morríghan, Mor-Ríoghain) is a figure from Irish mythology who appears to have once been a goddess, although she is not explicitly referred to as such in the texts. She is usually seen as a terrifying figure. She is associated with war and death on the battlefield, sometime appearing in the form of a carrion crow, premonitions of doom, and with cattle. She is often considered a war deity comparable with the Germanic Valkyries, although her association with cattle also suggests a role connected with fertility and the land. She is often interpreted as a triple goddess, although membership of the triad varies: the most common combination is the Morrígan, the Badb and Macha, but sometimes includes Nemain, Fea, Anann and others.