Celtic Mythology

Gundestrup Cauldron

Cernunnos on Gundestrup Cauldron

Cernunnos
Known in Celtic Mythology as "The Horned One" 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. In Celtic mythology, Cernunnos is depicted with the antlers of a stag and is often with a purse filled with coins.
Along with the Goddess of the Moon, He rules over life and death, continuing the cycle of death, rebirth and reincarnation.
Cernunnos was depicted on the Gundestrup Cauldron, a bronze vessel created around 120 BC, found in a bog in Denmark.
Paleolithic cave paintings found in France depict a stag standing upright or a man dressed in stag costume, suggesting that Cernunnos originated in the most ancient times. Romans sometimes portrayed him with three cranes flying above his head.
In Celtic Mythology, Cernunnos (or Herne, as he is also known) is the the Lord, the consort of the Lady, and not even remotely a symbol of evil. The horned Gods of fertility are not in any way associated with Satan or devils. The only thing they seem to share in common is that they are depicted with horns. The fertility Gods of Celtic Mythology actually have far more in common with stags and goats.

Arawan is the God of the Otherworld in Celtic Mythology. Arawan is a magickal wizard weilding the spells of Avalanches, Tremors, and spells of protection to turn skin to stone,steel and diamond. In the Celtic Mythology of Wales, the Otherworld was named Anwn and ruled by Arawan, its lord. He hunts in the Forest of the Night accompanied by his Otherworldly red-eared hounds of the Underworld. Definately one of the more spooky figures of Celtic Mythology.

EPONA
Derived from Gaulish epos meaning "horse". This was the name of the Celtic Goddess of horses. Her power extended into the Otherworld and afterlife of Celtic Mythology, guiding the soul on its final journey. She was worshipped in Gaul, and throughout the Celtic lands and even into Rome. Her cult was adopted by the Roman cavalry. She was the only Celtic Goddess worshipped by Romans with a temple in their capital. In Celtic Mythology, she was is a Goddess of horses, asses, mules, oxen, springs and rivers.
In Celtic Mythology, Epona is depicted sitting side saddle, lying on a horse, or standing with many horses around her. Her symbol is the Cornucopia ("horn of plenty") which suggests that she could have been a fertility Goddess of Celtic mythology, as well. She is also identified with the Irish Celtic Goddesses Edain and Macha.

Ceridwen
is a witch-Goddess of Celtic mytholog and mother of the bard Taliesin. In the Celtic Mythology of Wales, Ceridwen had an ugly son, Afagddu ("ugly"), whom she wished to make wise. She brewed a magical liquid and had her kitchen boy, Gwion tend it for a year and a day. Three drops spurted from the boiling cauldron, burning his finger. He instinctively put his finger in his mouth, instantly acquiring all the wisdom from the potion. Ceridwen was furious that he had stolen the magic meant for her son so she pursued him: first she became a greyhound and he a hare, then she an otter and he a fish, then she a hawk and he a rabbit. Finally, she became a hen and he a grain of corn, and she ate him. She became pregnant with him and he was born nine months later, a boy of astounding grace and beauty whom she named Taliesin. He grew to be the greatest of Welsh Bards.

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