1. CELTIC
MYTHOLOGY
WEEKS 3-4
ENG 107 / CC ENG 2

2. CELTIC MYTHOLOGY
•More localized unlike Greek,
Roman and Egyptian myths
•With 400 Celtic gods and
goddesses (many are
recognized by small cults)

3. DIVISIONS OF CELTIC
MYTHOLOGY:
1.Gaulish mythology
2.Irish Mythology
3.Scottish Mythology

4. GAUL
A vast area of Europe where France, Belgium,
Switzerland and some surrounding areas are now
located

5. Gaulish Mythology
• Begins as an early Celtic Mythology
• Eventually merges with Roman
polytheism
• One of the areas of French Mythology
• Gauls did not write about their own
religion, so much of what is known about
their mythology is found in Latin works
from Roman authors.

6. Irish Mythology
• Was a part of the religion of
the Irish before Christianity
took hold
• Was later preserved to some
extent in storytelling

7. Map of Ireland

8. Mythological Origins of
the Irish Race

9. Divisions of Irish
Mythology
1.Mythological Cycle
2.Ulster Cycle
3.Fenian Cycle
4.Historical Cycles

10. 1. Mythological Cycle
• Least intact
• Describes the state of Irish mythology
• Consists of numerous prose tales and
poems found in medieval manuscripts:
1. Lebor Gabala Erenn
2. Annals of the Four Masters
3. Seathrun Ceitinn’s History of Ireland

11. 2. Ulster Cycle
• Takes place as Christianity is taking hold in
Ireland
• Describes heroes rather than gods and
goddesses
• Deals with the lives of Conchobar mac Nessa,
king of Ulster, the great hero Cuchulainn, and
of their friends, lovers and enemies
• Stories are written mainly in prose
• Centerpiece is TAIN BO CUAILNGE (Cattle Raid
of Cooley)

12. 3. Fenian Cycle
• A body of prose and verse centering on
the exploits of the mythical hero Fionn
mac Cumhaill and his warriors, the
Fianna
• Also known as the Fianna Cycle, Fionn
Cycle, Finn Cycle and Ossianic Cycle

13. 4. Historical Cycles
• Also known as the Cycles of Kings
• A body of Old and Middle Irish
literature
• Contain stories of the legendary
kings of Ireland

14. Court Poets or Medieval Irish Bards
• Record the history of the family and the
genealogy of the king they served
• Did in poems that blended the
mythological and the historical to a
greater or lesser degree
• Resulted to the Historical Cycles

15. Greatest Glory of the
Cycle:
Buile Shuibhne
(The Frenzy of Sweeney)
12th century

16. IRISH
GODDESSES

17. Scottish Mythology
• Myths have emerged for
various purposes throughout
the history of Scotland.

18. Map of Scotland

19. Scottish Origins
• Several were created during the
Historical Period
• One was adapted from the 10th
century Latin life of St. Cathroe of
Metz

20. Hebridian Myths and Legends
1. Water spirits
• Kelpies
• Blue Men of the Minch
• Seonaidh
• Merpeople
• Water Monsters
2. Wulvers
3. Will-o-the-Wisp
4. Fairies
5. Changeling

21. Kelpies
• Occupy several
lochs
• In the form of a
horse
• Takes people for
food

22. Blue Men of the Minch
• Also known as storm kelpies
• Occupy the stretch of water between
Lewis and Mainland Scotland
• Looks for sailors to drown and
stricken boats to sink

23. Seonaidh
•A water spirit who
had to be offered ale

24. Merpeople
• Creature of half man and
half fish
• Claimed that a
mermaid’s grave is in
Benbecula
• Accounts stated that the
upper part of the
creature was the size of
an infant, while the
bottom was like a
salmon.

25. Loch Monsters
• Resembles a capsized
boat
• Has been reported
swimming for one and a
half centuries
• Locals say lambs were
once offered annually to
the creature.

26. Will-o-the-wisp
• Have been reported in the areas of
Sandwick
• Lights that float around the area
normally announce approaching death of
a local
• Some say that light belongs to an Irish
merchant who was robbed and
murdered on the island.

27. Fairies
• Beautiful
winged
creatures
• Known to
have magical
powers

28. Wulvers
• Descendants
of werewolves
• Promised to
rise if their
graves were
disturbed

29. Changeling
• Typically described as
being the offspring of a
fairy, troll elf or other
legendary creature that
has been secretly left in
the place of a human child
• Sometimes the term is
also used to refer to the
child who was taken.

30. Fir Bolg
• First established kingship and a
system of justice in Ireland
• Represent a genuine historical
people

31. Tuatha De Danaan
• “Peoples of the Goddess Danu”
• Defeated the Fir Bolg King,
Eochaid mac Eirc, in the First
Battle of Magh Tuiredh

32. Dindshenchas
• Another source of mythological
tradition
• “Lore of places”
• Poems and prose tales recounting
traditions of the origins of place-
names and events and personages
associated with those places

33. Conaire Mor
• “The Great Son”
• Son of Eterscel, the High King of Ireland
• Reign is long and peaceful
• Belonged to the legendary Clanna Dedad,
the legendary royal family of the Erainn
• Last king in the direct male line from
Conaire Mor was Alexander III of
Scotland.

34. Celtic Myths and
Legends