The Morrígan — the Goddess of War in Celtic Mythology

The Morrígan

The Morrígan is the goddess of war in Celtic mythology. Her name translates as "Great Queen of Ravens." She was depicted as a warlike woman in armor, spear in hand. During battles, she would take the side of one army, encouraging the warriors and aiding them with magic, though she never took part in the fighting herself. Her war cry was said to be so loud and terrifying that it sounded as though ten thousand warriors were screaming at once.

The Morrígan in the form of a raven

Beyond her warlike form, the Morrígan could take on other appearances as well. She might come to a war-leader as a beautiful woman in a green gown to seduce him, or appear before warriors to inspire them. She could disguise herself as an old woman, or transform entirely into a she-wolf, an eel, or a cow. But the form in which she appears most often, and with which she is most closely associated, is the black raven. It is in honor of this bird that the goddess received her name.

The mysterious beauty Morrígan

The Morrígan is often a central figure in myths, where she takes the side of one party in a conflict. In the guise of a mysterious beauty, she appears before Nuada, king of the Tuatha Dé Danann, and shares his bed. On the eve of another battle, she comes to Dagda, and later encourages the Tuatha during the fighting, lifting their fighting spirit.

The Morrígan in myth

But she is most often mentioned in the tales of Cúchulainn. She first comes to him as a young, dark-haired maiden, offering him her love and aid in war, but he refuses her offer, which enrages the goddess terribly. The maiden vanishes, and ravens appear in her place. Cúchulainn then realizes exactly whom he has refused. Later, the Morrígan seeks revenge, and during battle, in the form of an eel, tangles his legs. But Cúchulainn manages to wound the goddess several times, forcing her to retreat. To heal her wounds, she disguises herself as a crippled old woman milking a cow with three udders. When Cúchulainn passes by, she offers him a drink of milk, and with each sip he takes, and each word of thanks he gives for the offering, one of her injuries disappears.

Interesting fact

The Morrígan is identified with four goddesses of war, each considered one of her aspects. The first is the Morrígan herself, the Great Queen of Ravens; the second, Badb, the frenzied one; the third, Nemain, the venomous one; and the fourth, Fea, the malicious one.

The Morrígan, warrior goddess

The cult of the Morrígan was accompanied by bloody rites and magical rituals, but despite this, she was also associated with sexuality and fertility. Beyond this, she is credited with the gift of prophecy, said to help foretell before a battle who would emerge victorious.

The Morrígan — the Goddess of War in Celtic Mythology

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