The Guises of the Morrigan: The Irish Goddess of Sex & Battle

Description

The Morr�gan is the pre-eminent and most powerful of the Celtic Goddesses. She is a Goddess of sex and battle, the Irish Bestower of Sovereignty, and it is she who shapes the land and rules the fairy as Queen. Her raw power manifests through the Irish myths and legends, a prophetess and shapeshifter who uses her potent magic to shapeshift, assuming the forms of numerous wild animals and delivering victory to her chosen heroes. Her manifold roles, titles and guises weave a rich and colourful tapestry showing the continued dominion of the Morrigan in mythology, folklore and literature. She was the tutelary goddess to the ill-fated hero Cu Chulainn, she was the Fairy Queen and the Washer at the Ford. She was also the wise crone the Cailleach, and the battle crow Badb, the frenzied Nemain and Warrior Queen Macha. Her roles and guises which are brought together for the first time in this carefully researched volume, the work of many years of study, demonstrate clearly the significant status that she held in the ancient Celtic world and continues to enjoy today. EPIGRAPH Copyright Dedication ABOUT THE AUTHORS INTRODUCTION 1. THE MORRÍGAN IN CELTIC MYTHOLOGY 2. MORRÍGAN 3. WISE CRONE: TALES OF THE CAILLEACH 4. THE QUEEN OF BATTLE 5. THE EARTH GODDESS 6. THE FAERY QUEEN 7. LIMINAL GODDESS 8. LADY OF THE BEASTS 9. THE BESTOWER OF SOVEREIGNTY 10. THE LOVER 11. THE WITCH GODDESS 12. THE WASHER AT THE FORD 13. THE PROPHETESS 14. MORGAN LE FAY AND THE ARTHURIAN MYTHS 15. OTHER MANIFESTATIONS OF THE MORRÍGAN APPENDICES I) FROM CAILLEACH TO SHEELA-NA-GIG? II) A POSSIBLE LACNUNGA REFERENCE III) THE MORRÍGAN IV) CELTIC RAVEN BIBLIOGRAPHY END NOTES: