What was the Celtic afterlife?
Irish Celts imagined the afterlife as either being underground or as islands in the sea where there was no sickness, old age or death and happiness lasted forever. Celtic Druids not only acted as priests in Celtic society, but they were also teachers and judges, offering advice and helping to settle disputes.
Who is the god of the Otherworld?
ArawnArawn is a God that yields darkness, strikes fear, and fashions a smouldering cloak. The Celtic God of Death has origins in Welsh mythology. He is the ruler of the realm of Annwn, known as the Otherworld or the Underworld.
What is the Celtic equivalent of Valhalla?
It is the Irish equivalent of the Greek Elysium or the Valhalla of the Norse. Legends say its ruler is the Fomorian King Tethra, or more frequently Manannan mac Lir. Mag Mell's allure extended from the pagan era to Christian times.
Who is the Celtic god of earth?
DanuDanu, also spelled Anu, or Dana, in Celtic religion, the earth-mother goddess or female principle, who was honoured under various names from eastern Europe to Ireland.
What was the Celtic version of heaven?
the otherworldAnswer and Explanation: Tír na nÓg is the otherworld or paradise believed to exist in Gaelic and Welsh mythology. It is also known as Tír na mBeo, which translates to the land of eternal youth. Other names include Mag Mell and Annwn.
Who is the Celtic god of darkness?
Samhain was known in Ireland as the “Lord of Darkness”. The Druid religion was practiced by ancient Celtic tribes that populated Ireland and parts of Europe. This religion worshipped Samhain, the Lord of Darkness. Some writings also speak of Samhain as the “Lord of the Dead”.
Who came first Celts or Vikings?
Who Were the Vikings and the Celts? The Vikings and Celts were two separate groups living in Europe. The Celts lived between approximately 600 BC and 43 AD (during the Iron Age), and the Viking age was between 800 AD and 1050 AD (during the Bronze Age).
Is Odin a Celtic?
Odin—also called Wodan, Woden, or Wotan—is one of the principal gods in Norse mythology.
Did the Celts believe in Odin?
The Irish did not believe in Norse gods, although some of the deities between the two ethnic groups appear to be similar.
Who is the most powerful Celtic god?
Lug was also known in Irish tradition as Samildánach (“Skilled in All the Arts”). The variety of his attributes and the extent to which his calendar festival Lugnasad on August 1 was celebrated in Celtic lands indicate that he was one of the most powerful and impressive of all the ancient Celtic deities.
Who is the oldest Celtic goddess?
DanuDanu is the most ancient of the Celtic gods. She was referred to as the mother of the Irish gods, which indicates that she was a mother goddess. In this guise she probably represented the earth and its fruitfulness.
Who is the Celtic god of protection?
The Dagda (Irish) – God of protection, knowledge, warriors. 'The Good God'. Eochaid Ollathair ('All Father'), Ruad Rofhessa ('Lord of Great Knowledge'). High King of the Tuatha Dé Danann.
Who is the Celtic god of thunder?
TaranisTaranis, (Celtic: “Thunderer”), powerful Celtic deity that was one of three mentioned by the Roman poet Lucan in the 1st century ad; the other two were Esus (“Lord”) and Teutates (“God of the People”).
Is Tir Na Nog Avalon?
Tír na nÓg is an island neighboring Avalon in the Otherworld. Both islands belong to the Kingdom of Avalon. The fairy isle is known as the home of the Tuatha de Danaan, the Celtic Gods, and of the fae people. Tír na nÓg corresponds to the territory of Ireland and Northern Ireland in the Earth realm.
What is cernunnos?
Cernunnos, (Celtic: “Horned One”) in Celtic religion, an archaic and powerful deity, widely worshipped as the “lord of wild things.” Cernunnos may have had a variety of names in different parts of the Celtic world, but his attributes were generally consistent.
Did the Irish believe in Valhalla?
The Irish did not believe in Norse gods, although some of the deities between the two ethnic groups appear to be similar. The similarities between Celtic and Nordic mythologies are most likely due to cultural exchange between the two groups.
What is the otherworld in Celtic mythology?
References. In Celtic mythology, the Otherworld is the realm of the deities and possibly also of the dead. In Gaelic and Brittonic mythology it is usually described as a supernatural realm of everlasting youth, beauty, health, abundance and joy. The Otherworld is usually elusive, but various mythical heroes visit it either through chance or ...
What is the otherworld called?
The Otherworld is usually called Annwn in Welsh mythology and Avalon in Arthurian legend. In Irish mythology it has several names, including Tír na nÓg, Mag Mell and Emain Ablach. In Irish myth there is also Tech Duinn, where the souls of the dead gather.
How did the Irish get to the Otherworld?
In some tales, the Otherworld is reached by going under the waters of pools, lakes, or the sea, or else by crossing the western sea.
What is the supernatural realm of the gods?
It is described as a supernatural realm where there is everlasting youth, beauty, health, abundance and joy, and where time moves differently. It is the dwelling place of the gods (the Tuatha Dé Danann) as well as certain heroes and ancestors. It was probably similar to the Elysium of Greek mythology and both may have a shared origin in ancient ...
What is the name of the fairy that dances around the chief fairy?
In Asturian mythology, there are many stories which describe human encounters with xanas, fairies which are dancing around a chief fairy, the Xana Mega , or the “Queen of Fairies”, known as xacia s in Galicia.
What is the Celtic Otherworld?
Celtic Mythology. The Celtic Otherworld is sometimes presented as the realm where their deities lived, or the place of their dead and sometimes both. Other stories tell of a magical paradise where people enjoyed eternal youth, good health and beauty, living in joy and abundance with all their needs satisfied.
What is the otherworld called in Welsh mythology?
In Welsh mythology the Otherworld is usually called Annwn or Annwfn, but Welsh tradition indicates there were different realms or regions within its bounds.
What are the three parts of the Celtic Otherworld?
Continental Celtic Otherworlds. On the European continent the Gauls divided the Otherworld into three parts; Albios, Bitu and Dubnos. Al bios was the upper world, heaven, or the white world. Bitu was the world of living beings, or the earthly world, while Dubnos was the underworld, lower world, dark world or hell.
What was the ship that carried the dead to the otherworld called?
Breton and Galician folklore still contains fragments of these beliefs. In Breton folklore, the ship that carried the dead to the Otherworld was called the Bag Noz.
What mythical beasts are there?
Mythical Beasts: The Griffin, the Legendary King of All Creatures. British Legends: King Lear and Cordelia – A Tale of Love and Foolishness. British Legends: Wild Edric, the Wild Hunt and the Bride from the Otherworld. British Legends: The Outlaws of Inglewood and the Feminine Influence.
What is the Otherworld?
T he concept of a magical, mysterious, “ Otherworld” has been a common component in many myths and legends of diverse human cultures all around the world throughout history. The ancient Celtic people also had their own ideas of this enigmatic and ethereal region. Their territories included Ireland, the United Kingdom and a swathe ...
Where can you get access to the otherworld?
There are also special places such as certain lakes, bogs, caves, burial mounds or hills where access to and from the Otherworld can be gained. Another idea is that the Otherworld exists in a different dimension alongside the earthly one as a kind of mirror-world.
What is the otherworld in Celtic literature?
When it comes to celtic literature, the ‘Otherworld’ is a common theme found throughout various genres of literature which represents a sort of ‘heaven-like’ place. In Celtic mythology the Otherworld is depicted as a supernatural world that provides abundance, joy, and everlasting youth and beauty. We typically see the Otherworld as being very elusive, but in Celtic literature some mythical heroes get the opportunity to visit the Otherworld, sometimes by invite from one of it’s inhabitants or just by a lucky chance.
What is the legend of the once and future king?
The Once and Future King, or King Arthur, is a legend that is, despite its age, known by all. Everyone has heard of King Arthur and his loyal knights that make up the Round Table, but the rest of the famous legend is less known. If asked about Arthur’s parentage or birthplace, most people would not know. How many people can name off Arthur’s knights? Everyone knows Arthur’s name, but the details are less defined. Arthurian legend has many parts, the first being how Arthur came into being, then the
What are the two concepts of the Faerie Queene?
From three different sources The Faerie Queene, The Mabinogion and Beowulf two concept, one from each Celtic and Scandinavian Mythologies can be seen. The first concept is from Scandinavian mythology and is that of the idea of redemption or dying well. The second is from Celtic mythology and is the use of the "Other" or "Other world". From the two stories, The Faerie Queene and The Mabi nogion, what would give the reader the greatest feeling of hope throughout them both would be the idea of comeuppance
Where Was the Celtic Otherworld?
Called Emain Ablach by the ancient Irish, the Otherworld was often said to be somewhere underground. What were the portals by which one could travel there? The mound tombs, or raths, was one method. One myth said that, to find the way to the Otherworld, you must hunt a particular kind of white stag. But this was no earthly beast. Glowing white, with red ears and a huge set of antlers, this buck was supernatural. If you hunt this stag, it would lead you to the underground tomb that was the doorway to the Otherworld.
Who is the Irish man who returns to the Otherworld?
But the trip often proved costly. The mythological Irish figure, Fionn Mac Comhaill, on his sojourns into the Otherworld, not only loses companions, he returns disfigured, with gray hair, and a burnt thumb.
Who is the Irish goddess of the river Boyne?
Bóann, the Irish goddess of the River Boyne, journeys to the Otherworld to bring back wisdom from the Well of Segais. But she pays for her seeking by leaving behind an arm and a leg. So beware, all ye mortals who dare enter this place. And again, we wonder what kind of place it really was.
Who is Mark the author of The Bonfires of Beltane?
Mark is the author of The Bonfires of Beltane, a novel of Christian historical fiction set in ancient, Celtic Ireland at the time of St. Patrick. To learn more about his book, follow the link above.
Did salmon bring the otherworld?
Some believed they did. And perhaps they brought with them the Otherworld’s power and knowledge. Salmon were thought to be wise creatures, and eating a salmon from a certain river or drinking water from certain streams might imbue one with special Otherworld knowledge.
What is the Otherworld?
In Irish mythology, the Otherworld was a supernatural realm free from hunger, pain, sickness and old age. But it wasn’t all sweetness and light; it had a dark side, too.
What happened in the otherworld?
So what exactly happened in the Otherworld? According to folklore, it was a peaceful, happy place with lots of feasting, music and contests. It was the dwelling place of the gods (the Tuatha Dé Danann or tribe of the goddess Danu) as well as certain heroes and important ancestors.
What is the Otherworld in the book Thirty-Two Words for Field?
It was a concept that connected people and their communities with the natural world, religious beliefs and important ancestors – all at the same time.
What was the ceantar in ancient Ireland?
At one time in ancient Ireland, he says, the ceantar (place or region; this world) was closely shadowed by the alltar. People accepted the existence of realities that they could not see; they even believed that some could pass through the thin veil between these worlds.
How many sites are there in the Gateway to Hell?
In addition to the Gateway to Hell, it contains 240 individual sites. These include burial mounds, ringforts, standing stones, earthworks, stone forts and a mound where Iron Age ceremonies took place. It was used for thousands of years, from around 3,200 BCE right up to medieval times.
Where is the red eye in the book of Cavan?
One tale tells of a man hunting near a lake in Cavan who was about to kill a hare until he noticed a huge red eye in the centre of its forehead. Realising it was a supernatural being, he watched as the hare dived into the lake and disappeared into the Otherworld.
Where did the Gaels go when they arrived in Ireland?
According to mythology, when the Gaels arrived in Ireland, the Tuatha Dé Dannan retreated underground into the burial mounds. There they remained, with each god assigned a different mound to inhabit.
Irish Mythology
- In Irish mythology, the Otherworld has various names. Names of the Otherworld, or places within it, include Tír nAill (“the other land”), Tír Tairngire (“land of promise/promised land”), Tír na nÓg(“land of the young/land of youth”), Tír fo Thuinn (“land under the wave”), Tír na mBeo (“land of the living”), Mag Mell (“plain of delight”), Mag Findargat (“the white-silver plain”), Mag Argatnél (“t…
Welsh Mythology
- In Welsh mythology, the Otherworld is usually called Annwn or Annwfn. The Welsh tale of Branwen, daughter of Llyr ends with the survivors of the great battle feasting in the Otherworld, in the presence of the severed head of Bran the Blessed, having forgotten all their suffering and sorrow, and having become unaware of the passage of time. Annwnis ruled by the Otherworld ki…
Continental Celtic Mythology
- The Gauls divided the universe into three parts: Albios (“heaven, white-world, upper-world”), Bitu (“world of the living beings”), and Dubnos (“hell, lower-world, dark-world”). According to Lucan, the Gaulish druids believed that the soul went to an Otherworld, which he calls by the Latin name Orbis alius, before being reincarnated. Graeco-Roman ge...
See Also
Celtic Mythology
Entry to The Otherworld
- The Otherworld is usually hidden and difficult to find but certain worthy people manage to reach it through their own efforts. Others may be invited, or escorted by one of its dwellers, or given signs to follow. Sometimes entry is gained through ancient burial mounds or by crossing over, or under, water, such as a river, pool or the sea. There are also special places such as certain lakes, bogs, …
Annwn: The Welsh Otherworld
- In Welsh mythology the Otherworld is usually called Annwn or Annwfn, but Welsh tradition indicates there were different realms or regions within its bounds. It is not unusual in Celtic stories for a stag or deer to lead huntsmen into an Otherworldly encounter to become embroiled in its affairs. For example, in the First Branch of the Mabinogi, in the story of “Pwyll, Prince of Dyf…
Irish Mythology – Oisin in Tír Na Nóg
- In Irish mythology the Otherworld has many names. It is perhaps best known as Tír na nÓg or “the Land of Youth”. A good account of life in Tír na nÓg comes from the tale of Oisín, and Niamh of the Golden Hair, and there are several versions of this tale. In this story we see an interesting parallel with the arrival of Rhiannon from the Welsh tale. Like her, Niamh is another otherworldly …
Continental Celtic Otherworlds
- On the European continent the Gauls divided the Otherworld into three parts; Albios, Bitu and Dubnos. Albios was the upper world, heaven, or the white world. Bitu was the world of living beings, or the earthly world, while Dubnos was the underworld, lower world, dark world or hell. The Celts recorded little in writing about their beliefs, and most of what is known comes from non-Ce…
Today
- From these few examples we see that the Celtic Otherworld varied from region to region, and even in individual regions there could be variations in ideas. Sometimes the Otherworld was portrayed as being magical and enchanted and other times dark and disturbing, just as the earthly world of humans can be at times today.
More Articles in The ‘Living World of The Ancient Celts‘ Series