Celtic Empire

As you may have read in the About Celtic Myths, on Who were the Celts?, you would know that the ancient Celts had migrated to as far east as the Galatea in Asia Minor, and to the west as far as Spain and the British Isles, around the 5th century BC. The Celts had settled in large part of the ancient world that it could be considered to be a Celtic Empire.

Morrigan

One of the most amazing goddesses was Morrigan. Morrigan was the daughter of Delbáeth and Ernmas. Morrigan also had two sisters, Badb and Macha (and possibly of a third named Nemain).

Celtic alphabet

The Celtic alphabet known as Ogham (pronounced "Oh-m" or "Oh-wam") was invented, according to the medieval Irish Book of Ballymote, by Ogma Sun-Face, son of Elatha. In comprises three sets of five consonants and one set of five vowels, a total of twenty letters.

Avalon was the enchanted island where Arthur's sword was forged and where he was brought after his last battle. Arthur was placed on a golden bed and carried into Avalon by it's divine priestess. He could only be healed by entrusting his care to her completely forever. It is said that Arthur waits there with her until the time of his return.Avalon was presided over by Arthur's sister Morgan le Fey. This was sometimes varied, but was always ruled by one prime priestess; usually a relative of Arthur's. This entire island was beset by woman who pledged their lives in the service of the one goddess. It is said that Avalon "went into the mists" when belief in ...the goddess had dwindled because of Christianity.Avalon was often thought of as a mysterious and mystical island with a view of Glastonbury, but at times it was also thought to represent Glastonbury itself. On one end of the spectrum Arthur awaits his time of return, and on the other he was laid to rest in his tomb.

Banshee was a name for a fairy, possibly the variation of the Tuatha De Dannan. It is said that the wailing of the banshee foretold an approaching human death. Her name is a variation of "washing woman" and it is said that you may see her more often near a river or a lake. She is posed washing the bloody clothes of the person whose death she is foretelling.

Other important goddesses include Brigid (or Brigit), the Dagda's daughter; Aibell, Aine, Macha, and the sovereign goddess, Ériu. Significant Irish gods include Nuada Airgetlám, the first king of the Tuatha Dé Danann; Goibniu, the smith and brewer; Dian Cecht, the patron of healing; and the sea god Manannán mac Lir.

Celtic witches and Elfs. Druids origin

Witches: The Legacy of the Druidesses

After the downfall of traditional Druidism, the myth of the witch became even more popular. The myth of witch cults had existed during the time of Celtic Paganism, but its source lied more with the Pagan rituals and traditions of sorcery. After Christianity became the main religion on the British Isles witches became synonymous with the work of the devil. Ellis, a Celtic Scholar believes that "female druids have become reduced in [old Celtic] stories to witch-like figures" (Ellis, Celtic Women, p.221) since the onset of Christianity.

Origin : Elves were a very mysterious race from the beginning of time. Later they became supernatural beings, mainly shaped as humans. They were worshipped in trees, mountains and waterfalls.



Description : Elves vary in size from 4'10" and 5'8". However, according to their delicate bodies they seem much taller than they really are. Often male and female elves are hard to discern, at first glance. Both sexes usually have big, expressive eyes (in the most splendid colors). They wear their hair uncut and open, have graceful, fragile features and are of extraordinary beauty. Male elves also don't have any beard growth. Very typical for elves are their pointed ears, and high cheekbones. In modern descriptions, elves are either light or dark, the light elves having starlike eyes, faces brighter than the sun, and golden-colored hair; the dark elves are pitch black and have sometimes fluorescent eyes, this quality being indicative of their dealing with black magic. Both are attractive, in appearance at least. Elves prefer greens and greenish-greys while dark elves prefer blacks, dark grey, and sometimes silver.

Species: Dark or light, the elfic race is rarely seen and if so, elves only appear on certain times and on special places in the untouched nature. During the course of time elves moved to other places in the world and in many tribes their spiritual shape was lost completely and elves changed to beings consisting of blood and flesh. The light elves are a peaceful, nature-loving who love beautiful things and often try themselves in the arts of drawing and music. The black or dark elves are also called "Drow". Beautiful, agile, proud, dexterous and extremely deadly, they are the Drow, Elves of the underground. Very few is know about them.

Powers: In comparison to humans elves are stronger in spirit and in limb and have an exceptional constitution and endurance. When they grow older they seldom get weaker, instead they become wiser and even more fair. Elven senses, especially of hearing and sight, are much keener and intense than those of Men and are highly resitant to extremes of temperatures and also have several natural defenses against magical influences. The long life-spans of elves may be accounted to one of the main reasons that elves are very calm and patient in all their actions.

Even if some elves are said to be immortal, elves of all other tribes die a natural death after long lives. The amount of years elves live indeed varies enormously, ranging from 100 years to over 1000. It is also known that very often elves end their lives of their own will when they see a necessity to do so or if they think that their life's goal has been reached. Of course elves may also die when they are wounded severely, but in general elves heal very fast when they are tended to quickly. Death on the other hand is nothing an elf fears. The fact of death is interpreted by the elves as a return to nature.

Lore: Elves live in forests while dark elves live in deep underground caves. In spring they are viewed celebrating the blossoms and during the summer they swim in the rivers with their friends ondines. Elves usually settle in dense forests or at wooded lakes and lead quiet lives without interfering directly in other races activities and struggle for domination.