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The Celts were a diverse collection of tribal societies that once occupied much of Europe, the Iberian Peninsula, and the British Isles. While they were divided in many ways, they shared a common language, customs, and their Iron Age religion.
While the Celts left no written records of their religious beliefs, historians have learned a few things about their Iron Age religion from archaeological evidence, Greek and Roman accounts, and early Christian writings.
The Celtic tribes of Wales worshipped many gods and goddesses tied to nature somehow. For example, they considered rivers, lakes, cliffs, forests, bushes, caves, and other places sacred. They left offerings for the spirits there to show respect for them, gain their favor, and work in harmony with them. Additionally, the Celts had local deities that varied by tribe and region.
Much of what we know about Welsh Celts’ specific deities and beliefs comes from the Mabinogion. This medieval collection is composed of 11 Welsh stories that were handed down orally for generations. The mythical tales not only give us the names of the Welsh gods and goddesses, but they also show us how the Celts viewed many aspects of the spiritual world.
This post is all about 11 gods and goddesses of the Iron Age religion of Welsh Celts.
Iron Age Religion
As mentioned earlier, we’ve had to piece together what the Celts believed from fragmentary and often questionable accounts of others. So, when we look for Iron Age religion facts of the Celts, it’s with the understanding that these might be better categorized as good theories.
In the polytheistic Celtic religion, there are between 300 and 400 gods. Tribes also had their own local deities.
The Celts were also animists, meaning they thought that spirits inhabited all things. This belief included living things like plants and animals and non-living things like swords, tools, lakes, and stones.
They held high regard for guardian spirits, natural locations, and holy groves.
Druids were the priests of the Celts. Not only did they act as spiritual leaders, but they also acted as judges, legal authorities, scholars, and medical professionals.
Many people hold that the Celts believed in reincarnation, although there is no way to prove this. They definitely believed in an Otherworld (a spiritual realm) and some type of life after death.
Among the key deities were a mother goddess and a father god.
The religious traditions of the Celtic people included rituals, offerings, and sometimes sacrifices of animals or humans.
Welsh Goddesses
Arianrhod
Arianrhod is the goddess of the moon and stars. Her name means “Silver Wheel,” which refers to the moon. Because of this, we consider her a lunar goddess—connected with the moon and women—even though she represents the moon, stars, and entire cosmic order. Arianrhod appears in the fourth branch of the Mabinogi as the mother of the twin boys, Dylan ail Don and Lleu Llaw Gyffes. Arianrhod herself is the daughter of the Great Goddess Don.
This Welsh goddess is the figure of divine femininity, strongly representing fertility, rebirth, and fate. Although there isn’t much information about her, Arianrhod is one of the deities you may have heard of more than others. Her story revolves around magical incidents, including how she enchanted her own son. She later discovers him to be a talented and skilled warrior.
Rhiannon
Rhiannon’s name comes from the old Celtic title “Rigantona,” which means “Great Queen.” She appears in two branches of the Mabinogion, and the stories frequently connect her to horses. Her beauty, intelligence, and otherworldly connection mesmerize the audience. Rhiannon’s tale is told through her devoted horses, the event of her false accusation, and her eventual salvation.
Aeronwen
Aeronwen and Agrona, a war goddess whose name means “carnage,” may be the same identity. The goddess Aeronwen is a Welsh deity who rules over who prevails and perishes in war. There have been sacrifices made in Aeronwen’s honor along the River Dee. Another theory holds that Aeronwen is the Welsh embodiment of The Morrigan, the Irish warrior goddess. Stories connect Aeronwen to the number three, the color black, and the battlefield.
Cerridwen
Witches and neopagans venerate the Welsh goddess Cerridwen. Judika Iles, in the Encyclopedia of Spirits, describes Cerridwen as a “keeper of the cauldron of knowledge, a witch, herbalist, and shape-shifting lunar deity.” The Book of Taliesin also references Cerridwen and her transforming cauldron.
Cerridwen married Tegidfoel, who was a giant. They had two children, a son and a daughter named Afa*gddu and Crearwy. Cerridwen is an enchantress and wise woman who concocted a potion that would give her son omniscience. White is Cerridwen’s color, and the pig is her sacred animal. She represents sovereignty, tenacity, and life’s cycles.
Branwen
Her name means “Beautiful Raven,” which is perfectly fitting since she is the goddess of love and beauty. She is renowned for her grace and is the perfect example of beauty, love, and the soft side of femininity. Nevertheless, a tragic story of betrayal and conflict intertwines with her destiny. Branwen’s story takes place amidst the Welsh and Irish War. Through her struggles, we can see her fantastic strength, resiliency, and the effects of conflict.
Welsh Gods
Lleu Llaw Gyffes
Lleus is a Welsh name meaning “Light.” As his name suggests, Lleu Llaw Gyffes, the god of light and rebirth, exudes a radiant presence in Welsh mythology. His tale of perseverance and metamorphosis is captivating and leads readers on a journey of changes.
From his birth until the curse placed upon him and his final realization of a prophecy, Lleu represents the never-ending circle of life and offers encouragement and hope.
Bran the Blessed
A well-known character in Welsh legend, Bran the Blessed was renowned for his extraordinary strength and leadership. He was frequently likened to the legendary King Arthur and represented safety and watchfulness.
His incredible adventures, including trips to the Otherworld and participation in the Battle of Britain, show the extent of his influence on Welsh myths.
Mabon ap Modron
Mabon ap Modron means “Divine Son of Divine Mother.” The story of the son of the Great Mother revolves around several legendary adventures during his youth, culminating in his eventual release from imprisonment. Mabon’s significance comes from his association with the seasonal cycles. He stands for both the enduring tie between a mother and her child and the rebirth of nature.
Arawn
The Mabinogi refers to this Welsh Celtic god as the king of Annwn, the Welsh Celtic Otherworld. To receive payment from Pwyll for a “misdeed,” Arawn traded bodies with Pwyll. Additionally, it’s believed that as their involvement ends, these two become friends. After Christianity overran Wales and drove out the pagan traditions, it seems that people no longer regarded Arawn as a god. Instead, Arawn rode the skies with other spirits as part of the Wild Hunt. Arawn is especially visible on the night of Yule (Winter Solstice) and the eve of saints’ feasts.
Hafgan
Arawn’s adversary, Hafgan, is also a ruler of the Welsh Celtic Otherworld. When Arawn and Pwyth trade places (trade physical bodies), Arawn asks Pwyll to kill Hafgan. Naturally, Pwyll defeats Hafgan, and Arawn assumes control, combining the two kingdoms into one in the Otherworld.
Manawydan
Son of the sea deity Llyr and brother of Bran and Branwen, Manawydan is most renowned for being the husband of the Welsh Celtic goddess Rhiannon. He might be the same deity as Manannan Mac Lyr, the sea god of the Isle of Man. One of the gods that transports Bran’s head to the mound beneath the Tower of London is Manawydan. He is a Welsh Celtic god mentioned in two of the Mabinogi’s branches. In the third branch, he saves his wife, Rhiannon, from a wicked curse. Manawydan might be a sea god, but neither text nor archeological findings support this theory. Certain Arthurian legends portray Manawydan as a knight of King Arthur.
This post was all about 11 gods and goddesses of the Iron Age religion of Welsh Celts.
