Figure 1 : Representation of the goddess Morrigan[1]
Morrigan is a goddess of Irish Celtic mythology, she is part of the Tuatha dé Danann [2]. She is often associated with war, destruction and death, but she is also a goddess of fertility, sovereignty, and prophecy. She is also known as Morrigu or Mor-Rioghain[3], meaning respectively 'the great queen' and 'the great queen of fairies'.
According to legend, Morrigan appears as a woman of awesome power, often dressed in black with piercing eyes and a stern expression. She is sometimes described with raven's wings and talons for feet. Common depictions of Morrigan are often of a brown or red-haired woman with long hair, often depicted at night or at dusk, in the wild and accompanied by a raven. She is also able to change her shape at will, transforming herself into a raven, a wolf or a snake.
Morrigan is a complex and often ambivalent goddess. She is both a sinister figure and a powerful protector. She thus represents the duality common to humans. She is often considered a triple goddess[4], along with two other goddesses called Badb[5] and Macha[6]. These three goddesses each represent a different facet of Morrigan.
Badb is often considered the most sinister form of Morrigan. She is associated with crows and scavengers, and is often seen on the battlefield, where she encourages warriors to fight ferociously. She also appears as a bad omen when seen in battle, and like crows in popular culture today, she is seen as a symbol of death.
Figure 2 : Representation of the goddess Badb[7]
Masha is the goddess of sovereignty, associated with the horse and royalty. She is also associated with fertility and healing. She is also the goddess who binds and unbinds destinies, she is the representation of the protective and sovereign part of Morrigan.
Figure 3 : Macha Curses the Men of Ulster, 1904, illustration by Stephen Reid from The Boys' Cuchulainn by Eleanor Hull. [8]
Morrigan is often described as a goddess of prophecy, able to predict the future. She is also associated with magic and sorcery, and is sometimes considered the protector of the Druids.
In Irish mythology, Morrigan is often associated with heroes and warriors. She is sometimes described as having taken the form of a woman to test the bravery of these warriors, or to encourage them to fight with courage and determination. She is also known to have had relationships with some of these heroes, such as the mythical warrior Cú Chulainn[9].
Figure 4 : Representation of the goddess Morrigan[10]
Morrigan is thus one of the main goddesses of Irish Celtic mythology, and her influence is felt in many stories and legends. As with the Arthurian myths, Morrigan is said by many to have been the inspiration for the character of Morgana la Fay, Arthur's half-sister.
Furthermore, as a goddess with a multiple role in Irish mythology, Morrigan is considered more as several different goddesses than as a single goddess. That she is a triple goddess, with three distinct identities, has never really been established. Masha and Badb are considered to be representations of different facets of Morrigan. Yet they can also be considered as deities of their own. However, they illustrate well the many roles of Morrigan in Irish mythology.
[1] Camille Serres, Qui est Morrigan – La Morrigan, à la rencontre des Grandes Reines, Morgan Daimler, Oct 24, 2019.
URL : http://www.arbreserpent.com/qui-est-morrigan-la-morrigan-a-la-rencontre-des-grandes-reines-morgan-daimler/
[2] The Tuatha dé Danann means tribe of the goddess Dana. Morrigan was one of the last generation of gods to rule Ireland before the invasion of the sons of Milesius, the ancestors of the modern Irish.
URL : https://mythologica.fr/celte/tuatha.htm
[3] Page Wikipédia sur Morrigan
URL : https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morrigan
[4] Dumézil Georges. Le trio des Macha. In: Revue de l'histoire des religions, tome 146, n°1, 1954. pp. 5-17;
doi : https://doi.org/10.3406/rhr.1954.6992
URL : https://www.persee.fr/doc/rhr_0035-1423_1954_num_146_1_6992
[5] Viking Celtic, Badb Mythologie Celtic, 08/03/21
URL: https://www.vikingceltic.fr/blogs/news/badb-mythologie-celtique
[6] Walter Philippe, « Les divinités de l'abondance: des déesses-mères celtiques aux fées médiévales », Bulletin des Amis des Etudes celtiques, 16,. 1997, p.24 pages, 15/12/2014
URL : http://www.amisdesetudesceltiques.eu/documents/05-Macha-La-Reine-le-masque-et-la-Souverainete-celtique.pdf
[7] Viking Celtic, Babd, 8 mars 2021.
URL : https://www.vikingceltic.fr/blogs/news/badb-mythologie-celtique
[8] Wikipedia, Stephen Reid
URL : https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macha_(mythologie_celtique)#/media/Fichier:Macha.jpg
[9] guide-irlande.com, La légende de Cú Chulainn
URL : https://www.guide-irlande.com/culture/cu-chulainn/
[10] Viking Celtic, Qui était la Morrigan dans la mythologie irlandaise ?, 12 nov. 2022.
URL : https://www.vikingceltic.fr/blogs/news/qui-etait-la-morrigan-dans-la-mythologie-irlandaise