Chapman University Chapman University Digital Commons
Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters Center for Undergraduate Excellence
Spring 5-2020
The Morrígan: Phantom Queen of Celtic Mythology
Jacqueline Garcia Chapman University, [email protected]
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/cusrd_abstracts
Recommended Citation Garcia, Jacqueline, "The Morrígan: Phantom Queen of Celtic Mythology" (2020). Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters. 401. https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/cusrd_abstracts/401
This Poster is brought to you for free and open access by the Center for Undergraduate Excellence at Chapman University Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters by an authorized administrator of Chapman University Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE MORRÍGAN: PHANTOM QUEEN OF CELTIC MYTHOLOGY JACQUELINE GARCIA
The Morrígan & Cú Chulainn The Morrígan vs Thanatos In Celtic Mythology, the Morrígan was seen as the The Morrígan appeared to the hero Cú Chulainn and embodiment of death. As a raven or crow, she would offered her love to him. When he failed to recognize her appear on the battlefield and carry away the dead. As and rejected her, the Morrígan told him that she would the prophetess Neiman, her furious shriek and battle hinder him when he was in battle. When Cú Chulainn was cry mean that death would soon follow. She intimated, eventually killed, she settled on his shoulder in the form of panicked, and confused soldiers on the battlefield into a crow. Cú Chulainn’s misfortune was that he never dying of fright or mistaking their own comrades for recognized the feminine power of sovereignty that she enemies. While the Morrígan represented more violent offered him. The Morrígan appeared to him on 4 separate a deaths, the Greek deity, Thanatos, was quite the occasions and each time he failed to recognize her. She opposite. This figure was the Greek god of nonviolent first appeared when she declared her love for him. After he deaths. Thanatos’ touch of death was gentle, often had wounded her, she appeared to him as an old hag and compared to that of his brother Hypnos, the god of he offered his blessings to her, ultimately healing her. On sleep. While the Morrígan was one of the most his way to his final battle, Cú Chulainn saw the Washer at prominent figures in Celtic mythology, Thanatos was the Ford, who declared that she was “washing the clothes seen as more of a minor deity, and oftentimes and arms of Cú Chulainn, who would soon be dead”. depicted as a personified spirit of death rather than a Lastly, the Morrígan appeared to him as three hags (the The Morrígan god. triple aspect of the Morrígan) to break a taboo of eating dog flesh. High aboveb the glorious battle, a treachery of ravens await. As silent as the depth of night, they circle the battlefield, anticipating the moment to swoop down and carry away the dead. This was the Morrígan. Commonly known as the “Phantom Queen”, the Morrígan was a feared Celtic deity and the goddess of both death and war. As one of Ireland’s most powerful goddesses, she appears as both a single being and a triple goddess, forming a trio of sisters who protect both destiny and prophecy. Legend states that she was named as the sisters Badb, Macha, and The Morrígan vs Athena Neiman, but is also associated with the goddesses, Eriu, Banba, The Morrígan’s main portrayal in Celtic mythology is and Fodla. As the goddess of fate, the Morrígan is also one of The Morrígan in Pop Culture her role as the goddess of war. The Morrígan’s the most mysterious figures of Celtic mythology and a formidable approach to war was closely linked to her role as the The Morrígan has made a variety of appearances among shapeshifter. She took many forms and would often appear in goddess of death. She determines whether or not you popular media. In The Wicked + The Divine, she appeared different forms in one story. Her most common included a warrior walk off the field of battle or are carried off upon your as one of the gods manifesting in the modern era, queen and a raven, the latter associated with her due to the shield. Oftentimes, she is also seen helping those portrayed as both a single entity and three separate bird’s constant presence on a battlefield. The Morrígan appeared whom she favors in battles with her sovereign powers. individuals, each with their own names and distinct primarily in the Ulster Cycle, both assisting and antagonizing the Athena, the Greek goddess of war, approaches battle personalities. In the Marvel Comics, she appears as a hero of the cycle, Cú Chulainn. She encourages warriors to in a more strategic fashion, due to her additional role powerful goddess in the Celtic pantheon who is later perform brave acts, frightens enemies, and is probably as the goddess of wisdom. She is known for her revealed to be a position that several women have held the most powerful figure among the Celtic gods. throughout history. She has also made appearances in the appearance as a companion of heroes and is game Smite, the Darkstalker series, and the Dragon Age oftentimes shown as fierce and ruthless. Both series. Many songs have made references to her, such as goddesses were feared by men, but embodied the act the song by Primordial called “Songs of the Morrígan”. of war in different manners.