Irish Mythology

Legend of the Morrigan

Overview

• To recap from the handout, the Morrigan is a three-fold goddess of warfare, battles and fertility. She is comprised of the goddesses Badb, Macha, and Nemain.

• Her two main epithets are “Great Queen” and “Phantom Queen.”

• Her main disguise is that of a crow or raven.

Pronunciation Tutorial• Badb- Bibe• Cu Chulainn- Coo HOOL in• Dagda- Dah Dah• Danu- DA noo• Lugh- LOO• Macha- MOH Ka• Medb- MAEV• Tuatha De Danann- TOO ha da

Dah n’n• Tain Bo Cuailnge- Toyne Bo Cooley

The MythThe Morrigan appears several times to the warrior Cu Chulainn, and each time he rejects her offers of love and assistance in battle. When she appears as a hag milking a cow, he begs a drink from her. As he drinks, he blesses the milk and heals the wounds he had previously inflicted upon her. When she reveals herself to him, he regrets healing her. The next appearance she makes is in the form of a crow. She settles on the shoulders of the mortally wounded Cu Chulainn who has tied himself upright against a boulder with his own entrails.

Depictions of the Morrigan

Depictions of the Morrigan

Citations for Artwork• http://www.indymedia.ie/cache/imagecache/local/attachments/aug2005/460_0___30_0_0_0_0_0_c_chulainn.jpg

• http://lark.phoblacht.net/skcu.jpg• http://www.celticattic.com/treasures/images/statuary/morrigan_dd_small.jpg

• http://featherdust.critter.net/digitalcompletehtml/images/The%20Morrigan.jpg