JC's introduction to CELTIC mythology

Here your mythology friend again, and this in this occasion is time to inmerse in the wonderful and nature connected world of the Celtic mythology. The Celts or Celtic people were a group of indo-european peoples and tribes in Europe, they shared the same language and other cultural similarities. Proto or Pre-celtic culture and migration is attested during the Iron Age in central Europe, then from fith century BC, begin the celtic culture or period in wich there are more records, first mention was by the greeks who called them "keltoi" (possibly meaning will be "the hidden ones", possibly evolved to kelt/celt), centuries later Julius Caesar mentioned that those people on Gaul (modern day France) called themself "Celts". The distribution of the celts tribes/groups: Gauls (France), Helveti (Switzerland), Celtiberian/Celtiberi (Spain and northern Portugal), the insular celts; Britons, Gaels and Picts. A quick summary of celt culture: They were very good at metalurgy, they were very connected to nature and animist, they belived every living being has a soul and in reencarnation, the figure of the Druid was their sorta priest and spiritual authority. Mythology The celtic mythology don't have an official pantheon like in greek and egyptian one, their deities could change from place and group, most of the insular myths (british islands) are the most detailed ones, specially on Ireland, but most of them were write centuries later by christian monks doing some changes and syncretism to christianity, in the case of the continental celts is very few and obscure the details of their myths and worship cults, most of the info is attested by the Roman during the expansion of their empire, romans compared their deities to their pantheon and deities equivalent. The Most rich myth surviving is the Ireland celt one, notably the Thuata de Daanan, a group of demi-gods who lived in Ireland and battle a race of other demi-gods called Fomore who were described as evil and with monster appareance. Danu: A mother and creator goddess, mother of the Thuata de Danann race (Ireland). She represents earth and fertility Dagda: Known as the "good god", he is son of Danu, leader of the Thuata de Danann, represent strenght, plenty and wisdom. He has a magical maze who can kill and resucitate, a magical harp and a cauldron that never runs out. Brigid: daughter of Dagda, a triple goddess of fertility, heal, forge, fire and poetry, later syncrety with the christian figure of Saint Brigid. Morrigan: sometimes as a triple goddess with Badb and Macha (all related to war), Morrigan as individual goddess represents cycle of life and death, war and sovereignty. Taranis: A god of thunder and the sky, worshipped on west continental Europe, romans compared him with Jupiter, romans mentioned human sacrifices in his worship but there is no further sources it could be just roman propaganda. Belenus: A sun and fire god, healer and protector, romans compared him to Apollo, it was revered by both insular and continental celts. Camulos: a protector and war god, worshipped by the gauls and britons. Epona: Fertility and protector goddess, guide of souls and goddess of horses, from gaul origin she was worshipped and adopted in all the Roman Empire. Cernunnos: enigmatic ancient gaul deity, still not clear if he is a god of wild life, underworld or fertility, he remained unassimilated to the Roman pantheon. Lugh: a warrior god of light and sun, master of many arts and skills, he was a king of the Thuatha de danann, notable for defeating Balor, a one-eye giant king of the fomoré Ériu: goddess of earth and fertilty, it gaves the name to Ireland (Eire back then), has an important role on the Milesians invasion of Ireland. Aengus: Member of the Thuata de danann, a god of youth, love, beauty and poetry inspiration. https://pin.it/3JSomKiMo take a look at my Pinterest, there is my celtic mythology collection still growing. And thats all for now, there still more celt deities, deities equivalents, there some mythic creatures, there is a whole race of monsters named fomoré, there is rich lore about legendary demigod warriors, legendary kings, wizard-like druids, a whole collection of this legendary tales named "Ulster cycle", and there also some lore of magical beings, celt had a rich lore about those like fairies, pixies, gnomes and a whole magical breed named the Sidhe. Possibly in the future i came back with a collection of some of them.