[15], The nuckelavee's breath was thought to wilt crops and sicken livestock, and it was considered responsible for epidemics and drought. When he stops riding, a human dies. They occupied Ireland before the current inhabitants, the Milesians, or the final race to settle in Ireland. She represented the circle of life and was associated with both birth and death. They take to the waters, jumps high then submerges, bringing the traveler along with them to drown. BALOR - the Irish Demon of Death (Irish mythology) They say these mythical water horses are often spotted in Scotland, but they are part of Irish folklore as well. Ladies, take note if meet a guy with seaweed on his head, dont go home with him! Dad forced her into an arranged marriage with a rich man who treated her terribly, and eventually, she commits suicide. If a human finds and hides these items, the merrow must agree to be his wife. Celtic mythology - the top gods and goddesses - IrishCentral Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Going through all of them would take a whole book, so here weve listed the 14 most well-known and interesting legendary creatures in Celtic mythology. These airborne shrieking demons may have had a goat-like appearance and were associated with violence and death. She was buried near Strongbows Tree in Waterford, and one night, she rose from her grave to seek revenge on her father and husband, sucking their blood until they dropped dead. If a Merrow wants to walk on land, she must abandon her cap or cape. Merrow-men, on the other hand, are said to be hideous and ugly. Learn how your comment data is processed. Both have a very strong desire to return to the sea when they are on land, so when someone traps them on land they usually try to hide their red-feathered hat or sealskin cape. He used to own a cool bronze boat with a tin sail. The fairy was a beautiful woman who was said to give inspiration to poets and musicians but at the price of their lives. The origin of this creature is told in the Celtic legend about a woman who was known all over Ireland for her beauty. Right Eye. Right, its time for some less creepy Celtic Mythological Creatures. Some myths say that they are the descendants of fallen angels and others that they are the children of the Tuatha De Danann, the peoples of the goddess Danu who first came to Ireland. Some Irish families would keep their west-facing windows shut at all times to keep the Sluagh out of their homes. According to the Celtic legend, an Irish woman who was known throughout the country for her beauty fell in love with a local peasant, which was unacceptable to her father. Often portrayed in contemporary fantasy fiction and video games, this foreteller of death is the Irish version of the headless horseman. Celtic gods and goddesses like Dagda, Danu, the Morrigan, Lugh, and Brigid are the ones whose names may come up more than any others. Caorthannach, thought by some to be the devils mother, is a demon that was fought off by St. Patrick when he banished the snakes out of Ireland. On This Day: Arthur Guinness, founder of the Dublin brewery, died in 1803. The nuckelavee (/ n k l v i /) or nuckalavee is a horse-like demon from Orcadian folklore that combines equine and human elements. One monster, however, managed to escape Caorthannach, the fire-spitter. This destructive witch roamed around with her three evil sons: Dub (darkness in Irish), Dother (evil) and Dain (violence), destroying anything or anyone in their path. The eye became swollen and granted him the power of death. Descriptions of her appearance vary, from an ugly old hag to a beautiful young woman, but all agree that the creatures blood curdling wail will be heard three times before someone dies. The local deities from Celtic nature worship were the spirits of a particular feature of the landscape, such as mountains, trees, or rivers, and thus were generally only known by the locals in the surrounding areas. Celtic mythology [ edit] Brigit, Irish goddess of fire, poetry, arts, and crafts Aed, Irish god whose name means "fire" Grannus, god of fire, health, water springs, and the sun Nantosuelta, goddess of fire, nature, fertility, rivers and the earth Etruscan mythology [ edit] Sethlans, fire god of smithing and crafts Greek mythology [ edit] He collects gold and hides them in a pot at the end of the rainbow. The pair is said to whip the horses with a human spinal cord. There, she would drain their blood and use it to fuel her own immortality. It could be a cap or a cape. This mischievous little fella is said to bring either good or bad fortune and it can appear in various animal forms, though he always wears a dark coat. Their beards are usually bright red, however, just like their clothes. Patrick eventually made it to the Hawks Rock, where he waited for Caorthannach. This is where youll find the faeries that you wouldnt want to run into a dark alley and the Irish vampire that you wouldnt want to run into anywhere! Demonic one-eyed God of Death and evil King of the Fomorians. Sluaghs are heightening creatures that hunt down souls. The Story of Merlin and the Demons who made him However, its not Dracula that were referring to, here. Photo by Khomenko Maryna/shutterstock.com. He encounters himself, his musings and emotions as something isolated from the rest-a sort of optical dream of , Unfortunate it may be, but despite the spectacular successes of modern science, there is no ultimate foundation for our knowledge of the world. The Dullahan doesnt announce the impending death by screaming, like the banshee, but by riding into a town or village and holding his head up to observe the death as it happens. The Dullahan rides a headless black horse with flaming eyes, carrying his head under one arm. Theres much of Celtic mythology thats been lost over the ages. They have human-like legs and huge, flat feet and webbed fingers. Demons from Celtic mythology. The other story says that fairies are from the magical being called Tuatha D Danann. Right: Olga Vasileva. Aibell is one of a number of Irish mythology creatures that uses music to defeat their enemies. When the Tuatha De Danann, the peoples of the goddess Danu, came to the rescue. The Questing Beast, known to be quick, was hunted down by many a knight, and in Celtic myth was chased by King Pellinore, an Arthurian character. Banshee - the Irish wailing ghost Liscorn37 These fine fellows, ancient Irish monsters and demons, have been terrifying the public since the dawn of Celtic mythology, especially at Halloween. Little is known about the religious beliefs of the Celts of Gaul. Carman put a blight on Irelands crops and terrorized the Irish until the Tuatha De Danann, the peoples of the goddess Danu, used their magic to fight and defeat her, and drove her sons across the sea. Sporting one eye and a single gigantic leg, the evil creature was King of the Fomori, demons who lived in the dark depths of lakes and seas. Sign up now for weekly facts, the latest blogs, and interesting features. Were Irelands Viking invaders high on hallucinogenic herbal tea? [4] The same demon is called a mukkelevi in Shetland, where it was considered a nasty sea-trow or sea-devil. Pookas can also imitate human voices and they use it to call them out of their houses. A post shared by Alison Johnstun (@alisonjohnstun) on Mar 17, 2020 at 10:24pm PDT. The scariest monsters and demons from Celtic mythology. A unique and solitary creature possessing extensive evil powers, its malevolent behaviour can influence events throughout the islands. A general term for most fairy folk, the Daoine Maithe are usually human-like, have supernatural abilities, and are usually good and kind-hearted. Dont worry if you dont know exactly what kind of reading you need. Celtic Mythology | Encyclopedia.com [26] Tammas managed to escape from the nuckelavee after he inadvertently splashed it with water from the loch he was alongside; this briefly distracted the monster, allowing Tammas to run over to a nearby channel of fresh water and jump to safety on the opposite bank. The Celtic deities are known from a variety of sources such as written Celtic mythology, ancient places of worship, statues, engravings, religious objects, as well as place and personal names. Some stories represent the creature with the form of a vulture, while others describe it as a fire-breathing dragon. ; Asmodeus, Demon of Lust from the Ars Goetia and Medieval Demonology. Youve everything from scary Celtic monsters to more gentle, magical beings, below. He carries his head in one arm and a whip made out of a human spine in the other. In a nutshell, this is one of a number of Irish folklore creatures that closely resemble people that youll find in towns and villages across the world. While Unseelie fairies have dark agendas and are known to be troublesome, Seelie fairies are helpful and happy. Here, you'll find everything from hike and drive guides to funky places to stay and more! Celtic | Mythology Explained When they encountered people, the Sluagh would instantly try to kill them and take their souls. The ancient Celts had hundreds of Irish mythical deities, but as with most cultures, they had their demons as well. If ever you see a soaking wet horse during a hike, best to avoid them and keep walking. Leanan Sidhe would then take her dead lovers back to her lair. A person is a piece of the entire called by us Universe, a section restricted in existence. Now, if youve spent any time reading about Irish folklore, youll know that there are quite a few Irish mythological creatures out there, and that they, ehm,vary in their type. She controlled the weather and the winds and was popular among many Irish poets. Irish tales tell many tales of these creatures who were one of the earliest races to settle in Ireland, along with the mighty Tuatha D Danann. The fearless Failinis was one of a number of Celtic mythology animals that could go toe-to-toe with the fiercest of warriors. Once a powerful people who dominated much of Europe, the Celts were reduced to a few small groups after the Roman invasions. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Not to be confused with a mermaid or merman, a merrow is an intriguing creature from Irish folklores that are said to live underwater. The Brythonic peoples, descendants of the Celtic Britons, inhabited western Britain (mainly Wales, Cumbria and Cornwall) and Brittany. She fell in love with a peasant, which was frowned upon by her father. The Celtic gods and goddesses are a vast group of deities who were worshipped by the ancient Celtic tribes. As with Dearg-due, to prevent the undead Leanan Sidhe from rising, one must put a cairn of stones over her resting place. It is said that the Abhartach was Bram Stokers inspiration for his novel, Dracula. Another legendary Irish monster is the Dullahan, a name that can be translated to dark man.. However, when a merrow finds her cap or cape again, she is overtaken by the desire to return to the water and leave her husband and children. If ever youll be walking or driving at night in Ireland, better wear something gold so the Dullahan wont throw blood at you or call your name. Elln Trechend Photo by Sofya Dushkina/shutterstock.com Her name literally translates as "Red Bloodsucker" and she's said to lure men by seducing them in the night before biting them and sucking away their blood. Babalon, Thelemic godform of lust, carnality and the liberated woman. Easily the most popular creature in Irish folklore, the leprechaun is also considered the Irish symbol of luck. There was also a fairy cat that was known as the King of the Cats. Take a look inside Dublin's most stylish townhouse, Number 31. The final section of our guide to Irish mythological creatures is a bit of a mixed bag. These ancient Irish monsters and demons have been terrifying the public since the dawn of Celtic mythology, especially at Halloween. [5][24] The creature was also blamed for prolonged periods of abnormally low rainfall, leading to water shortages and poor harvests. Morrigan | Megami Tensei Wiki | Fandom Years later, she rose from the grave and started wandering across Ireland, punishing men by taking their life force away. Researchers believe they originated from a branch of the great Celtic race, which passed through Europe, rounded the continent's shores, and finally, made Ireland their resting place. Leanan Sidhe the evil Irish fairy-muse. Demons of the Ancient World - Sarah Woodbury By Mythopedia Staff Last updated on Dec. 1st, 2021 Celtic Pantheon Arawn The Celtic variant of mermaids, merrows have human feet instead of tails but their feet are flat and have webbed fingers to help them swim better. Today, the leprechaun has also become a mascot for St. Patricks Day, as well as a favorite design in Irish souvenirs. @IrishCentral. The Dearg Due is one of several Irish mythical creatures / Irish monsters whose characteristics resemble that of a vampire. Category:Celtic Mythology | Megami Tensei Wiki | Fandom [21][22] The nuckelavee was said to have infected horses on Stronsay with the deadly disease known as mortasheen,[d] to demonstrate its fury and exact its revenge against the islanders for burning seaweed; the infection subsequently spread to all the other islands involved in the industry. [14] Seaweed burning to create what was known at the time as kelp began on Stronsay in 1722. Some say the Sluagh is the Irish version of the Wild Hunt, a European folktale about ghostly hounds or spirits traveling around in packs foretelling of death and disaster. Some stories portray them as old hags and others depict them as young maidens or middle-aged women. They say that when a chicken or cow sees a Pooka, the animals become too traumatized that they cannot produce eggs or milk for weeks. List of fire gods - Wikipedia The Kelpie is an evil water spirit, typically portrayed as a white horse that swims in rivers or lakes. Another snake-like evil Celtic creature is the Questing Beast, a monster with the head of a snake, the body of a leopard, the backside of a lion, and the hooves of a deer. He just keeps on riding, the horse keeps on running but when they stop a human dies. But the strange thing about this pony is that its mane would always be dripping with water. Riding a black horse and covered with a black cape, the Dullahan roams the fields at night. The ancient Celts had hundreds of deities, but as with most cultures, they had their demons as well. Scariest monsters and demons from Celtic myth for Halloween When I was a kid I saw a grey head with pointed wooden spikes all over it looking over a falling tree it was human form head ,,it was like pinhead from hellraiser but grey like wood ,,can anyone help me name it ,,was over 45 years ago and I still remember it as if yesterday. Outside of a person it was not much to . Both a muse and a demon, Leanan Sidhe is another one of Irelands mythological vampires. These were a race of gigantic warriors who liked nothing better than to invade somewhere, pillage it and then gloat horribly. [25] In common with other mythical sea-monsters, with the possible exception of kelpies and the nuggle of Shetland, it is unable to wade through fresh flowing water,[19] therefore it can be escaped by crossing a stream. Since publishing a large number of Irish folklore and Irish mythology guides, weve received countless emails about Irish folklore creatures. Top 10 Celtic Monsters! - Celtic Life International However, eerily, the sonar encountered a large solid mass, which has fuelled speculation that the lake is inhabited by one of the last remaining Celtic mythological creatures. Read More. The saint is said to have stood on the mountain now known as Croagh Patrick and expelled all the serpents and demons out of the Emerald Isle into the sea to drown. The beasts constant cry was said to sound like the bark of 30 dogs. [3] Traill Dennison only describes a man's head with a "mouth projected like that of a pig". These evil fairies take the shape in black horses, who stampede through fences, crops, and properties, causing damage and destruction. To prevent the undead from rising from the grave, simply build a pile of stones over her grave. Once the person climbs on top of the horse, however, they get glued to the animal and the Kelpie delves deep into the water, drowning its victim. Now the Fomori have returned to their waters and transformed into sea monsters who prey on humans. Photo left: zef art Right: John Duncan (1911). Annnnd were back to creepy Celtic monsters again, next, with the Bnnach. The nuckelavee ( /nklvi/) or nuckalavee is a horse-like demon from Orcadian folklore that combines equine and human elements. Natural beauty, a long tumultuous history, castles, beer, whiskey, Halloween, and fascinating mythology. Carman put a blight on Irelands crops and terrorized the Irish until the Tuatha De Danann, the peoples of the goddess Danu, used their magic to fight and defeat her, and drove her sons across the sea. But despite living in several countries, my love for Ireland remains the same. [14] The torso has a large head possibly as much as 3 feet (90 centimetres) in diameter that rolls back and forth. The m. Perhaps itd be a good idea to stay away from any bodies of water this Halloween!