List of Celtic deities

Series on
Celtic mythology

Celtic polytheism
Celtic deities (list)

Gaelic mythology

Irish mythology
Scottish mythology
Hebridean mythology
Tuatha Dé Danann
Mythological Cycle
Ulster Cycle
Fenian Cycle

Brythonic mythology

British Iron Age religion
British mythology
Welsh mythology
Breton mythology
Mabinogion
Book of Taliesin
Trioedd Ynys Prydein

Religious vocations

Druids · Bards · Vates

Festivals

Samhain, Calan Gaeaf
Imbolc, Gŵyl Fair
Beltane, Calan Mai
Lughnasadh, Calan Awst

Index of related articles

The Celtic pantheon is known from a variety of sources such as written Celtic mythology, ancient places of worship, statues, engravings, cult objects, and place or personal names.

Celtic deities can fall under two categories; general deities and local deities. "General deities" were known by Celts throughout large regions, and are the gods and goddesses invoked for protection, healing, luck, and honour. The "local deities" 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.

After Celtic lands became Christianised, there were attempts by Christian writers to euhemerise or even demonise the pre-Christian deities. For example, the Tuatha Dé Danann of Irish mythological sources have commonly been interpreted to be a divine pantheon, despite certain redactors' interjecting that the Tuatha Dé Danann were merely mortals, or else that they were demons.

Contents

Gaulish and Brythonic deities

The Gaulish Celts inhabited the region corresponding to modern-day France and Belgium. The Brythonic Celts, or Britons, inhabited most of the island of Great Britain and later migrated to Brittany.

Male

Female

  • Abnoab, a goddess of rivers and forests
  • Adsullata, goddess of the River Savubalabada
  • Aericura
  • Agrona, a goddess of war
  • Ancamna, a water goddess
  • Andarta, a goddess of war
  • Andraste, goddess of victory
  • Arduinna, goddess of the Ardennes Forest
  • Aufaniae
  • Arnemetia, a water goddess
  • Artio, goddess of the bear
  • Aventia
  • Aveta, a mother goddess, associated with the fresh-water spring at Trier in what is now Germany
  • Belisama, lakes and rivers, fire, crafts and light, consort of Belenus
  • Brigantia
  • Britannia, originally a personification of the island, later made into a goddess
  • Camma
  • Campestres
  • Clota, patron goddess of the River Clyde
  • Coventina, goddess of wells and springs
  • Damara, a fertility goddess
  • Damona, consort of Apollo Borvo and of Apollo Moritasgus
  • Dea Matrona, "divine mother goddess" and goddess of the river Marne in Gaul
  • Dea Sequana, goddess of the river Seine
  • Debranua, a goddess of speed and fat
  • Epona, fertility goddess, protector of horses, donkeys, and mules
  • Erecura, earth goddess
  • Icovellauna, a water goddess
  • Litavis
  • Mairiae
  • Nantosuelta, goddess of nature, the earth, fire, and fertility in Gaul
  • Nemetona
  • Ritona (Pritona), goddess of fords
  • Rosmerta, goddess of fertility and abundance
  • Sabrina, goddess of the River Severn
  • Senua
  • Sequana, goddess of the river Seine
  • Sirona, goddess of healing
  • Suleviae, a triune version of Sulis
  • Sulis, a solar nourishing, life-giving goddess and an agent of curses
  • Tamesisaddas, goddess of the River Thames
  • Verbeia, goddess of the River Wharfe

Welsh deities/characters

The Welsh were the Britons that inhabited modern-day Wales (Welsh: Cymru). After the Anglo-Saxons invaded Britain, much of the Brythonic territories came under Anglo-Saxon influence, but in Wales, however, Brythonic Celtic religion was largely retained. Many Welsh myths were later Christianized so it is sometimes difficult to determine if their characters were originally gods, mortals, or historical figures.

Male

Female

Gaelic deities

Note: Modern spellings are shown in brackets.

Male

Female

References