Morríghan

Morríghan

Irish goddess of fertility, war, and death. Morríghan, or Morrigu (Irish mór-ríogan), was closely associated with horses and with the earth itself. She was one of the triad of Morríghan, Neman, and Macha, all war goddesses in Old Irish mythology. Sometimes Morríghan is used as a generic name for all three. They appeared on battlefields in the form of crows and ravens and would consume the dead.

Morríghan, whose name means "Great Queen," was the daughter of Ernmas and the wife of Daghda. She mated with Daghda at Samhain to ensure the continuing prosperity of the earth. She can appear as a young maiden or as a

crone. She helped the Tuatha Dé Danann defeat the Fomorians at the Battle of Mag Tured.

Morríghan fell in love with Cú Chulainn, the Irish hero and son of Lugh. He rejected her and was consequently harrassed by her in battles, although she eventually tried, in vain, to save his life.