5. Somhlth. Olmsted, on the other hand, argues for the meaning “the heifer”.1 The Triple Goddess is known and worshiped in Pagan cultures all over the world. In Celtic polytheism, Sirona was a goddess worshipped predominantly in East Central Gaul and along the Danubian limes. Today, the Shoney are now though to be sea faeries living off the coast of Scotland and northern Ireland, but were originally a single God of the North Sea. From Ihn-Niedaltdorf an inscription (CIL XIII, 04235) records the donation of a building and its furnishings at the dedicant's expense: At Wiesbaden in Hesse (in antiquity, Aquae Mattiacorum) an inscription (CIL XIII, 07570) records the restoration of a temple by a curator at his own expense: It seems possible that another Wiesbaden inscription (CIL XIII, 07565) that the wife of military commander Porcius Rufianus from Mainz dedicated to an otherwise unknown goddess ""Diana Mattiaca"" for the healing of her daughter Porcia Rufiana, also refers to Sirona:[8]. One of the many mistresses Cuchulain had over his life. In 1667 Charles I had her face placed on the coinage where it remains today, reviving an old custom, first instated by the Romans who adopted her as their own. Rules Over: Proteciton and strength. His swine magickally renewed themselves, were the chief food of the Tuatha De Danann and kept them from aging. Dirona (Sirona) In Celtic mythology, a mother goddess who appears to be identical with the goddess known elsewhere as Divona. Found this site useful? Please mention Godchecker.com when praying to the Gods. MacKay’s legend is possibly a reworking of an old story about a fire God. The symbol Đ is used here to represent the Tau Gallicum, an additional letter used in Gaulish representing the cluster ts which was interchangeable with st- in word-initial position and it is not a form of the letter "D". To purchase such goodies we suggest you try Amazon, Ebay or other reputable online stores. If you wish to use our material in your essay, book, article, website or project, please consult our permissions page. Two sacrifical Gods who, in the manner of such deities, are two aspects of the same being. Debal, J. These, of course, relate to Bridget ‘Goddess of Smithcraft’… So ‘Sirona’ might have nothing to do with stars and more to do with the mysteries of nature’s secret re-forging, as suggested by her snake and eggs and veneration at sacred springs. All who wore her clothes never became ill. Other features of her imagery indicate further references to the chthonic mystery cults, including ears of corn, associated with Demeter and the Eleusinian Mysteries. – don’t get me wrong, Sirona is one of the most important Gaulish deities there is. She is associated with the bear, claws and teeth, geode stones. This wave was believed to break higher and stronger than any other. It has been speculated based upon linguistic evidence that Sirona was a ‘star’ goddess. Lake Goddess associated with the deluge legends. Rules Over: Healing, purification. Holly King represents the waning year, and battles the Oak King at Midsummer (probably at Beltane sometime in the past) for rulership. Keeper of the silver wheel of stars, a symbol of time and karma. Tuatha De Danann Sea and Otherworld Goddess who usually took the form of a sea bird and therefore symbolized the Celtic afterlife. Rules Over: Rivers, lakes, fresh water, priestesses, witches, revenge, night, magick, prophecy, banishing magick, passing over rites, overcoming enemies, battles, warriors, service wo/men, violence. The Horned God, God of Nature, God of the Underworld. Indo-European Equivalent: Gwouwinda, the Indo-European Cattle and Motherhood Goddess.4 Rules Over: Divination, prophecy. Eoghain mac Cuaig, an internet scholar, notes a resemblance of her iconography to that of Hygeia. He is associated with ravens. Rules Over: Spirit contact. She is depicted with a dog on her lap, a diadem (implying high status), three eggs (a fertility symbol), and a snake wrapped around her arm. Rules Over: Wisdom, overcoming enemies, creation, protection, knowledge, divination. Goddess of healing, medicinal plants and keeper of the springs. The carrion crow is her favorite disguise. ‘Sirona’ could therefore have derived from ‘Sterona’. Among her MANY magickal credits is that of a healer. None of the legends about her survive though there are many inscriptions and scultpures which attest to the strength of her worship. Rules Over: Healing, purification. Often takes the form of a swan. Rules Over: Night, dream magick, horses. Easter. Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses – Written by Judika Illes Copyright © 2009 by Judika Illes. Creatures: Snake and lapdog (both symbolic of healing). Goddess of “debauchery” by her detractors, while some recent legends go so far as to make her the destroyer of her own realm through her excesses and her worship of “idols.” By her followers, she is hailed as a Goddess of earthly pleasure. To this is suffixed the Gaulish feminine singular -a, the usual feminine variant of o-stem adjectives and nouns. Rules Over: Seasonal rites, weather magick, fertility spells. He had magick armor that prevented wounds and could make the Tuatha invisible at will. Beira is also a Winter Goddess. Sirona is traditionally invoked to heal humans, but it’s possible that she may assist dogs, too. Third aspect of the Triple Goddess. Rules Over: Sea, navigators, storms, weather at sea, fertility, sailing, weather-forecasting, magick, arts, merchants and commerce, rebirth. She had shrines throughout Europe, many affiliated with what are still highly significant therapeutic mineral springs. 8. Gaulish Celtic God of fortifications. Harvest Goddess from the Scottish/English border region. It was destroyed in the third century, probably during the Germanic incursions of 250-270, and was never rebuilt. Connected with the festival of Beltane (a celtic festival celebrated on May Day) and called the May queen. Dirona (Sirona) In Celtic mythology, a mother goddess who appears to be identical with the goddess known elsewhere as Divona. A bronze statue from Mâlain in the Côte d'Or and dating to around 280 CE (Deyts & Roussel 1994; Deyts 1998) shows Sirona naked to the waist and holding a snake draped over her left arm, together with a very classical Apollo with lyre. Goddess in her Destroyer aspect. It was thought that true curses could be cast with a dog’s help. Her attribute is as cornucopia ("horn of plenty"), which refers to her aspect of fertility goddess. His name appears in cameo in old manuscripts and carvings. Goddess of spring waters who was once a minor solar deity. There is evidence she was worshipped in Celtic Gaul where reliefs have been found showing her reclining on a floating leaf. Rules Over: Faery contact, sea. Her colors are white for the maiden, red for the mother and black for the crone. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. full and clear credit is given to the content's respective author and with appropriate and specific direction to the original content, and steyr), Welsh: seren (pl. Welsh Bards called themselves Cerddorion (sons of Cerridwen). Snakes can stand for water (their rippling motion) and … Queen of the heavens and goddess of air and sea. God who had no corporeal incarnation. Rules Over: Protection in travel, animals. Name: Sirona Goddess of fire and water. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. 4. Originally from Gaul, where his Celtic identity was lost during the Roman takeover where he took all the characteristics of the Roman God Jupiter. Most likely a Goddess of protection. Symbolizes pure masculinity, divine energy. Rules over: Passing Over rites, mourning. She forms a pair with the god Sucellos. We know of her name because of epigraphic evidence found associated with statues of her image, often at 2ndC CE religious sites associated with springs of water. The name of the goddess was written in various ways: Sirona, Đirona, Thirona,[1] indicating some difficulty in capturing the initial sound in the Latin alphabet. Two inscriptions describe the establishment of temples to Sirona. She had an exclusive female priesthood at Kildare and an ever-burning fire. At Budapest(in antiquity, Aquincum) a healing shrine at the spring which fed the aqueduct was dedicated to Apollo (presumably Grannus) and Sirona (AE 1982, 0806), It was established by the emperor Caracalla when he visited Pannonia, although Dio Cassius says (Roman Histories, 78.15) that the emperor. The same root is found in Old Irish as ser, Welsh seren, Middle … Nantosuetta: A Celtic goddess worshipped in Gaul. Her name is derived from the word arachnid. Consider donating a few pennies to the Godchecker Temple Roof Fund. Nothing is known about him today though he may have later surfaced as Borvo, a Breton God of hot springs. My opinion about the meaning of ‘Sirona’ is largely based upon medieval insular semantic definitions attached to the word ‘tSaoir’ and its relation to the Cuillean mythos. Just take a hot bath three times a day and you’ll feel much better. However, that … Rules Over: Passing Over rituals. Compare Helios or Sol, the Greek and Roman personifications of the sun, with Apollo, who has the sun as a symbol. Irish Equivalent: Boann.3 Goddess for whom the Ostara Sabbat is named for a.k.a. Father of the famed warrioress sister Aife and Scathach. Was once said to rule the Celtic world. In early Gaul human sacrifices were offered to him to influence the weather. “Divine Horse.” Goddess of horses, Mother Goddess, Mare. Goddess of time, karma and retribution. God who had no corporeal incarnation. For all media enquiries please contact us here. Not all of these are specifically Scottish, but some are. A second-century CE image from the Moselle Basin renders Sirona as a robed woman wearing a diadem with a snake entwined around one arm. An elaborate shrine and temple complex at Hochscheid (Cüppers 1990) has already been mentioned. For the Greeks the word was ‘Aster’. She symbolizes transcendent knowledge and transitions to the Otherworld. Rules Over: Purification, solar magick. War Goddess who was evoked on the eve of the battle to bring favor, and possibly ritual sacrifices were given to her. Rules Over: Faery contact, prosperity spells. The iconography of Sirona tended to depict her as a young woman wearing a long gown (sometimes she was half-naked) with a diadem on her head. Rules over the land of the dead. Aoife was not vulnerable to magick, and commanded a legion of fierce horsewomen. The Gods have provided us with a robust privacy and cookie policy which all mortals are advised to read. 7. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that Article last revised on May 23, 2019 by Rowan Allen. Rules Over: Fertility, abundance. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without Occasionally she is represented with a cottage on her hand, which could indicate that she was patroness of the family. Lord of the winter, harvest, land of the dead, the sky, animals, mountains, lust, powers of destruction, regeneration. Please do not copy without permission.