The Morrígan

Morrígan [' Mori ː ɣin ʴ ], also Morrígain, Morrigu, Morrighan, Mor - Ríoghain, rarely Mórrígan (Celtic: " Great Queen " ), is a figure of Celtic mythology of Ireland.

Etymology and Mythology

The name can be derived from the proto- Celtic Marwo for 'dead' and Old Irish rígain, Queen ' explain. This interpretation was prevalent in the Middle Ages with the identification with Morgane as Abholerin the corpse of King Arthur in the island Avalon apple. For the Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages, but is also the interpretation of the first syllable as mór for, great ' in question.

It applies in the Lebor Gabála Érenn along with Macha / Nemain and Badb / Fea as one of three sisters, daughters and granddaughters of the Ernmas Bresal. Morrigan is one of the Tuatha Dé Danann. The Morrígan is equated with Anu. Morrígan appears as a beautiful young woman and as ugly and old as her sister Badb also in form of a crow or a raven. In the narrative of the battle of Mag Tuired ( Cath Maige Tuired ) it is one of the partners of the Dagda and slays the last Firbolg king, Eochaid mac Eirc. In the Táin Bó Cuailnge, the main saga of the Old Irish Ulster Cycle, it acts as adversary of the hero Cú Chulainn. They appear one after the other in the form of a beautiful woman, an eel, a wolf and a heifer and tries to prevent him from defending Ulster against the attack of the army of Medb and Ailill. Cú Chulainn you resist, however, and hurt them, prompting them to bring it to a list, they heal.

The Morrígan probably goes back to the ancient Celtic goddess Rigani, regarded as gods queen and mother of the gods. Relates to her is the kymrische Rhiannon.

Modern reception

Morrigan is often portrayed as bleak and often malicious figure. So in the book A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore of Totenbote Charlie by the Morrigan is pressed. It is there as a three Harpies or Ravens women described that represent personifications of death in the form of beautiful warrior women who can transform themselves into birds. In general, all three of the queen of the underworld. Even in Pat O'Shea Book The pack of Mórrígan it appears as a protagonist, as evil "three- a - queen ". Similarly gloomy interpretations are also found in several fantasy video games and movies again. In the series Stargate - Kommando SG -1 Morrigan is a member of the alien race, the Goa'uld and can be worshiped as a goddess.

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