Brythonic Deities

The brightest star of the Corona Borealis (Gemma – also called Alphecca),
known as the ‘Silver Wheel’ is associated with the Deity Arianrhod

The Deities (Gods & Goddesses) of the Brythonic speaking peoples. Originally the Brythonic languages would have been spoken across the whole of the mainland of England, Wales the Eastern side of Scotland (Picts) and Breton (Brittany); the only languages now left extant are Welsh, Cornish and Breton (Cumbric disappeared in the 12th century).

Also included are some of the ‘Otherworldly beings’ where importance is given to them by the peoples of an area.

Deities are listed in alphabetical order. A new drop-down system is currently being installed. Click the arrow to the left of the Deities name to open the information.

Aericurus/Arecurius

Origin/Association

Northumberland/

Description

One inscription on an altar stone – possibly responsible for Aericura being named as a male God on many sites

Agrona

Origin – Association

Welsh – Strife/Slaughter vs. Crops

Description

A Goddess of the river Aeron – although listed as associated with strife and slaughter, the name Agrona comes from the same root-source as the modern English word Agrinomy ‘crop & field management'(Greek ‘Agros’ = field & Nomos = manage) – and the river name ‘Aeron’ means ‘berries’ in Welsh.

Amaethon

Origin – Association

Welsh – God of Agriculture

Description

Son of Don and brother of Gwydion. He was engaged in a mythical battle with Arawn

Name of Deity

Origin

Association

Description

Andraste

Albion

Goddess of War – The patron Goddess of the Iceni tribe.

This war Goddess’ name means “the invincible one”. Her presence was evoked on the eve of battle to curry favor, and possible ritual sacrifices were given to her. Queen Boadiccea of the Iceni offered sacrifices to Andraste in a sacred grove before fighting the Romans on her many campaigns against them.

Anextiomarus

Albion

British- Celtic Tribal Deity

Arawn

Welsh

Death/Agriculture

King of Annwn, He was the King of the Underworld. His name means “silver-tongued”. “King of Hell”, “God of Annwn”
He fought in the Battle of the Trees (Cad Goddeu) with Bran against Amathaon and Gwyddion. Arawn, like most Otherworld Gods, was a master hunter who rode a pale horse and rode with a pack of white hounds with red ears. The archetypal purpose of the hunt was to gather souls for the Otherworld if the quarry was not smart enough to evade the chase.
Arawn possessed a magickal cauldron of regeneration, later captured by King Arthur.

Arianrhod

Welsh

Moon Goddess -SilverWheel – Corona Borealis

d. of Donn, s. of Gwydion & m. of Lleu Llaw Gyffes & Dylan. She is usually depicted as a pale skinned, fair headed Goddess. Her symbols include the Silver Wheel, weaving implements the full moon and Corona Borealis.

Arnemetia

Albion

Water Goddess

Her shrine was at Aquae Arnemetiae (“waters of Arnemetia”), which is now Buxton in Derbyshire, England. Her name contains Celtic elements “are” meaning “against or beside” and nemeton, meaning “sacred grove”. Her name would then mean “She who dwells in the sacred grove” suggesting Arnemetia may be a divine epithet rather than a name in its own right.

Belenus

 All locations

God of Fire/Sun

Also known as Belenos, Belenus means “the Shining God”. he was worshipped as a Sun God by the Celts across Continental Europe, Britain and Ireland and is regarded by modern historians as a common Celtic God.

Belisama

Albion

Goddess of River Ribble

A Goddess worshipped in Gaul. She is identified with Minerva in the interpretatio romana. The prescence of the Goddess in Britain is more difficult to establish. Based on Ptolemy listing a “Belisama estuary”, River Ribble in England seems to have been known by the name Belisama in Roman times.

Bendigeidfran

 Welsh

Warrior God

Brother Brenwan & Manawydan. The giant King who walked across to Ireland from Wales to confront the abuser of Branwen

Bran

 Irish & Welsh

Hero God – Associated with Ravens

Branwen

Welsh

Love

Daughter of Llyr

Breg

Means ‘of the Earth’

Briganti

Albion

Birth/Midwifer

Goddess of the Brigantes tribe

Brigindo

Albion

Flocks/Cattle

Also connected with the Brigantes tribe

Britannia

Albion

Protection

Romano-Celtic Deity

Brownie

 Scottish

Benevolent Goblin

Cailleach Beara

Irish/ Scottish

Rebirth

Classified as an Old Hag

Camulos

Albion

War God

Deity associated with Colchester

Caswallawn

Albion

War God

Ceridwen

Welsh

War Goddess also Corn Goddess

Clota

Albion

Goddess of River Clyde

Cocidius

Albion

Hunting Deity

Northern Britain

Condatis

Albion

River God

Coventina

Albion

Water/Springs

Carrawburgh – Hadrian’s Wall

Creiddylad

Welsh

Goddess of the Sea

Shakespeare based his character Cordelia on her

Cyhiraeth

Welsh

Goddess of Streams

Her shriek foretold death

Dewi 

Welsh

Fertility God

Y Ddraig Goch- (The Red Dragon)

Dis Domnu

Supreme Celtic God

A Name also used by Caesar

Don

Welsh

Goddess

Counterpart Danu

Dylan

Welsh

Sea God

 Brother of Lleu, son of Gwydion

Edain

Goddess associated with Riding

Counterpart of Epona

Elen (of the ways)

Goddess associated with Deer and Pathways

Epona

Goddess of Horses

Esus

Agriculture

Celtic – lord/master deity of the Essuvi

Govannon

 Welsh

God of Smiths

 son of Don, brothers Amathaon and Gwydion

Gwenn Teir Bronn

Goddess of Motherhood

Gwydion

 Welsh

Warrior/Bard/Magician

son of Don & Beli, father of Lleu & Dylan by his sister Arianrhod

Hafren (Romanised name Sabrina)

 Welsh

Goddess of the River Severn

A legendary princess who was drowned by Gwendolen in the river and made Goddess. Afon Hafren is the Welsh name for the river Severn.

Hooded Spirits

Triad of Celtic deities

Healing and fertility

Hu Gadarn

Welsh

God of Music?

HU – creative word, seed of fire, first sound

Lleu Llaw Gyffes

Welsh

Hero God

Son of Arianrhod and Gwydion

Llyr

Welsh

Sea God

F. of Bran, Branwen, and Manannan

Manawydan ap Llyr

Sea

Maponos

Youth

Math Mathonwy

Sorcery

Murigen

Lake

possibly = Morgan

Nantosuelta

Water

Neit

War

Nemain

Battle

Nemetona

Shrines

Nodens/Nodons

Reference to the River Severn

Nuada (Nuadha)

Leader

Ogma/Ogmios

Eloquence/Learning

Pwyll

Underworld

Rhiannon

Moon

Known as the Silver Wheel – The Aurora Borealis

Rigantona

Moon

May be a counterpart to Rhiannon

Rosmerta

Plenty

Rudianos

Local

Sabrina

[English name]

River Severn

Romanised name for Hafren.

Saone (Souconna)

River

Scathach

War Training

Segomo

War

Shoney

Sea

Sirona (Dirona]

Local

Smertrios

Warrior

Sucellus (Sucellos)

Fertility/Dead

Sul  (Sulla)

Hot Springs

Tailtiu

Earth

Tamesis

Fresh Earth

Taranis (Taran)

Thunder

Tarvos  (Taruos) Trigaranos

Bull

Tethra

Old name for the Sea

Verbeia

River Wharfe

Yonne (Icauni)

River

References:

  • Beck, Noémie (2009). Goddesses in Celtic Religion—Cult and Mythology: A Comparative Study of Ancient Ireland, Britain and Gaul (PhD thesis). Université Lumière Lyon 2, University College of Dublin.
  • Ellis, Peter Berresford, Dictionary of Celtic Mythology (Oxford Paperback Reference), Oxford University Press, (1994): ISBN 0-19-508961-8
  • Green, Miranda (2004). The gods of the Celts. Sparkford, UK: Sutton Publishing.
  • Wood, Juliette, The Celts: Life, Myth, and Art, Thorsons Publishers (2002): ISBN 0-00-764059-5​