DeDanaan

Filed by Aine MacDermot

Shape changing is another theme generally involving animals. Sometimes humans are changed into the shape of other humans. Merlin, King Uther Pendragon, Pwyll, and King Arawn are examples. However, the forms changed into are most often those of animals. MacCulloch and Davidson make several references to people being changed into animals as punishment. This happens in the story Math Son of Mathonwy. Generally, the animal shape is usually taken voluntarily in order to guard something or to gain an advantage in combat.

Spirits and supernatural beings also take animal forms to guard something. According to Celtic myths, each holy place generally has a spirit guardian in the form of an animal. Each well, a spring, a river, a mound, or a grove often is likely to have its own spirit. Water places would have a guardian in the form of a fish (MacCulloch, 186). Gods from the other world can assume animal forms for other reasons, also. The god Lug may have become the small life that Deichtine consumed in order to become Cúchulainn, the guardian of the tribe of Ulster.

Battle while in animal form is commonly seen during a fight between two powerful opponents. The two pig keepers, Friuch and Rucht, assumed the shapes of many creatures to try to gain an advantage over one another after their rivalry escalated into a long fight (Kinsella, 46-50). On a smaller scale, Morrí­gan fought against Cúchulainn using three different animal shapes in her efforts to gain an advantage (Kinsella, 132-137). Kinsella, 77, 150-153, 195). Not all shape changes in battle are offensive. One example that describes shape changing in a defensive manner is Gwion Bach’s attempt to escape from Ceridwen by using different animal forms (Ford, 164, 173). Another is Lleu Llaw Gyffes’ escape from an assassination by fleeing in the shape of an eagle (Ford, 106-107).

In conclusion, the most frequently used animal symbols of the boar, fish, serpent, bird, and herd animals are closely connected with the physical well being of the tribe. Divination of future events and past wisdom can be gained through proper use of animals. Very powerful opponents take the shapes of animals for extra power. Spirits and supernatural beings also take animal forms, often temporarily, before being reborn to guard a land or clan and thus its fertility. Thus, animals symbolize the essence of fertility and vitality in Welsh and Celtic mythology.

Bibliography

Baines, Keith, trans. Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur: King Arthur and the Legends of the Round Table. Penguin Books: New York, NY, USA, 1962. xi-xx, 22-43, 118-136, 472-512

Davidson, H.R. Ellis. Myths and Symbols in Pagan Europe: Early Scandinavian and Celtic Religions. Syracuse University Press: Syracuse, NY, USA, 1988. 87, 90, 107

Ford, Patrick K., trans. The Mabinogi and Other Medieval Welsh Tales. University of California Press: Berkeley, CA, USA, 1977.

Kinsella, Thomas, trans. The Tain. Oxford University Press: Oxford, England, 1969.

MacCulloch, J. A. The Religion of the Ancient Celts. T. and T. Clark : Edinburgh, Scotland 1911.

Pilkington, F. M., ed. “Deirdre and the Sons of Uisne.” The Three Sorrowful Tales of Erin. The Bodley Head: London, England 1965. 127-232

Powell, T.G.E. The Celts. New Ed., Thames and Hudson: New York, NY, USA, 1980.

Sharkey, John. Celtic Mysteries: The Ancient Religion. Crossroad: New York, NY, USA, 1975.

Spector, Norman B., trans. The Romance of Tristan and Isolt. Northwestern University Press: Evanston, USA, 1973

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Source : Animal Symbolism in Celtic Mythology

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