Ireland's OWN: Celtic Symbols

Epona, and Other Horse Goddesses
—by Míchealín Daugherty

In Celtic culture, the Goddess Epona was depicted riding a horse, or sometimes a horned goose, through the sky. And, like many Celtic Goddesses, she had a triple aspect, and was sometimes known as "the three Eponae."

Aspects of Epona can be seen in Gaulish, Romano-British, Rhineland and Danubian cultures. She is often depicted in Roman bas-reliefs either riding or standing beside a horse, and occasionally lying naked on the back of one. She was the only Celtic Goddess known to have been honoured in Rome, where she was called Epona Augusta, or Regina.

Epona is one of many Celtic Goddesses who have horse associations.

In Britain, Epona was known as Brigantia, or Great Mother, and it is believed that the concept of "Mother Goose" originated with this Goddess.

In Irish lore, Macha, wife of Crunnchu, had to race against the fastest horse, and died at the winning post whilst giving birth to twins �main Macha (Twins of Macha). Medb (Maeve) of Connacht, the Goddess of sovereignty and insatiable sexuality, could also outrun the fastest horse. �tain or Echraide is the horse-riding, Irish Goddess of reincarnation. Cliodna is the Irish Goddess of the Otherworld, where horse riding was a favourite sport. Nightmares, a name that is derived from that of the female horse, were thought by the Celts to be brought by a visiting horse Goddess. Also in Irish folklore, humans must be captured from atop a white horse at midnight at a faerie fort in order to be saved from the faeries.

In Wales, there is the Great Queen, Rhiannon, who rode a white mare faster than any man could catch her even though it seemed to go at a steady pace, which suggests the moon.

In Scandinavian and Celtic cultures, the eating of horseflesh was, and is, taboo, with the exception of certain pagan rituals meant to celebrate or honour the Mare Goddess during which there is a "sprinkling of bowls with horses blood" to honour the Spirit of the Solar Year, Son of the Mare Goddess.