The Celtic deities are known from a variety of sources such as written Celtic mythology, ancient places of worship, statues, engravings, religious objects, as well as place and personal names.
Celtic deities can belong to two categories: general and local. General deities were known by the Celts throughout large regions, and are the gods and goddesses called upon for protection, healing, luck, and honour. The local deities from Celtic nature worship were the spirits of a particular feature of the landscape, such as mountains, trees, or rivers, and thus were generally only known by the locals in the surrounding areas.
After Celtic lands became Christianised, there were attempts by Christian writers to euhemerize most of the pre-Christian deities. Some scholars have suggested that a few others, such as Brigit, may have become Saints in the Church. The Tuatha Dé Danann of Irish mythology, who were commonly interpreted as divinities or deified ancestors, were downgraded in Christian writing to fallen or ‘half-fallen’ angels, historical men, or demons; the latter has been the most common Christian view on most pagan deities. In many cases, traditions or practices, such as the reverence of holy wells, which often became baptismals, and most of which predate the coming of Christianity, that were considered redeemable were co-opted or reinterpreted as Christian.
Ancient Gallic deities The Gauls inhabited the region corresponding to modern-day France, Belgium, Switzerland, southern and western Germany, Luxembourg and northern Italy. They spoke Gallic. The Celtic Britons inhabited most of the island of Great Britain and spoke Common Brittonic or British.
Female Abnoba - Gaulish goddess worshipped in the Black Forest Acionna - Gaulish goddess of the river EssonneMacCulloch. Adsagsona - Gallic goddess of magic named on the Larzac tabletMees 68. Adsullata - goddess of the River Sava Agronā - hypothetical Brittonic goddess of the River Ayr Alantedoba - a goddess in Val Camonica Ancamna - Gallic goddess in the Moselle Valley Ancasta - Brittonic goddess of Clausentum Andarta - Gallic goddess Andrasta - Brittonic goddess of victory Annea Clivana - Gallic goddess of the Cenomani Apadeva - a water goddess Arduinna - Gallic goddess of the Ardennes Forest Arnemetia - Brittonic goddess of nemetons Artio - Gallic goddess of the bear Axona - Gallic goddess of the river AisneAnwyl 38. Beira - see Cailleach Belisama - Gallic and Brittonic goddess Bergusia - Gallic goddess of Alesia, companion of Ucuetis Bormana - Gallic goddess of mineral springs, companion of Bormanos Bricta (Brixta) - Gallic goddess of Luxeuil mineral springs, companion of Luxovios Brigantia - Brittonic goddess of the Brigantes Cailleach - goddess of landscape and weather, particularly important in Scotland; also known as Beira Carpundia - a river goddess Carvonia - a goddess in Noricumde Bernardo Stempel; Kos. Cathubodua - Gallic war goddess Caticatona - Gallic water goddess in RauranumNicholson 132. Cissonia - Gallic goddess of trade, companion of Cissonius Clota - hypothetical Brittonic goddess of the River Clyde Coventina - Brittonic goddess of wells and springs Damona - Gallic goddess of mineral springs, consort of Apollo Borvo and of Apollo Moritasgus Dea Latis - Brittonic goddess of bogs and pools, companion of Deus Latis Dea Matrona - "divine mother goddess" and goddess of the River Marne in Gaul DivonaNicholson 137. - Gallic goddess of sacred springs and rivers Epona - fertility goddess, protector of horses Erecura - goddess of death and fertility Hafren - Brittonic goddess of the River Severn, also known as Sabrina Icauna - Gallic goddess of the river Yonne Icovellauna - Gallic goddess in the Moselle Valley Imona - a Gallic well goddess in RauranumNicholson xvi. Inciona - Gallic goddess of the Treveri Lerina - Gallic patron goddess of Lérins Islands, companion of Lero Litavis - Gallic earth goddess Maiabus - Gallic goddess in MetzOlivares Pedreño 635. Matronae Dervonnae - Gallic mother goddesses in Cisalpine GaulMurley 87.Anwyl 41. Matronae Vediantiae (Deae Vediantiae) - Gallic mother goddesses in Alpes Maritimae Maximia - fountain goddess in Amélie-les-BainsNicholson 160. Nemetona - Celtic goddess with roots in north-eastern Gaul. Nehalennia - sea goddess in Zeeland Nantosuelta - Gallic goddess, companion of Sucellos Pritona - see Ritona below Rhiannon - late Celtic goddess associated with horses, fertility, rebirth, the moon, mercy, and justice; also known as the goddess of forgiveness and understanding; a major figure in Welsh mythology Ricagambeda - Brittonic goddess Ritona (Pritona) - Gallic goddess of the Treveri Rosmerta - Gallic goddess of fertility and abundance Sabrina - see Hafren above Seixomniai Leuciticai - a Celtic goddess, equated with Diana Senuna - Brittonic goddess Sequana - Gallic goddess of the River Seine Setlocenia - North Brittonic goddess of long life Silgina - goddess of springs Sirona - Gallic goddess of healing Suleviae - triune mother goddess Sulis - Brittonic goddess of the healing spring at Aquae Sulis (Bath) Tamesis - Brittonic goddess of the River Thames Veica Noriceia - a goddess attested in Noricum Verbeia - Brittonic goddess of the River Wharfe Vesunna - Gallic goddess of the Petrocorii Vibēs - a goddess in Noricum
Male Abandinus - a Brittonic god of Durovigutum Alaunus (Alaunos) - a Gallic god of healing and prophecy Alisanos - a Gallic god Alus - an agricultural god of Cisalpine GaulMurley 90. Ambisagrus - a god in Aquileia Arubianus - a god in Noricum Atepomarus - a Gallic horse god Bedaius - a lake god in NoricumTabbernee. Belatucadros (Bitucadros) - a Brittonic god Belenus (Belenos) - a god of healing Bergimus - a mountain god of Cisalpine GaulMurley v. Borvo (Bormanos) - god of healing springs Brasennus - a god known from a lone inscription in Cisalpine Gaul CaletosAnwyl 39. Camulus - Brittonic deity identified with Mars Caturix - war god of the Helvetii Cernunnos (Carnonos) - an antlered god Cissonius - a Gallic god of tradeAdkins and Adkins, 283. Mars Cnabetius - a Gallic god of war, , Condatis - a Gallic and Brittonic god of the confluences of rivers Cunomaglus - a Brittonic hunter godFreeman 4. Cuslanus - a god in Cisalpine Gaul associated with Jupiter Deus Latis - a Brittonic god Deus Ducavavius - a god known from a lone inscription in Cisalpine Gaul Deus Orevaius - a god known from a lone inscription at Cemenelum Dorminus - god of the hot springs at Aquae Statiellae Intarabus - a Gallic god of the Treveri Esus - a Gallic god Glanis - Gallic god of Glanum Gobannus (Gobannos) - a Gallic and Brittonic smith god Grannus - a healing god Ialonus Contrebis - a Brittonic and Gallic god Latobius - a god in NoricumDimitz 15. Lenus - god of healing worshipped mainly in eastern Gaul, almost always identified with Mars Lero - Gallic patron god of Lérins IslandsAdkins 294. Loucetios - a Gallic god of thunder Luxovius - Romano-Gallic god of the waters of Luxovium (Luxeuil-les-Bains); a consort of Bricta Maponos - a Brittonic and Gallic god of youth Matunos - a Brittonic and Gallic bear god Moccus - a Gallic god of boars and pigs Moritasgus - Gallic healing god of Alesia Mullo - a Gallic god in Armorica Nemausus - Gallic god of Nîmes Niskus - a Brittonic river god Nodens (Nodons) - a Brittonic god of healing, dogs and hunting Ogmios - a Gallic god of eloquence Paronnus - a god known from a lone inscription at Brixia Rudiobus - a Gallic god in Loiret Smertrios - a Gallic god Souolibrogenos - a Galatian godKoch 849. Sucellus (Sucellos) - a Gallic and Brittonic god of agriculture and wine Tavianos - a Galatian godRoymans and Derks 134. Taranis (Tanaros) - a god of thunder Toutatis - a tribal protector god Telesphorus - a Galatian god Tridamos - a Brittonic god Ucuetis - Gallic blacksmith god of Alesia Vellaunus - a Brittonic and Gallic god Vernostonos - a Brittonic god Vindonnus - an epithet for Belenus Vinotonus - a Brittonic god of Lavatrae Viridios - a Brittonic god of Ancaster Virotutis - a Gallic epithet of Apollo Visucius - a Gallo-Roman god of trade Vosegus - Gallic god of the Vosges Mountains Viscosus - Gallic king of the gods
Iberian Celtic deities
The Celtiberians and Gallaecians were ancient Celtic peoples in Iberia. They spoke Hispano-Celtic languages.
Female Asidiae Ataegina (Ataecina) Besenclā (Besenclae) - a community and house protector Broeneiae Coruae Cosuneae Crougeae (Corougiae) Deae sanctae (Burrulobrigensi) Deiba Epona (Epane, Iccona) Erbina - a goddess of wild animals, hunting, and domestic securityOlivares Pedreño 610. Ermae Flauiae Conimbriga (Flauiae Conimbrigae) IlurbedaOlivares Pedreño 614. Lacipaea (Lacibiā, Lacibea) Laneana (Laneanis) - a goddess of springs and floods LosaOlivares Pedreño 611. Luna AugustaRankin 263. Mirobleo Munidis Nabia (Navia) - versatile goddess Nymphis Ocrimirae Reva (Reua) - personification of water flowsSimón. Toga Trebaruna Trebopala Tutelae
Male AernusArenas-Esteban 110. Aetio Araco Ares Lusitani BanduaOlivares Pedreño 638. Bormanicus (Bormo, Borvo) Cariocecus Carneo CohueOlivares Pedreño 609. Cosus (Cossue, Coso)Olivares Pedreño 612. Crouga Duberdicus Deo NemedecoArenas-Esteban 111. Deo Paramaeco Endovelicus ErriapusDorsey 59. Issibaeo Kuanikio (Quangeio, Quangeius)Olivares Pedreño 636. Lugus Mermandiceo Picio ReoOlivares Pedreño 626. SalamaOlivares Pedreño 627. SucellusOlivares Pedreño 607. TabaliaenusOlivares Pedreño 632. Tabudico Tongoenabiagus Turiacus VorteaeceoArenas-Esteban 112. VisuciusOlivares Pedreño 631.
Gaelic deities and characters
The Gaels inhabit Ireland, the Isle of Man and most of western and northern Scotland. They speak the Goidelic languages.
Female Achtland Aibell Aimend Aífe Áine - goddess of summer, wealth and sovereignty Airmed - goddess of healing and herbalismCoulter and Turner 151. Anu - probable goddess of the earth and fertility,Lurker 13. called "mother of the Irish gods" in Cormac's GlossaryKoch 1693-1697. Bec Bébinn (Béfind) Bé Chuille Bodhmall Boann - goddess of the River Boyne, called Bouvinda by PtolemyWilliams 28. Brigit (Bríd or Bridget) - called a ‘goddess of poets’ in Cormac's Glossary, with her sisters Brigid the healer and Brigid the smithMacCulloch 101. Some scholars believe that Brigit of Kildare was a Christian re-making of Brigit, but this is disputed. Caillech (Beira, Biróg) - an ancestral creator and weather goddess Canola Carman Cethlenn - wife of Balor of the Fomorians Clídna Clothru Danand (Danu) Deirdre - the foremost tragic heroine in Irish legend Duibne - attested as in Archaic Irish and preserved in the name of the Corcu Duibne Ériu, Banba & Fódla - tutelary triumvirate of goddesses, sisters, eponymous for Ireland (mainly Ériu) Ernmas Étaín - the heroine of Tochmarc Étaíne Ethniu (Ethliu) - the daughter of the Fomorian leader Balor and the mother of Lugh Fand Finnabair Flidais Fuamnach Gráinne Grian Lí Ban Loígde - attested as in Archaic Irish and preserved in the name of the Corcu Loígde Macha Medb (Medb Lethderg) Mongfind The Morrígan, Badb, Nemain - also known as "The Three Morrígna" Mór Muman (Mugain) Niamh Sadhbh Tailtiu Tlachtga
Male Abarta Abcán Abhean Aed Aengus (Óengus, Macán) Ailill Aillen Aí Balor Bith Bodb Dearg Bres Builg - a god of the Fir BholgGreen 18. Cermait Cian Cichol Conand Crom Cruach The Dagda (Dáire) Dian Cecht - called a "god of health" in Cormac's GlossaryWilliams 81 DonnCoulter and Turner 155. Ecne Elatha Goibniu, Credne & Luchta - called the "three gods of craft" Labraid Lén Lir Lugh - also attested as in Archaic IrishWilliams 18. Mac Cuill, Mac Cecht, Mac Gréine Manannán mac Lir Miach Midir Mug Ruith Néit - called a "god of war" in Cormac's Glossary