With water being such an important source of life, many ancient cultures worshipped their rivers as deities. The fluidity of the water was a symbol of time, transformation, rebirth and renewal.
The chalice is the celtic symbol of water, representing the subconscious, intuition and psychic ability. The ancient Celts had a huge respect for “nature spirits” and they worshipped the rivers that flowed through their lands. Myths formed around the rivers just as the ancient Greeks had myths linked with their sacred streams.
The river Ribble in Yorkshire, England was associated with the Roman god Minerva. This river gave oracles on the likely consequences of the constant battles between the English and the Welsh. If the stream flooded the Welsh side, this nation would be victorious and vice-versa.
The Ribble was also associated with Belisma, goddess of all types of fire in Gaulish mythology. Also believed to be goddess of healing and wisdom, Belisma has been linked with the river Mersey due to Ptolemy’s map of Northern Britain showing an estuary called Belisama Aest where the Mersey should be. However it has been argued that the Belisama Aest is more likely the estuary of the modern river Ribble.
The river Dee in Scotland was given divine status, some say as a war goddess called Aefon. The name ‘dee’ is believed to mean goddess and a neighbouring river to the north of the river Dee, the river Don also means ‘goddess.’
Throughout the ancient world, gods and goddesses were attributed to the oceans and rivers and associations of the sea. Aegaeon was the Greek god of sea storms, Brizo, the goddess of sailors and Ceto, goddess of the dangers of the ocean. Thankfulness would be shown to the goddess Galene when the sea was calm. While Poseidon was lord of the sea gods as well as being god of rivers, flood, storms and earthquakes.
According to Aztec mythology, Atlacamani was the goddess of storms at sea while Atlaua, also a water goddess, was called upon by fisherman prior to going to sea, for protection.
The Inuits believed in Aipaloovik who was an evil sea god and Arnapkapfaaluk, another evil personality who controlled the animals of the sea. Nootaikok,was worshipped as the god of ice-bergs and glaciers.
In many parts of the world, sacrifices were made to the rivers to prevent them from claiming the human lives that it was believed they craved. The Spey, in Scotland, for instance required a yearly sacrifice but the spirit of the above-mentioned Ribble was fulfilled with one sacrifice every seven years!
According to Greek mythology, when Diana, daughter of Jupiter was old enough to be independent she presented her father, with a list of demands for her future including her desire to be free to travel the woods and meadows, climb hills and swim across deep rivers. Jupiter granted her requests and gifted her with dogs, nymphs and hunting girls. Diana took her place in the world of the gods, initially as a hunting goddess and then later as goddess of the Rivers, Lakes, Springs, Marshes, Forests and Mountains. In this role she could pursue her destiny roaming the countryside, hunting wild animals and swimming!
In most Gaelic counties, wells were deeply revered, many of these ‘holy wells’ having divine powers such as the ability to cure, provide the ancients with good luck or change the weather. The Celts would give offerings to the well gods or nymphs.
The Celts worshipped Lir (Llyr), god of the sea and Lir’s son, Manannan ruled over the waves. The water goddess Acionna had the power to control movement of the water and was goddess of the springs.
Without water nothing will survive and throughout the world myths centre on this precious gift from the gods. If not associated with a god, springs and wells were seen to be the dwelling places of the gods or it was believed they possessed magical properties such as the ability to cure or divination. Celtic Druids had their sacred wells that would show them the future. They also believed certain rivers and springs to be the entrances to the “Otherworld.”
References
Graves, R “Greek Gods and Heroes”, Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group (2001)
Ford, M “Heroes, Gods and Monsters of Ancient Greek Mythology” Book House (2009)
Rolleston, T W “Celtic Myths and Legands”, Dover Publications (2003)
http://www.theoi.com/Pontios/Triton.html
http://www.call-of-the-sea.com/menu_gods.htm
http://www.theoi.com/greek-mythology/sea-gods.html
© C Somerville. This article has also been published in Yahoo Voices and Helium. Permission to republish in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
The chalice is the celtic symbol of water, representing the subconscious, intuition and psychic ability. The ancient Celts had a huge respect for “nature spirits” and they worshipped the rivers that flowed through their lands. Myths formed around the rivers just as the ancient Greeks had myths linked with their sacred streams.
The river Ribble in Yorkshire, England was associated with the Roman god Minerva. This river gave oracles on the likely consequences of the constant battles between the English and the Welsh. If the stream flooded the Welsh side, this nation would be victorious and vice-versa.
The Ribble was also associated with Belisma, goddess of all types of fire in Gaulish mythology. Also believed to be goddess of healing and wisdom, Belisma has been linked with the river Mersey due to Ptolemy’s map of Northern Britain showing an estuary called Belisama Aest where the Mersey should be. However it has been argued that the Belisama Aest is more likely the estuary of the modern river Ribble.
The river Dee in Scotland was given divine status, some say as a war goddess called Aefon. The name ‘dee’ is believed to mean goddess and a neighbouring river to the north of the river Dee, the river Don also means ‘goddess.’
Throughout the ancient world, gods and goddesses were attributed to the oceans and rivers and associations of the sea. Aegaeon was the Greek god of sea storms, Brizo, the goddess of sailors and Ceto, goddess of the dangers of the ocean. Thankfulness would be shown to the goddess Galene when the sea was calm. While Poseidon was lord of the sea gods as well as being god of rivers, flood, storms and earthquakes.
According to Aztec mythology, Atlacamani was the goddess of storms at sea while Atlaua, also a water goddess, was called upon by fisherman prior to going to sea, for protection.
The Inuits believed in Aipaloovik who was an evil sea god and Arnapkapfaaluk, another evil personality who controlled the animals of the sea. Nootaikok,was worshipped as the god of ice-bergs and glaciers.
In many parts of the world, sacrifices were made to the rivers to prevent them from claiming the human lives that it was believed they craved. The Spey, in Scotland, for instance required a yearly sacrifice but the spirit of the above-mentioned Ribble was fulfilled with one sacrifice every seven years!
According to Greek mythology, when Diana, daughter of Jupiter was old enough to be independent she presented her father, with a list of demands for her future including her desire to be free to travel the woods and meadows, climb hills and swim across deep rivers. Jupiter granted her requests and gifted her with dogs, nymphs and hunting girls. Diana took her place in the world of the gods, initially as a hunting goddess and then later as goddess of the Rivers, Lakes, Springs, Marshes, Forests and Mountains. In this role she could pursue her destiny roaming the countryside, hunting wild animals and swimming!
In most Gaelic counties, wells were deeply revered, many of these ‘holy wells’ having divine powers such as the ability to cure, provide the ancients with good luck or change the weather. The Celts would give offerings to the well gods or nymphs.
The Celts worshipped Lir (Llyr), god of the sea and Lir’s son, Manannan ruled over the waves. The water goddess Acionna had the power to control movement of the water and was goddess of the springs.
Without water nothing will survive and throughout the world myths centre on this precious gift from the gods. If not associated with a god, springs and wells were seen to be the dwelling places of the gods or it was believed they possessed magical properties such as the ability to cure or divination. Celtic Druids had their sacred wells that would show them the future. They also believed certain rivers and springs to be the entrances to the “Otherworld.”
References
Graves, R “Greek Gods and Heroes”, Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group (2001)
Ford, M “Heroes, Gods and Monsters of Ancient Greek Mythology” Book House (2009)
Rolleston, T W “Celtic Myths and Legands”, Dover Publications (2003)
http://www.theoi.com/Pontios/Triton.html
http://www.call-of-the-sea.com/menu_gods.htm
http://www.theoi.com/greek-mythology/sea-gods.html
© C Somerville. This article has also been published in Yahoo Voices and Helium. Permission to republish in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.