The Green Man may well sound like a creature out of a child’s nightmare but in ancient times, he was also a Celtic God of the Woodlands.
Perhaps one of the most ancient of mythical figures in ancient Europe and even further afield, this horned deity was also god of vegetation, life energy and fertility. Known as the Dark One or Arddhu by the Welsh, he is usually portrayed as a giant figure with a human face clad in forest foliage.
The Green Man’s archetype can be found in many myths and legends, for instance in the 14th century tale of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. In this legend, the Green Knight represents the ‘old religion’ of the British Isle.
Not so scary a figure in Roman mythology, Diana, goddess of the hunt also became associated with woodlands. Her powers however were equally as potent. Believing her body to be sacred, no man was allowed to see her naked. One day a hunter came across Diana bathing in a pool and she was so angry she turned him into a stag!
Diana, as a young girl, enjoyed her independence and was never happier than when surrounded by lithe young nymphs, hunting deer and wild boar in the depths of the forest. When she was old enough she approached her father, Jupiter, to say she had no wish to get married but wanted to be free to travel through woods and meadows and swim the rivers.
Her demands did not stop there. She also wanted to enjoy these pleasures with sixty young women who loved hunting as much as she did and on returning from her hunting trips there should be a score of nymphs ready to pick up her bow, her javelin and sandals and to take care of her faithful hounds!
The generous god Jupiter, amused by her request, granted her it all and so Diana took up her place initially as goddess of the chase and then as goddess of the forests and mountains.
Diana was also associated with the Greek goddess of the woodland, Artemis and another woodland god, Virbius.
Hippolytus, according to some myths, devoted himself to a chaste life in pursuit of hunting, after having scorned the beautiful goddess Aphrodite. In Italy, Hippolytus was given the name Virbius while in other myths Hippolytus was a woodland god or tree spirit of the sacred grove of Aricia near Rome. It is this myth among others that links the goddess Artemis with Diana.
Aricia, according to ancient legend was the last one of the Pallantides. She married Virbius (also known as Hippolytus) after she was brought back to life at Artemis’ request. Artemis, one of the major Greek goddesses was a fierce hunter and protector. Tall, slim and very beautiful, she ruled over the countryside, the hunt, wild animals, forests and mountains.
Another goddess associated with wild life was Ardwinna who ruled over animals and the woodlands and who haunted the forests of Great Britain riding a wild boar. While Cernunnos (also known as the Hunter, Hu Gadam and Vitiris) was a Celtic god of nature who ruled over animals and the woodlands.
In Ireland, goddess of the woodlands was Flidais who rode through the woods in a chariot drawn by deer. This goddess owned a herd of supernatural cattle and her most famous cow, Maol, gave so much milk that she could nourish three hundred men and all their families too, in the one day!
So within many ancient cultures all around the world can be found gods and goddesses of the woodlands many associated with one another. A mention must also be made of Merlin, associated with Arhurian legends, who although not a god, was the druid and magician who ruled over herbs, healing, nature and woodlands.
Early man, all over the world, was naturally attuned to the forces of nature, the cycles of the seasons and the environment around him. All this played a significant part in the myths and legends passed down from one generation to another. The many woodland gods and goddesses illustrate a link too, between all cultures and how nature was a universal source of inspiration.
Sources
Ford, M “Heroes, Gods and Monsters of Ancient Greek Mythology” Book House (2009)
http://www.ecopsychology.org/journal/ezine/green_man.html
http://www.mythome.org/Greekconcord.html
http://www.lugodoc.demon.co.uk/CERNUNOS.HTM
http://www.lundyisleofavalon.co.uk/godsetc/diana.htm
http://www.ancienttexts.org/library/celtic/ctexts/flidais.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.
Perhaps one of the most ancient of mythical figures in ancient Europe and even further afield, this horned deity was also god of vegetation, life energy and fertility. Known as the Dark One or Arddhu by the Welsh, he is usually portrayed as a giant figure with a human face clad in forest foliage.
The Green Man’s archetype can be found in many myths and legends, for instance in the 14th century tale of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. In this legend, the Green Knight represents the ‘old religion’ of the British Isle.
Not so scary a figure in Roman mythology, Diana, goddess of the hunt also became associated with woodlands. Her powers however were equally as potent. Believing her body to be sacred, no man was allowed to see her naked. One day a hunter came across Diana bathing in a pool and she was so angry she turned him into a stag!
Diana, as a young girl, enjoyed her independence and was never happier than when surrounded by lithe young nymphs, hunting deer and wild boar in the depths of the forest. When she was old enough she approached her father, Jupiter, to say she had no wish to get married but wanted to be free to travel through woods and meadows and swim the rivers.
Her demands did not stop there. She also wanted to enjoy these pleasures with sixty young women who loved hunting as much as she did and on returning from her hunting trips there should be a score of nymphs ready to pick up her bow, her javelin and sandals and to take care of her faithful hounds!
The generous god Jupiter, amused by her request, granted her it all and so Diana took up her place initially as goddess of the chase and then as goddess of the forests and mountains.
Diana was also associated with the Greek goddess of the woodland, Artemis and another woodland god, Virbius.
Hippolytus, according to some myths, devoted himself to a chaste life in pursuit of hunting, after having scorned the beautiful goddess Aphrodite. In Italy, Hippolytus was given the name Virbius while in other myths Hippolytus was a woodland god or tree spirit of the sacred grove of Aricia near Rome. It is this myth among others that links the goddess Artemis with Diana.
Aricia, according to ancient legend was the last one of the Pallantides. She married Virbius (also known as Hippolytus) after she was brought back to life at Artemis’ request. Artemis, one of the major Greek goddesses was a fierce hunter and protector. Tall, slim and very beautiful, she ruled over the countryside, the hunt, wild animals, forests and mountains.
Another goddess associated with wild life was Ardwinna who ruled over animals and the woodlands and who haunted the forests of Great Britain riding a wild boar. While Cernunnos (also known as the Hunter, Hu Gadam and Vitiris) was a Celtic god of nature who ruled over animals and the woodlands.
In Ireland, goddess of the woodlands was Flidais who rode through the woods in a chariot drawn by deer. This goddess owned a herd of supernatural cattle and her most famous cow, Maol, gave so much milk that she could nourish three hundred men and all their families too, in the one day!
So within many ancient cultures all around the world can be found gods and goddesses of the woodlands many associated with one another. A mention must also be made of Merlin, associated with Arhurian legends, who although not a god, was the druid and magician who ruled over herbs, healing, nature and woodlands.
Early man, all over the world, was naturally attuned to the forces of nature, the cycles of the seasons and the environment around him. All this played a significant part in the myths and legends passed down from one generation to another. The many woodland gods and goddesses illustrate a link too, between all cultures and how nature was a universal source of inspiration.
Sources
Ford, M “Heroes, Gods and Monsters of Ancient Greek Mythology” Book House (2009)
http://www.ecopsychology.org/journal/ezine/green_man.html
http://www.mythome.org/Greekconcord.html
http://www.lugodoc.demon.co.uk/CERNUNOS.HTM
http://www.lundyisleofavalon.co.uk/godsetc/diana.htm
http://www.ancienttexts.org/library/celtic/ctexts/flidais.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.