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Books > Religion & Spirituality > Non-Christian religions > Pre-Christian European & Mediterranean religions > Ancient Celtic religion
Ireland is flooded, derelict. It never stops raining. The Kid in
Yellow has stolen the babba from the Earlie King. Why? Something to
do with the King's daughter, and a talking statue, something
godawful. And from every wall the King's Eye watches. And yet the
city is full of hearts-defiant-sprayed in yellow, the mark of the
Kid. It cannot end well. Can it? Follow the Kid, hear the tale.
Roll up! Roll up!
Standing astride the British landscape, looms the giant blue form
of the Cailleach. Whether she is seen as a benevolent earth-shaping
giantess, harsh winter hag goddess, shape-shifting crone, guardian
of sacred wells and animals, or ancient bestower of sovereignty;
the Cailleach appears in many roles and manifestations in myths and
legends across the British Isles. Tracking the Cailleach across
thousands of years through folklore, literature and place names,
the authors have uncovered startling references which hint at a
hidden priestess cult worshipping the Cailleach from ancient times
through into the twentieth century. By exploring her myths and
legends, they demonstrate the hugely significant role of the
Cailleach in the early history of the British Isles. The
demonization of the Cailleach through the Middle Ages by the
Christian Church paralleled that of women and witches, and is
reflected in various other supernatural hag figures possibly
derived from her and discussed in detail, such as Black Annis, Gyre
Carling, Mia Lia, Nicneven and the Old Woman of the Mountain.
Looking beyond the veil of the sacred landscape, the vision of the
Cailleach confronts the seeker, in hills and rocks, lakes and
wells, burial chambers and stormy skies. Now finally the primal
elemental power of the Cailleach is revealed in her full glory, in
the tales and places of Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man; as
well as in traces of her presence in England, Wales, Jersey,
Brittany, Spain and Norway. This unique and ground-breaking work
brings together for the first time the wealth of folklore, stories
and legends regarding this most significant of British supernatural
figures, whose myths and wisdom are as relevant today as they have
ever been.
A very readable guide which fills the gap between academic analysis
and less critical retellings of the myths and legends. Marytn
Whittock provides an accessible overview while also assessing the
current state of research regarding the origins and significance of
the myths. Since all records of the myths first occur in the early
medieval period, the focus is on the survival of pre-Christian
mythology and the interactions of the early Christian writers with
these myths. A wide-ranging and enthralling introduction to Celtic
mythology, from the Irish gods before gods, the Fomorians, to the
children of Llyr, the sea deity; from the hunter-warrior Fionn mac
Cumhaill, whose exploits are chronicled in the Fenian Cycle, to Cu
Chulainn, the Hound of Ulster; and from the Welsh heroes of the
Mabinogion to Arthur, King of Britain, though the mythical, Welsh
version who predates the medieval legends.
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