The Morrígan

Shapeshifting goddess of war, fate and sovereignty, daughter of Ernmas, who haunts the battlefield as a crow.

Domains

• war fate
• sovereignty prophecy

Powers

• Shift into crow, eel, wolf and heifer
• Foretell and decide the outcome of battle

Epithets

• Mór-Ríoghan / Mór-rígan old-irish · cultGreat queen / phantom-queen (interpretation of the name)Cath Maige Tuired (primary); MacKillop, Dictionary of Celtic Mythology, s.v. Mórrígan (secondary)
• Anand / Ana old-irish · cultBy-name of the Morrígan (with the Paps of Anu place-name)Cormac's Glossary (Sanas Cormaic), s.v. Ana (primary); Lebor Gabála Érenn (primary)
• Badb Catha old-irish · cultBattle-crow; one of the war-fury triad with the MorríganCath Maige Tuired §167 (primary); MacKillop, Dictionary of Celtic Mythology, s.v. Badb (secondary)
• Macha latin · Macha · literaryOne of the three Morrígna (war-goddess triad); the sovereignty- and battle-goddess of Emain MachaLebor Gabála Érenn; Cath Maige Tuired; the medieval glossaries (primary)
• Nemain latin · Nemain · literaryThe Venomous / Battle-frenzy; one of the war-fury triad who terrifies armiesCath Maige Tuired; Táin Bó Cúailnge (primary)

Relations

• lover: The DagdaReciprocal of irish_dagda.lover — The Dagda unites with the Morrígan astride the river Unius at Samhain; she then pledges aid against the Fomorians. (His union with Boann is recorded on Boann's entry.)Cath Maige Tuired (Second Battle of Mag Tuired), §84 (primary)
• sibling: ÉriuThe Morrígan, Badb and Macha are daughters of Ernmas, as are Ériu, Banba and Fódla; the war-goddesses and sovereignty-goddesses are reckoned sisters. (Her union with the Dagda is on his entry.)Lebor Gabála Érenn §64; Cath Maige Tuired (primary)

Sources

• existence: Cath Maige Tuired; Táin Bó Cúailnge; Lebor Gabála Érenn (primary)