The Morrigan - prints

The Morrigan, the Goddess of battle, fate and fertility, is one of Irish mythology’s more formidable figures. She is sometimes seen as a stand alone Goddess but is also considered to be part of a triple deity alongside Badb and Nemain. She was considered to be a Goddess who encouraged bravery on the part of warriors in battle and who could foretell of their death and in this role she appears in the famous Táin where she predicts the killing of Cúchullain. Her name has been translated as both Phantom Queen or Great Queen, as in the modern Irish version, Mór-Ríoghain. Appearing in different forms such as a young woman or hag, she is most famous for taking on the guise of the raven.

Illustration from an original by Margaret McKenna