Copyright 2007 * Celtic Symbols * All Rights Reserved
It is no wonder that animal symbols were enormously important to Celtic populations, considering that they depended so completely on animals for their food, clothing, tools, etc. Animals in general represent fertility, vitality and the natural life cycle. They are often connected with the world of spirits and gods, and their sacred nature is reflected in the hunting tales of shape-changing and magic. Apart from their general association with life, growth and reproduction, according to their particular characteristics different animals were used to symbolise different powers, attributes or gifts.
The main Celtic animal symbols are:
HORSE
The Celtic horse symbol was associated with victory in war. The Celtic horse-goddess Epona (from epos, the Gaulish word for 'horse'), or the 'Great Mare', was worshipped by the Gauls and was so popular that the Romans adopted her cult and built a temple to her.
The horse goddess Epona was believed
to accompany the soul of the dying on its
final journey.
The Uffington White Horse (right),
Britain's oldest and most famous hill
figure, is widely believed to be a Celtic
symbol representing Epona.
BULL
The bull is a symbol of physical and mental strength,
of 'bull-headed' perseverance. Like other animals
with similar characteristics it also represents virility
and fertility; its symbols, in fact, were worn in the
bed chamber on the wedding night to encourage
sexual strength and endurance. The bull also
represented wealth, since its presence in the lives
of the Celts meant abundance and plenty.
WILD BOAR
In Celtic mythology the wild boar was sacred to
the goddess Arduinna (of the Ardennes Forest
of Belgium and Luxembourg); in some Celtic
myths it had the role of leading its hunters to the
Otherworld.
The boar was a symbol of fearlessness and
strength. In the hunt the boar was not an easy
prey; it was courageous, fierce and difficult to kill, and naturally commanded the respect of its hunters. To Celtic warriors, therefore, it was the symbol of victory and bravery, and they often wore boar amulets to protect themselves in battle.
The boar was depicted on coins and artefacts more than any other animal except for the horse, and generally displayed extremely large and spiky bristles, suggesting that the power of the wild boar resided here. Many Celtic myths, in fact, emphasise the important feature of the bristles.
STAG
The most important and famous Celtic symbol
associated with the stag is that of Cernunnos,
the horned (antlered) god of all wild animals,
hunting and fertility and the consort of the Great
Mother. Cernunnos represents the active side of
nature; consequently, he is the god of sexuality
(in the detail on the left he is depicted holding a
torc in one hand and a serpent in the other -
symbols of female and male sexuality). This
characteristic caused him to be branded as evil
by the early Christian Church, which identified
him with Satan himself.
In actual fact, Cernunnos was by no means an
evil god, but the fact that he was worshipped by
pagan Celtic populations as the god of all things
made him an altogether too popular rival for the
Church.
The horned god is also associated with another well-known symbol, the
Green Man.
In Celtic mythology the white stag is a sign of the Otherworld, and appears to the heroes of stories to indicate the entrance to the otherworld or the presence of gods or spirits (the white stag appears at the beginning and end of the
Narnia adventure in C.S. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe).
SERPENT
Due to its unique characteristic represented by the cyclical shedding of its skin, the serpent was the Celtic symbol of rebirth and was widely referred as an immortal creature that came to life each year after hibernation, complete with
a new skin. The serpent is also both a phallic symbol (it is often seen depicted with Cernunnos, as in the figure above) and, paradoxically, a Celtic symbol of feminine power. It is also associated with the element of water.
The main Celtic animal symbols are:
HORSE
The Celtic horse symbol was associated with victory in war. The Celtic horse-goddess Epona (from epos, the Gaulish word for 'horse'), or the 'Great Mare', was worshipped by the Gauls and was so popular that the Romans adopted her cult and built a temple to her.
The horse goddess Epona was believed
to accompany the soul of the dying on its
final journey.
The Uffington White Horse (right),
Britain's oldest and most famous hill
figure, is widely believed to be a Celtic
symbol representing Epona.
BULL
The bull is a symbol of physical and mental strength,
of 'bull-headed' perseverance. Like other animals
with similar characteristics it also represents virility
and fertility; its symbols, in fact, were worn in the
bed chamber on the wedding night to encourage
sexual strength and endurance. The bull also
represented wealth, since its presence in the lives
of the Celts meant abundance and plenty.
WILD BOAR
In Celtic mythology the wild boar was sacred to
the goddess Arduinna (of the Ardennes Forest
of Belgium and Luxembourg); in some Celtic
myths it had the role of leading its hunters to the
Otherworld.
The boar was a symbol of fearlessness and
strength. In the hunt the boar was not an easy
prey; it was courageous, fierce and difficult to kill, and naturally commanded the respect of its hunters. To Celtic warriors, therefore, it was the symbol of victory and bravery, and they often wore boar amulets to protect themselves in battle.
The boar was depicted on coins and artefacts more than any other animal except for the horse, and generally displayed extremely large and spiky bristles, suggesting that the power of the wild boar resided here. Many Celtic myths, in fact, emphasise the important feature of the bristles.
STAG
The most important and famous Celtic symbol
associated with the stag is that of Cernunnos,
the horned (antlered) god of all wild animals,
hunting and fertility and the consort of the Great
Mother. Cernunnos represents the active side of
nature; consequently, he is the god of sexuality
(in the detail on the left he is depicted holding a
torc in one hand and a serpent in the other -
symbols of female and male sexuality). This
characteristic caused him to be branded as evil
by the early Christian Church, which identified
him with Satan himself.
In actual fact, Cernunnos was by no means an
evil god, but the fact that he was worshipped by
pagan Celtic populations as the god of all things
made him an altogether too popular rival for the
Church.
The horned god is also associated with another well-known symbol, the
Green Man.
In Celtic mythology the white stag is a sign of the Otherworld, and appears to the heroes of stories to indicate the entrance to the otherworld or the presence of gods or spirits (the white stag appears at the beginning and end of the
Narnia adventure in C.S. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe).
SERPENT
Due to its unique characteristic represented by the cyclical shedding of its skin, the serpent was the Celtic symbol of rebirth and was widely referred as an immortal creature that came to life each year after hibernation, complete with
a new skin. The serpent is also both a phallic symbol (it is often seen depicted with Cernunnos, as in the figure above) and, paradoxically, a Celtic symbol of feminine power. It is also associated with the element of water.
Detail of Cernunnos
(Gunderstrup Cauldron
(I-II Century B.C.)
(Gunderstrup Cauldron
(I-II Century B.C.)
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The Uffington Horse as seen from above.
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FISH
To the sea-faring and fishing Celts the fish was
also of central importance. The Celtic symbol of
the fish, especially the salmon, represents know-
ledge, wisdom, prophecy and mystic inspiration.
In Celtic mythology the Salmon of Wisdom were
the keepers of all knowledge, which they gained
by eating the nuts of the sacred hazel trees.
Salmon and trout were often linked to sacred
wells and springs, which were places of physical
healing and Celtic symbols of spiritual rebirth.
BIRD
Birds were Celtic symbols of freedom and tran-
scendence, having the power to soar up above the
earth into the heavens, and return to bring messages
from the gods. They thus symbolised spiritual
messengers and mediators between earth-bound
mortals and the heavenly world.
To the sea-faring and fishing Celts the fish was
also of central importance. The Celtic symbol of
the fish, especially the salmon, represents know-
ledge, wisdom, prophecy and mystic inspiration.
In Celtic mythology the Salmon of Wisdom were
the keepers of all knowledge, which they gained
by eating the nuts of the sacred hazel trees.
Salmon and trout were often linked to sacred
wells and springs, which were places of physical
healing and Celtic symbols of spiritual rebirth.
BIRD
Birds were Celtic symbols of freedom and tran-
scendence, having the power to soar up above the
earth into the heavens, and return to bring messages
from the gods. They thus symbolised spiritual
messengers and mediators between earth-bound
mortals and the heavenly world.
The Ouroboros - symbol of the cycle of life.
The figure of the serpent biting its tail is known as the Ouroboros (a Greek term meaning 'tail-devourer') (right) and symbolised the cyclic nature of the Universe - the Ouroboros devours its own tail to sustain its life, in an eternal cycle of life and death, creation and destruction. This symbol, in actual fact, was adopted by the Celtic populations but is found in various civilisations, beginning with that of Ancient Egypt in 1600 B.C.
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