Goddesses of East & West Europe

Europa East & West

Colored Triple Goddess Tattoo by~roguewyndwalker

EASTERN Europe is a mixture of peoples and languages and cultures. Serbs, Croats, Montenegrans, Albanians, Bulgarians, Romanians, Poles, Hungarians, Czechs, Italians, Lithuanians, Latvians, Estonians, Finns and a variety of other Slavic and non-Slavic peoples make their home there. Ethnicities frequently cross over political boundaries and intermingle.

Anapel, Little Grandmother

Known as "Little Grandmother," this Goddess of the Koryak people of Siberia is Matron of reincarnation.

Aspelenie, Hearth Snake

Among pre-Christian Lithuanians, Aspelenie was honored as Goddess of Home and Hearth. She took the form of a friendly serpent. The serpent was also considered a servant of the Sun Goddess Saule, and to harm a serpent was a blasphemous offense. While predominantly Christian, there is an active and vocal Pagan resurgence in Lithuania.

Ausrine and Saule, Ladies Bright

Saule is the Sun Goddess of ancient Lithuania. Ausrine is Her Daughter, the "Lady of the Morning Star." Saule's husband, Ausrine's father, is Meness the God of the Moon.

Baba Yaga, Lady Circle

Generally known in fairy tales as the prototypical Witch in the Woods (see Hansel and Gretel), Baba Yaga is in fact an ancient Triple Goddess. She manifests the traditional three phases of a woman's life: Maiden, Mother and Crone. Many Russian fairy tales recount Her confrontations with the Czar or Czar's son, perhaps obscured recollections of the long-ago overthrow of the native Goddess. Many fairy tales also center on Her maiden aspect, Vasilisa--who usually ends the story in marriage to the Czar or Czar's son.

The Bereginy, Wood Maids

The Bereginy, like the Nymphae of Greece and Rome, were spirits of nature. They were honored by women throughout the Slavic regions of Europe even through the Middle Ages. See the Nymphae (Greaco-Roman Goddesses), the Yakshi (Hindu Goddesses) and the Duc Ba (South-East Asian Goddesses).

Bozaloshtsh, Lady Who Cries

Crying spirits whose scream announces imminent death are common in European mythology: the Banshee of the Irish is the most well-known. Among the ancient Wend of Germany, Bozaloshtsh was just such a spirit.

Dziewanna, Lady of Spring

This Polish Goddess was Matron of Spring and Agriculture. She was especially honored by farmers.

Haltia, Lady of the Home

This Goddess of the Home was honored by Baltic Finns. The Estonians called her Holdja. Her tale contains a cautionary note for those considering a move to a new home....See also Vesta (Graeco-Roman Goddesses).

Koliada, Lady of Time

Also known as Koljada, this Russian Goddess is the personification of Time and the Winter Solstice. A special festival was held in Her honor at the Solstice.

Lada, Spring Maiden

Lada, Goddess of Spring and Love, was worshipped throughout Lithuania, Poland and Russia. Spring and love are often placed under the auspices of the same Deity, whether male or female, for obvious reasons: spring is the season of reproduction and new life, often outcomes of love.

Mokosh, Lady of Waters

This Goddess of Moisture was honored throughout Slavic Europe under a variety of related names. Christian writers as late as the 16th century CE complained that women still honored Mokosh.

The Rusalka, Watery Ones

The Rusalka were water spirits honored in Russia. Fertility is their special domain. The Rusalka would make excellent champions of Russia's struggling Green Movement.

Slatababa, Golden Goddess

This tale is told by the Ugric of Russia. It may or may not be based on historical fact.

Suksendal, Night Spirit

This evil spirit of the night is feared by the Tartar people of Siberia. Perhaps She is abstract fears of darkness and death given concrete, human form.

The Zorya, Guardians of the Sun

The Zorya are ancient Slavic sky and light Goddesses, honored particularly in Russia.Sometimes only two in number, They are usually portrayed as three, a not uncommon number in world mythology.

WESTERN Europe

Aeval, Lady of Sexuality

Among the Celts of Ireland, Aeval was the Fairy Queen of Munster. She held a midnight court to determine if husbands were satisfying their wives' sexual needs, or not, as the women charged.

Ain, Lady Law

Along with Her sister, She wrote the Brehon Laws, an ancient law code of Celtice Ireland which protected women's rights.

Arduinna, Lady of the Forests

The Celts of Gaul (France) honored Her as Goddess of Justice and Childbirth. The Ardennes Forest, named after Her, were Her special domain.

Arianrhod, Silver Wheel

Among the Celts of Wales, She was a Goddess of Childbirth, the Moon, Fertility and Fate. She derives Her name from the Milky Way and/or the zodiac.

Banshees, Fairies of the Sidhe

Ireland, like many nations, experienced a succession of migrations and invasions. Unlike the pre-Hellenic Greek Titans, Who remained Deities, the ancient Gods and Goddesses of Ireland became demons or fairies. Such is the case with the Banshee, ancient Deities driven underground. Such hills beneath which they make their home are still called sidhe ("shee"), and some Irish still claim decsent from these Deities/fairies; hence the surname, "O'Shea."

Beag, Mistress of the Well

The Irish Celts said Beag owned a magic well, the Well of Wisdom.

Branwen, Lady Love

Her name means "White Breasted" or "White Cow." The ancient Welsh worshipped Her as the daughter of Sea, and as Goddess of the Moon and Love.

Brigid, High One

Her name means "High One." The Celts of Ireland knew Her as Triune Goddess of Healing, Poetry and Smithcraft. See also the Descent of the Gods chapter.

Cerridwen, Lady of Inspiration

To the Celts of the British Isles and Brittany, She was Goddess of Wisdom, Poetry and Grain. Her annual slaying of Gwion mimics the change of the seasons. She is often depicted with Her Cauldron of Wisdom.

Danu, Great Mother

She is the "Mother of the Gods" of the Tuatha De Danaan, one of the ancient people who settled in Ireland. Her children and followers were transformed into the Banshee (Profiled above). Under a variety of names, including Anu and Don, Danu was worshipped through pre-Christian Europe.

Epona, Horse Mistress

She was the only Celtic Goddess to be honored by the Romans with a temple in their capital city. She was especially popular with Roman soldiers. Among the Gaulish Celts themselves, She was worshipped as Goddess of Horses, Asses, Mules, Oxen, and, to an extent, Springs and Rivers.

Mari, Lady Justice

She is the Basque Goddess of Rain and Drought. Via the latter, She punishes those guilty of lying, stealing and pride. She assumes many different forms .

Medb, Lady Sovereignty

In ancient Ireland, a king was ritually wed to this Goddess (in the person of Her Priestess) to legitimize his reign. She was considered a Triune Goddess Who oversaw sovereignty, war, sexuality and intoxication. Her name is more recognizable in its phoetic spelling: Maeve.

Morrigan, Mistress War

The Morrigan is a Triune Goddess made of three largely autonomous Goddesses. Their names vary, but they are usually called Macha, Badb and Nemain. She/They were War Goddess/es. *Also known as Queen of the goddesses*

Sheila-na-gig, The Vulva

For obvious reasons, this Celtic Goddess was attacked by Christian missionaries as vulgar, lutful and demonic. To the Pagan Celts, however, She was a Goddess of Women and Fertility.

[source: OoCities.org]