Brigantia

From SourceryForge

Brigantia and Breo Saighead are the historically accurate names of the Celtic goddess usually called Brigid or Brighid today.The modern Gaelic pronunciation has eroded to "Breed",but this was not the case in the time her legend arose.

After Christianity took root in Ireland she was represented as having been a pious Christian saint.Her holy day of Imbolc was declared the feast day of this saint.The saint's name is sometimes spelled Bridget.

In England,she was the tutelary goddess of the Brigantes (the names of the rivers Braint and Brent derive from hers) and associated with flocks of sheep and cattle;the Romans associated her with their goddess Caelestis.In Gaul,her name was Brigandu.

Ireland however was the center of her cult,where she was Goddess of the Threefold Fire:of Inspiration (poetry),the Hearth(healing and fertility),and the Forge(crafts,especially smithcraft,and martial arts).

Wells are sacred to her and she is considered the patroness of Druids.

External link

• Pantheon.org article at Encyclopedia Mythica (this is the "Brigid" article,the "Brigantia" article is shorter but the Brigid article acknowledges they are one)