Bell's Books and Blog March 21, 2025 -- Mystical and Fearsome Figures of Celtic Legend

In this episode of Bell's Books and Blog Podcast, Jane M. Bell explores fascinating figures from Celtic mythology. She begins with a look at the warrior queen Scáthach, whose fierce strength and martial expertise played a crucial role in the training of legendary Irish warrior Cú Chulainn. Jane then discusses the Morrígan, a formidable triple goddess embodying war, fate, and death, and tells tales of her shapeshifting abilities and influence on pivotal Celtic battles. Finally, the episode delves into the chilling tale of the Banshee, a mournful spirit whose haunting cry signals impending death. Each of these powerful women from Celtic myths offer intriguing stories of bravery, skill, and the inexplicable, echoing through the ages. Jane encourages her listeners to share which legends resonate most with them, emphasizing the importance of keeping the past alive.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome to Belle's Books and blog podcast, the place where history, mystery,
and suspense converge. I'm your host, author Jane M. Bell.
Today we have an enthralling episode lined up for you
as we delve into the dark and haunting figures of
Celtic mythology. We'll explore the powerful women who shaped these tales,
including Scathak, the shadowy warrior queen, the Morrigan, the sinister

(00:27):
goddess of war and fate, and the Banshee, the mournful
spirit whose wail foretells death. These are stories of warrior queens,
goddesses and spirits that still echo through the ages, and
I can't wait to share them with you. So sit back, relax,
and let's step into the realm of these legendary figures. First,

(00:48):
on our journey through Celtic mythology, we encounter Scathak, the
formidable warrior queen of dunscythe known as the Shadowy One,
Scathak is often overshadowed by her most famous pupil, kou Chullen,
yet her own tale is rich with bravery, skill and mystique.
Scathak's story is rooted in the Ulster cycle, among the

(01:08):
four great cycles of Irish mythology. She's often depicted as
the daughter of a powerful king ruling either Scythia or Lethra. However,
her renowned fortress of Dunscythe or the Castle of Shadows,
lies on the Isle of Sky in Scotland. Reaching Dunscyth
was no easy feat. Warriors seeking training had to navigate

(01:29):
treacherous seas and scale dangerous cliffs. Even upon arrival, they
faced a fierce test. Uathach, Scathak's own deadly daughter, guarded
the gates with lethal precision. Only the bravest could earn
the right to learn from Scathak herself. For those who
proved their worth, Scathak offered a grueling education in the
arts of war. Her training methods were brutal yet effective.

(01:53):
Students learned to pole, vault over high castle walls, fight
under water, and wheeld the deadly gay bulg, a bar
spear invented by Skathak herself. This formidable weapon would explode
into countless barbes upon impact, making it nearly impossible to
pull out without severe damage. Among all her students, one
stood out, the legendary Kuchullen, driven by love for a

(02:16):
woman named Emmer Kuchullen sought Skathak's training to prove himself
worthy of her hand. Emer's father, Chief Forgalmonic, had set
near impossible trials for him, hoping he would fail. But
Kuchullen not only survived the perilous journey to Dunskith and
bested Wathash at the gates, he also impressed Scathash with
his extraordinary abilities. For seven years, she trained him rigorously,

(02:40):
transforming him into one of the greatest warriors in Irish mythology.
Kuchullen's skills even led Skathak to offer him a grim
prophecy that he would not live past thirty years old. Tragically,
this prediction came true when he met his end at
twenty seven. During his time at Dunskyth, Kuchullen became entangled
in a bitter blood feud between Skathak and her sister Aifhe.

(03:04):
The two sisters had a deep seated rivalry that often
erupted into violent confrontations. Fearing for her pupil's life, Skathak
attempted to drug ku Chullin to keep him out of
a battle against Aiphe, but his strength was too great,
and he joined the fray. In their combat, ku Chullin
tricked Aifhe by shouting that her chariot and horses were
about to fall off a cliff, striking her down when

(03:26):
she turned to look. Instead of slaying her, he took
her as his lover, and some tales even say they
had a son named Kanla, who later met a tragic fate.
Skathak's story doesn't end with her pupils. Some myths suggest
she ascended to become the Celtic Goddess of Death, guiding
the souls of fallen warriors to tir Nanog, the land
of eternal youth. Others say she remains a timeless figure,

(03:50):
an immortal warrior queen whose name reverberates through the annals
of time. Today, the ruins of Dunskyth still stand on
the Isle of Sky, a haunting reminder of this enigmatic
queen of shadows. Her legend continues to inspire and terrify,
reminding us of the power, skill, and indomitable spirit of
the women in Celtic mythology. Stay tuned as we next

(04:12):
dive into the tale of the Morgan, the phantom queen
of war, fate, and death. You won't want to miss it. Next,
we turn our attention to the Morgan, a figure unlike
any other in Irish mythology. Known as the Phantom Queen.
The Morrigan is no ordinary deity. She is a triple goddess,
embodying the intertwined aspects of war, bloodshed, sovereignty, and terror.

(04:38):
This trinity is typically personified by three fierce sister goddesses, Bab,
Macha and Nimine. Badbee, also known as the Crow, symbolizes
death and fate. She haunts battlefields, soaring above the carnage
and shrieking with a voice that strikes fear into the
hearts of warriors. Her chilling cry is said to predict
the death of great heroes, much like the mournful wail

(05:01):
of the Banshee. Macha, another aspect of the Morrigan, represents
sovereignty and the protection of the land. Often depicted as
a horse, goddess, Macha defends her territory with ruthless justice.
Her name is linked to the Gaelic word machare, meaning
fertile plains, suggesting she embodies the land itself, ensuring it
remains safeguarded against invaders. Naeman, whose name translates to frenzy,

(05:26):
embodies the madness and terror of war. She thrives in
the chaos of battle, spreading confusion and panic among enemy ranks,
reducing even seasoned fighters to trembling cowards. But the Morgan's
powers don't stop with her triple aspects. She is also
a master shape shifter, capable of drifting between forms at will.

(05:47):
She might appear as a withered hag, a young and
alluring woman, or a raven circling above the battlefield. Each
form brings its own symbolism. The hag represents the inevitability
of fate, the young woman to reception and seduction, and
the raven the scavenger feeding on the dead. She can
also take the form of a wolf, a horse, a cow,

(06:08):
or even an eel, making her one of the most
versatile and unpredictable deities in Celtic lore. The Morrigan's influence
on the battlefield is legendary. During the First Battle of Moytura,
she aided the Twatha de Denan, a race of supernatural beings,
in their fight against the Furbolgs. Before the battle began,
she unleashed a storm of blood and fire, paralyzing the

(06:30):
Furbulgs with terror. For three Days and nights. Her dark
magic ensured victory for the Twatha de Denan, solidifying her
reputation as a goddess of chaos and triumph. Her most
infamous involvement in battle, however, concerns the great hero ku Chullen.
The Morrigan's relationship with ku Chullen is a complex mix
of seduction, rejection, and vengeance. She once appeared before him

(06:55):
as a beautiful woman, offering her love and support. When
Ku Chullin spurned her, she vowed revenge, transforming into various
animal forms, a wolf, an eel, and a cow to
hinder him during combat. Despite her efforts, ku Chulin continued
to win his battles, but the Morrigan had the final say.
As ku Chulin lay mortally wounded, she appeared in her

(07:18):
raven form perched on his shoulder, a haunting symbol of
his imminent death. Defiant to the end, ku Chulin tied
himself to a standing stone so he could die on
his feet, with the Morrigan's ominous presence, confirming that even
the mightiest heroes cannot escape their fate. Another significant moment
in her mythic career occurred during the Second Battle of

(07:38):
mag tweered. The Tuatha Dedannan clashed with the monstrous Femorians,
and the Morrigan promised King Nuada, the leader of the
Tuatha de Denan, to cast spells of destruction against their enemies.
True to her words, she struck fear into the Fomorians,
leaving them disoriented and vulnerable. After slaying the Femorian king
in deck, she carried two two handfuls of his blood

(08:01):
to the River Unius, ensuring his defeat would be etched
into the land he had once terrorized. The Morrigan's tales
are as complex and varied as her forms, a testament
to her power and presence in Celtic mythology. She remains
a figure of awe and fear, a reminder of the
inescapable nature of fate and the relentless march of war.

(08:22):
Now we turn to one of the most eerie and
enigmatic figures in Celtic folklore, the Banshee or bean Ceda,
whose name translates to woman of the fairy mounds. The
banshee is believed to be a fairy spirit or ancestral ghost,
and her cry is an omen that death is near.
Known for her keening or wailing, the Banshee's mournful cry

(08:42):
signals the imminent death of a loved one. Unlike the
grim Reaper, who appears solely to the dying, the Banshee's
wail is a warning heard by the entire family, a
harrowing precursor to loss. The appearance of the Banshee varies
widely across different tales, adding to her mistefe. In some stories,
she manifests as a pale, ethereal woman with long flowing hair,

(09:05):
which might be silver, red, or white. She is sometimes
depicted as an old crone with a wrinkled face and
hollow eyes, hunched over in eternal grief. Other more chilling
accounts describe her as a headless figure clutching a bowl
of blood, or a young washerwoman seen scrubbing blood stained
clothes by the river. In the darkest versions, she appears faceless,

(09:27):
a shadowy form with hollow voids for eyes. The Banshee's
roll ranges from a sorrowful, compassionate guardian to a malevolent,
vengeful spirit. The benevolent Banshee weeps out of love and sorrow,
mourning the loss of her beloved family members. Her song
is filled with profound grief, a lamentation for the soon
to be lost. In contrast, the malevolent Banshee is portrayed

(09:51):
in darker tales as taking a cruel delight in death,
shrieking with malice. Some legends even claim that her scream
can drive people into madness or despair, and in the
most sinister versions, it can kill. The origins of the
Banshee legend are rooted deeply in Irish history. One theory
suggests the myth evolved from the practice of keening, where

(10:11):
women known as keners would wail and sing at funerals.
These professional mourners were often paid in alcohol, and folklore
held that they were cursed to become banshees after death,
doomed to mourn forever. Significant sightings of the Banshee have
been recorded throughout history, lending a chilling sense of reality
to the legend. In fourteen thirty seven, a seer appeared

(10:34):
before King James There of Scotland, predicting his violent murder.
The same night, the king was assassinated, with many claiming
the Banshee herself had warned of his fate. In sixteen
forty nine, Lady Anne Fanshaw, an English noblewoman, documented a
terrifying encounter. While visiting a friend's estate in Ireland, she
was awakened by a piercing cry and saw a pale

(10:56):
red haired woman in white wailing outside her window. Yes later,
she learned that her friend's cousin had died unexpectedly. Another
notable instance occurred in eighteen o one when Lord Rossmore,
the commander in chief of the British forces in Ireland,
allegedly heard his name cried out three times by an
unseen voice. The next morning, he was found dead of

(11:17):
a heart attack at the very hour the Banshee's voice
was heard. Whether seen as a sorrowful spirit or a
malevolent wraith, the Banshee's presence in Celtic folklore serves as
a chilling reminder of the inescapable reality of death. Her legend,
rich with variations, continues to captivate and terrify, echoing through
the annals of time as a symbol of mourning and fate.

(11:40):
As we wrap up today's episode, let's quickly recap the
powerful Celtic legends we've explored. We've journeyed through the shadowy
realm of Scathak, the formidable warrior queen who trained heroes
like ku Chullen, teaching them the deadly art of war.
We ventured into the chilling presence of the Morrigan, the
phantom queen whose very essence and company is war, fate,

(12:01):
and death. She showed us the intertwining of bloodshed and
sovereignty with her multiple forms and fearsome presence on the battlefield. Finally,
we encountered the Banshee, the eerie wailing spirit whose mournful
cries foretell the approach of death, leaving an indelible mark
on those who hear her lament. I'd love to know
which of these legends resonates most with you. Do you

(12:24):
find yourself drawn to the marshal prowess of Scathak, the
eerie omnipresence of the Morrigan, or the haunting cries of
the Banshee. Send me a message and share your thoughts.
Last week I asked you to think about historical female
figures like Malunkasavich to moe Gozen, or a Viking shield maiden,
and what you might ask them if given the chance.

(12:45):
Thank you to CV for sharing such an insightful question.
Where did you get your bravery and ambition from? It's
always fascinating to hear. What questions spark our curiosity about
the past. Let's keep the spirit of exploration alive, keep questioning,
and continue to explore the history that shapes our understanding
of the present. Remember to check the show notes for

(13:07):
any links or articles mentioned today. Until next week, Keep
the Past alive. This is Jane M. Bell, your host
for Bell's Books and Blog podcast. See you next time.