The Mythology Bible by Sarah Bartlett

By the title, it is obvious this book is an ambitious one and it is a decently thick one. Despite this, this book could be a lot thicker. The content in the book is good and the writing is nice to read with its straightforward nature, making the lack of what could be in the book disappointing. It gives a desire to want more and if the writer could work on a revision with a lot more added in, that would be amazing. It's a fantastic book held back by only adding a bit of each mythology and the lost potential is depressing to see.

Gods And Goddesses: Don

Don is the Welsh mother goddess. Goddess of both sea and air and is the Queen of the Heavens.

 She is the wife of Beli, sister of Math Mathonwy and mother of Amathon, Aranrhod, Gilvaethwy, Govannon, Gwydyon and Nudd. Her daughters represented the deities of light while the children of Llyr represented the deities of darkness.

Gods And Goddesses: Balor

Balor is a one eyed god of Death and king of a race of giants known as the Fomorians.

His father was Buarainech and wife Cethlenn. A prophecy told that Balor was to be killed by his grandson and so the god locked his daughter Ethlinn in a tower. However, one of the Tuatha De Danann, Cian, was able to enter the tower and got Ethlinn pregnant with triplets.  When the triplets were born, Balor threw them into the ocean where one was lucky enough to survive. Lugh survived and later killed his grandfather.

Gods And Goddesses: Sucellus

Sucellus is the god of agriculture, prosperity, good fortune and of alcohol. He is known for carrying a hammer and a large pot thought to contain beer. His name means “Good Striker” thought to be a direct reference to the long handled hammer which he wields.

Sucellus is often depicted as a bearded man with his long handled hammer or with a pot. His wife, Nantosuelta, is sometimes depicted with him.

Gods And Goddesses: Airmid

Airmid is a healing goddess associated with medicinal plants. Airmid is an Irish goddess who is a member of the Tuatha De Danann. Her father is Dian Cecht, her brothers are Miach, Cian, Cethe and Cut and Airmid has a sister by the name of Etan.

When battle occurred against the Fir Bolgs, it was the Fir Bolgs who were defeated by the Tuatha De Danann but it was the kind of this group, Nuada, who was seriously injured. As Dian Cecht was called upon to heal Nuada it became clear that two of his children, Miach and Airmid were more skilled as healers. The father, son and daughter further went on to build the Well of Slaine, where the three could retore the life of the warriors who died in battled. A later battle didn’t go so well and the well was filled with stones, preventing more warriors to be brought back to life.

Dian Cecht later became jealous of Miach’s superior healing abilities and attempted to kill his son, failing two times before beheading how own son. Airmid was sorrowful over her brother’s death, frequently visiting his grave. One visit had Airmid find 365 healing herbs growing on and around the grave with one herb for every joint and organ of Miach’s body. Gathering up the herbs, they apparently talked to her telling Airmid of their uses and so Airmid arranged the herbs on her cload according to use.  Her father then scattered the herbs, lashing out due to his jealous feelings towards his son. From here, Airmid went on to use her knowledge of herbs to heal those who needed medical attention and kept away from her father.

Gods And Goddesses: Artio

Artio is an obscure Celtic/Gaulish bear goddess whom can take on the form of a bear. Other names for her are Dea Artio and Andarta. Her name comes from the Gaulish word for bear. Some think that Artio may be a more general goddess of the wilderness and wild creatures.

A sculpture found near Bern in Switzerland is thought to be depicting Artio, featuring a large bear facing a seated woman. The bear has a small tree behind it and the woman seeming to be holding a fruit. It is often thought that the woman thought to be Artio may be feeding the bear. The sculpture holds an inscription which reads “Deae Artioni Licinia Sabinilla”, translating to “To the Goddess Artio from Licinia Sabinilla”.

Gods And Goddesses: Sirona

Sirona is a Gual fertility goddess whose name means “star” and is associated with the sky. She is the goddess of hot springs and healing and also associated with the healing god known as Grannus. Other spellings and names of this goddess include, Serona, Sarona, Dirona and Sthirona. What is known about her is from inscriptions found across Europe in several countries including Germna, France, Austria, Romania, Switzerland and Italy.

 She is depicted wearing a diadem on her head, a dog on her head and a snake writhing around an arm reaching for a bowl containing three eggs. Sirona is also the mother of Borvo.

Gods And Goddesses: Belenus

Belenus is the Celtic sun god known under several names including Bile, Bel, Belenos and Beli. During the time of the Romans, he was identified with the god Apollo. Belenus also has his own festival on May 1st known as Beltaine.
Worship of Belenus in the ancient past occurred across Europe, likely including Britain.

Belenus is described as someone with a thick moustache, large eyes and a heavy brow. Belenus himself is associated with fire, light and healing springs, but notabily has lakes and rivers under his domain.

Gods And Goddesses: Ruadan

He is the Irish god of spying and son to Bres and Brigit. Ruadan is now better known as a saint in modern times. He was killed by a smith called Gobhinu, where some say Ruadan was sent to the smith by his father and was killed by Gobhinu instead. Gobhinu was however wounded but was cured by bathing in a healing fountain. Upon learning of the death of Ruadan, Brigit cried and it is said Brigit's tears were the first of the history of Ireland.

Gods And Goddesses: Rhiannon

Rhiannon is a Celtic and Welsh goddess, whose name means “Divine Queen” or “Great Queen”. She is a goddess of inspiration, horses and the moon, whom is also considered a mother goddess by some. Rhiannon is known to have married a mortal king or prince of Wales, Pwyll, and is mother of a hero called Pryderi.

Legends state that Pwyll witnessed the arrival of Rhiannon, who was riding a white horse, where the best horsemen are sent after Rhiannon. However, Rhiannon was able to stay ahead of these horsemen and after several days, Rhiannon tells Pwyll she would marry him then her fiancé, Gwawl ap Clud.

Later the two conceive a boy, but on the night of the birth the boy disappears and Rhiannon is accused of infanticide and cannibalism. Rhiannon is thought to have committed the act, but the child is cared for by a couple whom claim the child as their own but is eventually learnt to be the actual child of Pwyll and Rhiannon.

After Pwyll’s death, a man called Manawydan was taken as husband. Rhiannon is also said to possess birds with the ability to raise the dead and to put the living to sleep.