Animal Symbolism
To the Celts, animals were not considered separate from humanity but part of the same continuum of existence. Animal existence was considered part of the human cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Animals by their natures symbolized human and divine traits, both desirable and undesirable, and embodied also the domains they inhabited. (For more on sacred animals, see Chapter 13.)
Salmon of Wisdom
Fish, especially salmon, were symbols of wisdom. Bards and other wise heroes of Celtic mythology are closely associated with fish and the sacred waters they inhabited. As an infant, Taliesin, the legendary Welsh bard, was found by a hapless prince among the fish, and the discovery changed the prince's fortunes. In the story of Cuchulainn, a salmon run is used as an entrance to the Otherworld abode of Scáthach.
The salmon is tied to many stories, most notably that of Fionn, who eats the salmon that has grazed on the sacred hazelnuts in the pool of wisdom and gains the power of foresight. Salmon spawn in Ireland around the winter solstice, the time of the birth of the sun, which may have contributed to their reputation as the wisest of creatures.
Boar: Savage Strength
The boar was a frequent meal of the Irish Celts, and it was also symbol of masculinity, strength, and fertility. The boar makes regular appearances in mythological tales of plenty. The Dagda is said to possess a pair of magical boars, whose meat is endless — while one is eaten, the other returns to life to await the spit. The boar is also a symbol of winter, an emblem of the Cailleach; the ritual killing of winter's boar represents hope and the return of spring.
A Celtic boar.
The boar is also an emblem of royalty and of the warrior, as well as an omen of death. An Otherworld creature, the boar's appearance often precedes extreme mischief or the death of a hero. The boar is a traditional symbol of the hero's eternal adversary, the wild animal nature that must be overcome in order for wisdom to triumph. Sometimes, the boar is a king or warrior enchanted, a sign that things are not what they seem.
The Horse: Sovereign Sun
The horse is the emblem of the goddess, the earth, and sovereignty. The goddesses upon whose authority kings ruled were all strongly associated with horses. Druid rituals to divine the identity of the goddess's chosen rulers involved the sacrifice of a horse, and the ceremony of investiture for a new king involved a symbolic mating with a mare. Horses were not only associated with the divine female; the Gauls associated them with the sun, and the Irish deity Im Dagda was sometimes called Eochaid Rofhessa, “Father Horse.”
A white horse is an emblem of the Otherworld, and it is upon such a horse that the rulers of the Otherworld ride. Gwyn ap Nudd, Rhiannon, and Oisin all employ magical white horses to travel to and from the land of youth. The Otherworld horse can travel over land and sea at supernatural speeds.
The Hound: Loyalty and Determination
The hound was of inestimable value to the Celts, being the constant companion of the hunter. A number of gods were anthropomorphized as dogs. The god Cuchulainn's name translates literally as “Hound of Culann,” and the magical hounds who accompany the god Fionn are actually transformed humans. Overall, the hound is a symbol of loyalty, discernment, and determination.
Birds: Divine Messengers
Birds of all kinds were sacred to the Celts, especially the raven, the swan, and the crane. The raven was the messenger of the goddess of war, often the embodiment of the goddess herself or fallen warriors in her keep. The raven was also sacred to the druids and was a favored bird in augury.
The swan was the symbol of Aenghus, the god of love, and there is evidence of an early swan god venerated by the Urnfielders. The swan features in many tales of magical transformation and is often viewed as a human in bird form. The swan is an emblem of love but also of enchantment — its song can inspire love or prophetic sleep. In a tragic turn, the children of Lir are transformed into swans by their jealous stepmother.
A Celtic raven.
The crane was venerated by early Celts, but it takes on a much lesser importance in later mythology. The crane appears in several stories of the Tuatha Dé Danann, usually in malevolent context. The god Midir possesses three cranes that run off any would-be guests who approach his home, and to see three cranes is a portent of a violent death.
The crane is also a symbol of jealousy, and Irish legend is filled with tales of women magically transformed into cranes by love rivals or for various transgressions. The crane also features in a number of Christian tales, where it is especially connected with Columcille, who transforms two women into cranes for their refusal to show him respect.
