Epona was a Celtic goddess. Her name contains an allusion to the horse: in Celtic, “epos” means “horse” and the suffix “-ona” affixed simply means “on”. Epona is the patron goddess of mares and foals. The oldest information about the Gallic goddess of horses is found in Juvenal (Satires, VIII, 155 ff).
Who was the Celtic goddess of horses?
Epona
Epona, goddess who was patron of horses and also of asses and mules (epo- is the Gaulish equivalent of the Latin equo-; “horse”).
Who did Epona marry?
Rhiannon, in Celtic religion, the Welsh manifestation of the Gaulish horse goddess Epona and the Irish goddess Macha. She is best-known from The Mabinogion, a collection of medieval Welsh tales, in which she makes her first appearance on a pale, mysterious steed and meets King Pwyll, whom she marries.
Which goddess is associated with horses?
Epona was the goddess of the craft of horse breeding. She ensured the fertility of the breeding stock, nurturing and protecting the mares, stallions and foals.
What goddess is associated with horses?
What is a Rhiannon?
In Welsh mythology, Rhiannon is a horse goddess depicted in the Mabinogion. She is similar in many aspects to the Gaulish Epona, and later evolved into a goddess of sovereignty who protected the king from treachery.
What breed is Epona?
Appearances. Epona is Link’s horse (specifically, a silver bay draft horse) and is mainly used as a means for transportation. She first appears in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time as a filly at the Lon Lon Ranch, personally handled by a young girl named Malon.
What is the name of Rhiannon’s horse?
goddess Epona
She is often considered to be related to the Gaulish horse goddess Epona. She and her son are often depicted as mare and foal. Like Epona, she sometimes sits on her horse in a calm, stoic way.
Did the Celtic goddess Epona worship horses?
The cult of the Celtic goddess Epona was one of the few (perhaps the only one) that arrived in Rome in the first century of the Christian era. When the Romans conquered the Gaulish territories, they tolerated her worship because they also worshipped horses.
What is the name of the Celtic goddess with a horse?
The Celtic Goddess Epona that Rode Swiftly Across the Ancient Roman Empire. The protector of horses, mules, and cavalry, Epona was one of the only non-Roman goddesses to have been wholly adopted by the Roman Empire.
What is the meaning of the name Epona?
The name of the Celtic goddess Epona comes from the Latinization of the Gaulish name “epo”, which means horse. Thus, in Celtic mythology, Epona represents the goddess of horses and of all those associated with these animals: riders, breeders or stable workers.
Who is Epona the Great?
Epona is also known as the Great Mare. She is, first and foremost, a Goddess of Horses associated with the Gauls. In spite of Her popularity there seems to be little information readily available about Her. Unfortunately, any legends Gaulish Celts may have had have been lost to us.
