In the rolling hills just 1.5 miles south of the town of Uffington,
England is a three thousand year old drawing of a horse with a mysterious
history. The horse is best seen from the air to take in the full effect.
The horse was drawn and then filled with crushed white chalk. In
mythology it is believed to represent Epona, the Celtic horse goddess. Epona,
depicted so exquisitely on top of the English hill, reminds us of a time when
women and horses were sacred, honored, and free. The 374-foot drawing was
previously the focus of ancient religious celebrations. In the past the
horse drawing was ritually cleansed every seven years. Today, members of the English
Heritage continue to clean and maintain the picturesque drawing.
Epona was a goddess of horses honored by the Celtic tribe known as the
Gauls (from what is now France.) Some translations of Epona are "divine
mare" and "she who is a mare.” Epona was a deity that reigned
over the fertility of the land and who later became the goddess of the equine
race.
Interestingly, she was one of the few Celtic deities who were
celebrated by the Romans in an annual festival every December 18. The Festival
of Epona was a time when worshipers paid tribute to horses, erecting shrines
and altars in their stables, and sacrificing animals in Epona’s name. Scholars
say that the reason Epona was adopted by Romans was because of their military’s
love of the horse. Roman cavalry members honored her with temples of her own.
Until the Christian era, roses were used to decorate both horses and stables to
honor Epona. Probably because of horses' critical role in warfare, and Epona's
role mediating between the lands of the living and the dead, the devotion to
Epona became linked to the winning of wars.
In many sculptures, Epona is represented by symbols of fertility and
abundance, such as cornucopias, along with young foals. She is typically
portrayed either riding, usually sidesaddle, or taming a wild horse. Legend
holds that Epona was born to a white mare that was impregnated by a man who
didn’t much like women. According to Plutarch, Fulvius Stella “loathed the
company of women”, and so decided to focus his desire on the mare instead.
Although this story of Epona’s birth is the popular one, it is a very unusual
beginning for a Celtic deity.
In Ireland, she was associated with nightmares, and also with
crossroads. Epona's connection with nightmares was probably an adaptation of
her original role in mediating day consciousness, and the unique and
uncontrollable world of night dreams. As a crossroads figure, Epona was a
mediator between day and night, and between the living and the dead.
There is more to Epona’s mythology but it might be too long to put
into a post. If you’re at all interested in the Celtic mythology of Epona there
are many web sites to investigate. Have a magical St. Patrick’s Day… even if
you’re not Irish.
Until next time
An Irish Prayer
May those we love,
love us.
If they cannot love
us,
May God turn their
hearts.
If God cannot turn
their hearts,
May they turn their
ankles,
So we may know them by
their limping.
