Editing The Morrígan (section)

==Nature and role==
The Morrígan is often considered a [[Triple deities#Triple goddesses|triple goddess]], but this triple nature is ambiguous and inconsistent. These triple appearances are partially due to the Celtic significance of [[3#Religion|threeness]].<ref name=":0" /> Sometimes she appears as one of three sisters, the daughters of [[Ernmas]]: Morrígan, [[Badb]] and [[Macha (Irish mythology)|Macha]].<ref name="Invasions">{{cite book | author=Macalister, R.A.S. (trans.) | title =Lebor Gabála Érenn: Book of the Taking of Ireland Part 1-5 | publisher = Irish Texts Society  | year =1941 | location =Dublin}}</ref> Sometimes the trinity consists of Badb, Macha and Anand, collectively known as the ''Morrígna''. Occasionally, [[Nemain]] or [[Nemain|Fea]] appear in the various combinations. However, the Morrígan can also appear alone,<ref name="CELT-Regamna"/> and her name is sometimes used interchangeably with Badb.<ref name="CMT166-CELT"/>

The Morrígan is mainly associated with war and fate, and is often interpreted as a "war goddess". [[W. M. Hennessy|W. M. Hennessy's]] ''The Ancient Irish Goddess of War'', written in 1870, was influential in establishing this interpretation.<ref>[[W. M. Hennessy]], [http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/aigw/index.htm "The Ancient Irish Goddess of War"], ''[[Revue Celtique]]'' 1, 1870–72, pp. 32–37</ref> She is said to derive pleasure from mustered hosts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://celt.ucc.ie//published/T106500D/text049.html|title=Part 49 of The Metrical Dindshenchas|website=celt.ucc.ie}}</ref> Her role often involves premonitions of a particular warrior's violent death, suggesting a link with the [[banshee]] of later folklore. This connection is further noted by [[Patricia Lysaght]]: "In certain areas of Ireland this supernatural being is, in addition to the name banshee, also called the ''badhb''".<ref>{{cite book |first=Patricia |last=Lysaght |title=The Banshee: The Irish Death Messenger |year=1986 |isbn=1-57098-138-8 |page=15|publisher=Roberts Rinehart Publishers }}</ref> Her role was to not only be a symbol of imminent death, but to also influence the outcome of war. Most often, she did this by appearing as a crow flying overhead, and would either inspire fear or courage in the hearts of the warriors. In some cases, she is written to have appeared in visions to those who are destined to die in battle as washing their bloody armor. In this specific role, she is also given the role of foretelling imminent death with a particular emphasis on the individual.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Celtic Myths and Legends |last=Rolleston |first=T. W. |publisher=Barnes and Noble |year=1911 |isbn=978-0-7607-8335-1 |location=New York}}</ref> There are also a few rare accounts where she would join in the battle itself as a warrior and show her favouritism in a more direct manner.<ref>{{cite book |first=Arthur |last=Cotterell |title=The Encyclopedia of Mythology |year=2010 |pages=102, 152}}</ref>

The Morrígan is also associated with the land and animals, particularly livestock. [[Máire Herbert]] argues that "war ''per se'' is not a primary aspect of the role of the goddess." Herbert suggests that "her activities have a [[Tutelary deity|tutelary]] character. She oversees the land, its stock and its society. Her shape-shifting is an expression of her affinity with the whole living universe."<ref>{{cite book |first=Máire |last=Herbert |chapter=Transmutations of an Irish Goddess |editor1-first=Miranda |editor1-last=Green |editor2-first=Sandra |editor2-last=Billington |title=The Concept of the Goddess |publisher=Psychology Press |year=1996 |page=145}}</ref> Patricia Lysaght notes that the ''[[Cath Maige Tuired]]'' depicts the Morrígan as "a protectress of her people's interests" and associates her with both war and fertility.<ref name="lysaght"/> According to [[Proinsias Mac Cana]], the goddess in Ireland is "primarily concerned with the prosperity of the land: its fertility, its animal life, and (when it is conceived as a political unit) its security against external forces."<ref name="MacCana"/> Likewise, [[Maria Tymoczko]] writes, "The welfare and fertility of a people depend on their security against external aggression," and notes that "warlike action can thus have a protective aspect."<ref name="tymoczko"/> It is therefore suggested that the Morrígan is a manifestation of the [[Sovereignty goddess|earth- and sovereignty-goddess]],{{sfn|Ó hÓgáin|1991|pp=307–309}}<ref name="Koch, John T. 2006"/> chiefly representing the goddess' role as guardian of the territory and its people.<ref name="lysaght"/><ref name="tymoczko"/> She can be interpreted as providing political or military aid, or protection to the king—acting as a goddess of sovereignty, not necessarily of war.

It has also been suggested that she was closely linked to the ''[[fianna]]'', and that these groups may have been in some way dedicated to her.{{sfn|Gulermovich Epstein|1998|p=148}} These were "bands of youthful warrior-hunters, living on the borders of civilized society and indulging in lawless activities for a time before inheriting property and taking their places as members of settled, landed communities."<ref>{{cite book |first=Maire |last=West |chapter=Aspects of ''díberg'' in the tale ''[[The Destruction of Da Derga's Hostel|Togail Bruidne Da Derga]]'' |title=Zeitschrift für Celtische Philologie |volume=49–50 |page=950}}</ref> If true, her worship may have resembled that of [[Perchta]] groups in Germanic areas.<ref>{{cite book |first=Carlo |last=Ginzburg |title=Ecstasies: Deciphering the Witches' Sabbath |location=New York |publisher=Pantheon Books |year=1991 |isbn=0-394-58163-6 |pages=6–7, 91, 101–2, 115 (note 47), 146 (note 62), 193, 182–204, 262, as well as numerous related references throughout Parts Two and Three}}</ref>

There is a [[burnt mound]] site in [[County Tipperary]] known as ''Fulacht na Mór Ríoghna'' ("cooking pit of the Mórrígan"). The [[Fulacht fiadh|fulachtaí]] sites are found in wild areas, and are usually associated with outsiders such as the fianna, as well as with the hunting of deer. There may be a link with the three mythical [[hag]]s who cook the meal of dogflesh that brings the hero [[Cú Chulainn]] to his doom. The ''Dá Chích na Morrígna'' ("two breasts of the Mórrígan"), a pair of hills near [[Brú na Bóinne]] in [[County Meath]], suggest to some a role as a [[tutelary deity|tutelary goddess]], comparable to [[Anu (goddess)|Anu]], who has her own hills, ''[[Paps of Anu|Dá Chích Anann]]'' ("the breasts of Anu") in [[County Kerry]].  Other goddesses known to have similar hills are [[Áine]] and [[Áine#Related goddesses|Grian]] of [[County Limerick]] who, in addition to a tutelary function, also have solar attributes.