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EPONA
Epona was the Horse Goddess of the Celts. The name means "horse" or "sleek pony".
She was variously depicted with, seated on, or as a horse (most often a white mare) and her influence was widespread, even crossing into non-Celtic peoples.
Who was she??
*She is said to be the daughter of Kairn. Her talents lie mainly within communication with animals (specifically horses), and she is also considered the patron deity of travel and migration. She is also in charge of healing animals. She watches over wanderers, fools, and innocents.
* She was mainly believed to have been seen as the protectress of
horses, animals and stables, and was linked with fertility and maternal concerns as well.
*She is sometimes addressed in the plural form Eponabus, which seems to be a strong indication that she stands in relation with the Three Matres/Matrones and was herself maybe thought to be three-formis and a goddess of fertility.
* Epona also represented freedom and creativity to the Celts, two elements that were greatly
prized by Celtic culture which had nomadic roots.
*Epona could be seen in carvings and
statuettes in barns, stables, and even estuaries.
*Besides the horse, Epona is often
associated with birds.She is shown half-naked or wearing a wide coat. Sometimes she feeds horses or foals out of her basket filled with fruits, corn and especially apples.
*She is also the leader of souls into the Underworld and is the
guardian of the dead. She carries the key of the Underworld as well as a "mappa" or napkin.
This napkin was traditionally dropped at the start of a horse race and indicates that
Epona stands ready to begin the race of life. So she is present at the beginning and
at the end of life.
Who belived in Epona?
*Epona was also linked to other goddesses such as the Welsh "Rhiannon" and the Irish "Macha". Only in roman times she was brought to the Britain Islands and worshipped there, but Rhiannon and Macha show that the horsecult was famous on the Britain Islands before that.
*There have been found more inscriptions, statues and shrines to Epona than any other
Celtic god or goddess! Epona was even adopted by the Romans, and can be found side-by-side
with other Roman Gods and Goddesses on their ancient altars. Almost every stable had a shrine for her and she was very famous in the roman cavalry. Historians count more than 343 inscriptions worshipping her.
*Even in Rumania and Yugoslavia there were found a lot of inscriptions worshipping her. Spain also has some statues and inscriptions.
*In Britain her cult was associated with the sun, fertility, life and death and the
Uffington White Horse was carved to honour her in her guise as the white mare. She appears to gallop from east to west, drawing the sun behind her.
*The great importance of horses for the celts and the symbol of the fertile mare giving birth to a foal and taking gentle care of it as a loving mother led the celts to worship in her nature and fertility in general.
Eating horse-meat on normal occasions was a strong TABU.
*One of the main centers and maybe the origin of her cult seems to have been East-France with the city Alesia.
Offering to Epona
Offerings to Epona might include helping an animal, freeing animals from oppressive or abusive situations, or giving a home to an animal. One can honor her by undertaking a pilgrimage specifically in her name. Riding a horse without bridle or other tack can also be an offering to Epona. She is mostly worshipped by men, those who work with horses (horse healers, farriers, etc. of either gender), and scouts and those who travel extensively. She is honored mostly in individual private ceremonies, though some groups ceremonies are held. Epona is called upon when dealing with horses or other animals, when a journey is about to be made, or when healing is about to be done.
Maybe it was common to swear in her name (source: satire of Juvenals). One prayed to her for help in misery. Her cult had no special mystery and was popular.
Her annual festival in Roman times was around the 18. December (in Mantua/Italy).
