Dictionary Of God And Godedesses

204 Morswedded to the mortal king whose antecedent wasAilill. As Nemain (panic) and Badb Catha (raven ofbattle), she takes on a more warlike and destructiveaspect. Rather than engaging directly in conflict,she uses her supernatural powers to spread fearand disarray. The Irish hero Cu Chulainn was thusvisited on the battle field by BADB driving a chariotand dressed in a red cloak and with red eyebrowspresenting an intimidating appearance. Sheis capable of changing her shape into various animalforms and in the guise of a raven or a crow isable to foretell the outcome of battle.Morrigan is also closely associated with horsesymbolism, befitting a horse-oriented culturewith strong links east toward Asia. Mare formsthe basis of the names Macha and Medb. She mayalso at times have been syncretized with the horsegoddess EPONA. As with other Celtic goddessesMorrigan is an intrinsic part of the land ratherthan a tribal deity, the “Sovereignty of Ireland.”The Celtic goddess is frequently described as atriad of separate aspects. Hence Morrigan,Nemain and Badb are linked and become collectivelythe Morrigna (see also MATRES). In associationwith the vitality of Irish kings, Morriganassumed the appearance both of a young girl andof a hag, the latter signalling the banishment orslaughter of a ruler who had become infirm orotherwise scarred with signs of mortality.MorsMinor god of death. Roman. Mors replaces theGreek THANATOS and, according to legend, isone of the twin sons of NYX, goddess of the night.He lives in part of the remote cave occupied bySOMNUS, god of sleep, beside the river Lethe.Ovid depicts him as a hideous and cadaverous figuredressed in a winding sheet and holding ascythe and hour glass. Known particularlythrough Lacedaemonian culture where twin statuesof Mors and Somnus were placed side by side.MortaGoddess of death. Roman. In later Roman timesshe becomes linked with the birth goddessesDECIMA and NONA, as a trio of goddesses of fate,the PARCAE.MorvaSky spirits. Andaman Islands [Sea of Bengal].Invisible but thought to be of human form.Morvran (sea crow)Local god of war. Celtic (Welsh). The son ofCERIDWEN and TEGID FOEL. Legend has it thathe was extremely ugly and that his mother tried toimbue him with wisdom by preparing a specialbrew of inspiration. It was drunk by Gwion.Morvran was invincible in battle because hisenemies thought him a demon.MOT (death)ORIGIN Canaanite and Phoenician [northernIsrael, Lebanon and Syrian coastal regions].God of natural adversity.KNOWN PERIOD OF WORSHIP from prehistorictimes until circa 200 BC.SYNONYMS Muth (Phoenician).CENTER(S) OF CULT possibly Byblos.ART REFERENCES none known.LITERARY SOURCES Ugaritic texts from RasŠamra; Philon of Byblos; inscriptions.Mot is the Canaanite representation of adversity inthe natural world. He lives in a pit within the earthand is responsible for its annual death from droughtand heat: “he has scorched the olive, the produce ofthe earth and the fruit of the trees.” He engages inthe classic confrontation with the Canaanite heroand national god, BAAL. Though the duel results inBaal’s demise, his death is avenged by his twin