Worship of the goddess Macha was customary in Ireland long before the coming of the Celts, according to Barbara G. Walker in The Woman’s Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets. Macha is an ancient transplant and shares identity with a moon goddess from Central Asia named Macha Alla, or the Mother of Life and Death.
Macha haunts battlefields and creates magic from the blood of slain warriors. Her voice is sometimes identified with that of the fearsome Banshee, who summons humans to their death. To hear that mournful, keening sound or to see Macha as she washes bloodstains from clothes along the river bank, is an omen of doom.
One of the powerful Tuatha De Danaan, Macha is the crone of the triple goddess formation known as the Morrigan. Macha is sometimes called Ana or Anat, and her sisters are Badb and Morrigu, but as Raven Woman, Macha is often considered an alternate name of Badb. Macha is also identified with the splendorous Fairy Queen Mab and is the very goddess who cast her death curse upon the great warrior, Cuchulain.
A fascinating post dealing with this early form of goddess worship in Ireland. I find these ancient legends so interesting.
Oh, thank you. Daisy! I’m glad we share the interest in the ancient myths.
I’m late to the party (I spent the holiday celebrating with a family gathering) but found this post fascinating. Macha does indeed sound somewhat like a banshee. I was also reminded of legends in reference to ravens collecting the souls of the slain from bloody battlefields…and then you mentioned her as Raven Woman as well!
You know the old adage, Mae– great minds think alike!