In the form of the crow, or badb, she flew overhead as an omen that blood would soon be shed. While she sometimes seemed to serve as a messenger, at other times she was able to single-handed change the course of events. The extent to which the Morrigan was able to influence fate varied between stories. The Morrigan sometimes gave favor or rescinded it, but she also served as a portent of fate. In other cases, however, she attempted to help men avoid bloodshed and expressed regret when she was unable to. She relished bloodshed and suffering and took cruel delight in the deaths of great heroes and kings. Particularly in later tales, the Morrigan was said to take joy in fighting. At times she began the battle, urging both sides to violence until fighting finally began. In many myths the Morrigan appeared to encourage warriors to perform great deeds of courage or strength and could strike foes into their enemies to grant them an easier victory. In this role she often takes on the form of a crow, although she also appeared as a wolf or eel. The Morrigan is most often described as an Irish goddess of war. So what does the modern world get right, and wrong, about the Morrigan? You’ll have to keep reading to find out! The Morrigan as a War Goddess In fact, her role was so complex that she was often thought to be three separate goddesses rather than a single being.

In Irish mythology, the Morrigan is more than just an alluring goddess of violent fate. The way she was actually perceived in pre-Christian Ireland, however, was likely much different. The Morrigan is seen as a seductress and a shapeshifter who blended the supernatural, sexuality, and violence in a way that would not be out of place in a modern fantasy or horror film. The goddess of death and war is remembered for her brutal enforcement of fate. In the modern imagination, the Morrigan is one of the most enduring and captivating characters of Irish mythology.

Hope Divine by Tan Morgan