|
Post by Brochfael on Jul 26, 2005 12:46:30 GMT -1
I found the following posted on H2G2 by someone called Blue Lee:
> Elen of the ways
> Recently i have been doing a stack of research into Elen. from what i have been able to learn, she was a goddess from ancient britain, she was a goddess and guide of the pathways and trackways of britain.
> She was a horned goddess, its the horned aspect of her which is the most interesting. It is possible that she goes a long way back in human history as the guide along the first trackways in britain which were made by herds of migrating reindeer (this is about 10,000 years ago), female reindeer are the only type of deer to actually have antlers which means they may have a connection to Elen as she was a horned goddess (not a common attribute).
> Since learning about Elen, i have been woking with her in ritual and have started to learn some stuff, especially that she is also a goddess of the herds, this includes modern day cows, seeing as ive had a load of run-ins with cows lately!!!
> anyhow, i will keep you updated as i go along! in fact, if you know anything or can help out, let me know!
Anyone else heard of any evidence suggesting Elen of the Ways (presumably from the dream of Macsen Wledig) was an antlered goddess?
|
|
|
Post by branynos on Jul 26, 2005 19:48:48 GMT -1
I've seen the connection before. Goes and rummages www.norwichmoot.paganearth.com/celticgods.htmits a bit of a stretch if you ask me. I think Rhys suggests that Elen and the various Elaines & Helens in Arthurian myth hid an older goddess known as Elain - which is welsh for fawn - but fawns don't have horns
|
|
|
Post by littleraven on Jul 27, 2005 23:52:40 GMT -1
And some say that 'Elen' or Helen, was the mother of Constantine, who returned to Britain after her son's death bringing a piece of the holy cross with her, and that the route she took is remembered today:
'Sarn Elen'
Best
LR
|
|
|
Post by Blackbird on Aug 2, 2005 14:09:33 GMT -1
hmm, and we all know a song about her...
I've also heard that Elen was actually a Christian, but the reference comes from PB Ellis' book 'Celtic Women', which is not exactly a reputable source - he mixes fact up with mythic history too merrily for my liking. For what it's worth, here's the relevant extract - read with salt handy.
"Elen Luyddog was the daughter of a British chieftain named Eudaf who ruled from his capital at Segontium and from whom the kings of Cornwall later claimed descent. She lived during the last decades of the fourth century AD... [he then talks about Macsen Wledig, whose wife she became]... Sulpicius Severus... mentions that Martin of Tours also became a close friend of... Elen. He converted her, and their talk was often about religious philosophy... In Britain she began to work assiduously on behalf of the Christian Church."
I've never seen anything to suggest that Elen was a goddess from ancient Britain, nor seen anything to link her with horns. There are two horned goddess images that have been found in Britain, but neither can be connected with the name of Elen.
|
|
|
Post by branynos on Aug 3, 2005 0:58:08 GMT -1
From Squires "Celtic Myth & legend" pg 323 "The Zeus of Arthur's cycle is called Myrddin, who passed into the Norman-French romances as "Merlin". All the myths told of him bear witness to his high estate. The first name of Britain before it was inhabitaed, was, we learn from a triad, Clas Myrddin, that is "Myrddin's enclosure". He is given a wife whose attributes recall those of the consorts of Nuada and Lludd. She is described as the only daughter of Coel - the British name of the Gaulish Camulua, a god of war & the sky - and was called Elen Lwyddawg, that is "Elen, Leader of Hosts". Her memory is still preserved in Wales in connection with ancient roadways; such names as Fford Elen and Sarn Elen seem to show that the paths on which armies marched were ascribed or dedicated to her."
Squires source for most of this appears to be John Rhys' Hibbert Lectures, which I've still not managed to get hold of to read There is some stuff in "Arthurian Legend" by John Rhys pg111 that says pretty much the same as above and again refers one back to the Hibbert Lectures then goes on to suggest that because shes also referred to as the Emperess (which is how she gets confused with Helen of Constaninople) her Irish counterpart is the Morrigu. Which has more to do with the idea that Empress & Morrigu both mean "Great Queen" rather than that they have any attributes in common. Then theres more referencing back to the Hibbert Lecture . So its all a bit circular at the moment I don't know what legend they are using to base the idea that Elen was Myrddin's consort on.
|
|
|
Post by Blackbird on Oct 16, 2005 12:37:35 GMT -1
Funny how this subject keeps surfacing... anyhow, I'm writing an article on Elen at the moment, so if anyone has any information, I'd be glad to receive it. I'll look at the various Elens, Helens and Elaines who have contributed attributes to the neo-pagan idea of the goddess Elen, try to get to the bottom of the Sarn Helen roads, and then try to work out Who is answering to the name Elen... who is she really? And is that the same person now as then?
|
|
|
Post by littleraven on Oct 28, 2005 23:48:36 GMT -1
Funny how this subject keeps surfacing... anyhow, I'm writing an article on Elen at the moment, so if anyone has any information, I'd be glad to receive it. I'll look at the various Elens, Helens and Elaines who have contributed attributes to the neo-pagan idea of the goddess Elen, try to get to the bottom of the Sarn Helen roads, and then try to work out Who is answering to the name Elen... who is she really? And is that the same person now as then? Hi Blackbird If you want to see a fairly interesting book that discusses the mother of Constantine idea, I suggest 'The Holy Kingdom' by Blackett and Wilson Best LR
|
|
|
Post by Blackbird on Nov 2, 2005 18:27:17 GMT -1
Thanks for the tip - I've ordered a copy
|
|
|
Post by Lee on Dec 6, 2005 2:27:53 GMT -1
;D
holy shit. i join up and one of the first posts i read is about me!
im Blue lee. i wrote that years ago after some research and personal experiences. to be honest it fell by the wayside.
if you would like i can email you all the stuff i found
hello by the way...id better go do my intorduction
|
|
|
Post by Blackbird on Dec 6, 2005 9:47:41 GMT -1
Fame at last ;D
I'd be delighted if you shared your notes and experiences. I'm writing the article for next May, and am hoping to get the bulk of the research done this month.
|
|