Bridhe in Britain?

[Blackbird]

The goddess Bridhe (Brigid, Brid...) is often termed 'pan-Celtic' by the kind of people who like pan-Celticism.

But what is the evidence - if any - for the worship or presence of Bridhe in Britain in ancient times? (Edited to say...) To clarify, I am meaning the Brythonic areas of Britain, I know there is plenty of evidence from the Gaedhlig speaking areas of Scotland.

I've often heard it said that the Brigantes were the tribe of Bridhe - but I think this could just as easily be taking the literal meaning of the title, ie. high, exalted.

Is there anything else I have missed?

[Brochfael]

If memory serves the Brigantes were a tribal federation possibly united by the Goddess Brigantia who has been linked with Brighid (AKA Bride) The name is also linked to Rigantona and Rhiannon. The word "rigan" meaning queen.

[goldenhand]

But it could also mean 'High', as in the largest tribe in the area, or the one that lived on the highest ground. What is the terrain like up there?

The 'rigan' word occurs in the name of the Irish Morrigan, Great Queen, too. So the word crosses over between Gaelic and Brythonic, it seems!

Blessings,

Angharad

[beithann]

Certainly Briganti was the British version of Bridhe although I would say that she probably wasn't exactly the same Goddess. Brigandu of the Gauls was also a cognate of these two goddesses

She was the Goddess of the Brigante tribe which resided in the North of England from the Scottish Borders down into Yorkshire and Lancashire, although there is some evidence that they also inhabited the South of Ireland at some point.

She pretty much symbolises the same things that Bridhe does, smithcraft and bardic arts as well as personal talents, but she is also a Goddess of War and of Sovereignty. She doesn't seem to have the same attributions when it comes to motherhood or the hearth. The Romans used her image as Brigantia/Minerva for the symbol of Britain, which became Britannia.

Her name means High or Exalted one (It's the 'Brig' bit).

Some sources also equate her with Andraste - the Goddess the Boudicca sacrificed to before fighting the Romans.

BB

Beith

[goldenhand]

Yes - so the Brigantes could still mean 'The High Tribe' rather than the 'Tribe of Bridhe'
I've not heard of Brigandu - do you know where I could find out more about her?

Blessings
Angharad

[Blackbird]

In the end, you might be right, Angharad - but we do know that there was a goddess Brigantia. It may well be another case of double meanings

See the image on the right hand side of this page:

www.brigantesnation.com/celticart/celtic_finds.htm

[beithann]

It's possible that the tribe got their name from the Goddess, the Tribe of Briganti, the word brigands seems to come from the Brigante name too. They were a pretty powerful confederation

There doesn't seem to be a lot about Brigandu, merely a repeat that she is the Brigit/Brighde/Brigantia of the Gallic world
www.timelessmyths.com/celtic/gallic.html#Brigindo

BB

Beith

[branynos]

An interesting article looking at the subject:
www.applewarrior.com/celticwell/ejournal/imbolc/brighid.htm

[Blackbird]

Thanks for the link Branynos - I've put that up on the site. (I've also added links to some of the other articles on that site, which are well worth looking at)

An old theory of mine was the Brid/Brighid/etc. names were purely titles, literally meaning 'The High One'. Thus, the title could be applied to any number of goddesses, and would make sense of Cormac's statement that 'There are three goddesses called Brighid' (might be a paraphrase, I can't remember the exact wording.) Brighid would be a handy way of referring to your goddess without having to risk speaking her true name out loud.

Just a theory.

[branynos]

admin said:

Thanks for the link Branynos

Its a good little site that, though I keep expecting it to disappear as it never seemed to be finished .

Theory wise I agree with you there are/were a lot of tribal goddess' around with a similar title when speaking to outsiders and they've all become versions of an uber goddess.

[Blackbird]

Re the Celtic Well site - I'm surprised it didn't disappear when Francine died a few years back. Which is probably why it never got finished. I suspect that some of her friends are keeping the site up in her honour.