Uffington White Horse Hill Figure View all content for Uffington White Horse

Epona 'The Great Mare', the goddess of a horse cult who is most likely to be identified with the Irish édáin echraidhe or macha and the welsh Rhiannon. As goddess of horses, she was of great importance within a horse-based culture such as that of the Celts. Her image appears on over 300 stones in Gaul, although rarely in Britain, and she is usually depicted riding side-saddle. In Romano-Celtic imagery she is constantly associated with corn, fruit and, strangely, serpents (my italics) - strangely because serpents are natural enemies of the horses. These associations led her also being considered a goddess of fertility and nourishment. Extract from Celtic Myth and Legend by Mike-Dixon-Kennedy. - A nice connection between a horse and a serpent? the white horse and dragon hill? WF

Posted by wysefool 13th May 2007ce

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