Aerfen is a Celtic goddess of fate and warfare, and the personification of River Dee in Wales.
The name Aerfen is the modern Welsh form of Common Celtic Aerten, which was derived from agro-, "carnage", and tan-nu, "to broaden" or "to spread", or ten-n-do-, "to break" or "to cut".[1] Together, Aerfen probably means "renowned in battle".[2] Aerfen had also been used as an alternate name for the River Dee.[3][4]
Aerfen had a shrine in Glyndyfrdwy on River Dee. Local legend states that three human sacrifices had to be drowned in the river, to ensure success in battle.[1] During Anglo-Welsh wars, the river Dee, which is situated on the English-Welsh border, was said to be the arbiter of victory and defeat.[5] It was said that if the Dee ate away its eastern bank, it was a sign of English victory, and vice versa.[4] Aerfen could be compared to Morrígan in Irish mythology.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c K. M. Sheard (2011). Llewellyn's Complete Book of Names. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Worldwide. p. 172. ISBN 978-0-7387-2368-6.
- ^ Elisabeth Benard; Beverly Moon (21 September 2000). Goddesses Who Rule. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 90. ISBN 978-0-19-535294-8.
- ^ Thomas Richards (1815). Antiquæ Linguæ Britannicæ Thesaurus. p. 10.
- ^ a b "BRITISH ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION". The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard. Aberystwyth. 1877-09-07. p. 6. Retrieved 2020-07-10.
- ^ Anneli S. Rufus; Kristan Lawson (1991). Goddess Sites, Europe: Discover Places where the Goddess Has Been Celebrated and Worshipped Throughout Time. HarperSanFrancisco. ISBN 978-0-06-250747-1.
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