Badb Catha (2)

A high-resolution version of this photograph is included in Paul Watson’s 2016 book of artwork Myth and Masks, available exclusively from our online shop.

The subject is based on Badb Catha, a Celtic goddess who is part of a trio of goddesses (or one goddess with three aspects, depending on your source) called the Morrígan, Morrígu, or Morrígna. A similar character also exists in Gaulish mythology called Catubodua or Bodua.

The Badb Catha aspect is a goddess of battles, and her name translates from the Old Irish as “battle crow”.

This series of photographs led to a lino print of the same subject.