What is a Banshee?
The Banshee - Gaelic form: ben sid.
In Irish folklore, the Banshee is seen as both faerie and ghost. As a faerie, she is used in stories to warn children of the dangers of being out alone. They would be told, "the wind through the trees in the winter forest is the banshee." Essentially, she is the one blamed for the things that howl and go bump in the night. She is also what is called a sidh faerie, meaning she derives herself from the faerie mound, closely relating her to the playful puca and other notable entities of the mound.
In ghost lore, she is the apparition attached to ancient Irish families who forewarns the death of a family member. However, the Banshees revolted against the people and united. This unification resulted in their wailing before any of the Irish people died. She wails at their birth place and within the hour, they are no more.
In mythology, she is closely related to Macha, the horse goddess. She eventually became associated with justice and revenge. The Banshee can also be related to Aine, the goddess of the sea, and equivalent to the Greek goddess Diana. The banshee, in essence, is a fallen goddess.
|
Float over arrows to scroll   |
