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> From: B.M.COOK [SMTP:[log in to unmask]] > > Brittany is Celtic and we are all familiar with the celtic mother-goddess > who has a triad manifestation (the maiden, the matron and the crone), yes > ? > No. The pre-Christian Celts had triple goddesses but with the possible exception of one or two partially disfigured statues, the triple goddesses do not show maiden-mother-crone. That's essentially a New-Age idea fostered by sources like Robert Graves' _The White Goddess_ and various wiccan writings. Celtic statues and myths depict three aspects that are functional aspects, *not* age-related (as in the three Brigits poet, healer, and smith), or they show three mature women, or they show two mature women and a very young woman (the last actually may not be three goddesses but rather two goddesses and a devotee). > Any comments on this from honoured fellow members ? > > Has anyone done a / know of a study of the rise of the cult of St Anne in > Brittany ? > Actually, I've just started looking at it in Ireland from the view of St. Anne taking over earlier cults of Anu and Ai/ne. Ma/ire Mac Neill in _Festival of Lughnasa_ suggested that there may be a link between the cult of St. Anne and Lughnasa celebrations, but she didn't explore it much herself. Francine Nicholson %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%