Fairie Queens - Notes in Progress

The Queen of Elphame

Often cited in Scottish folklore - Tam Lin, Thomas the Rhymer et al - & described in Scottish witch trials - Andro Man, Isobel Gowdie, Bessie Dunlop.

Fair complexion, red hair, "peerlessly beautiful".  Clad in green or white, riding white horse or accompanied by white deer.

Uses physical attractions to entrance human men (often poets) & bind them to her, usually with their consent & for agreed period.  Also abducts women as nursemaids for her children.

Nicnevin/NicNemhain

Unseelie queen with a penchant for witches, first recorded in C16th.  Name may mean 'daughter of Nemahin' (Irish war goddess) or 'daughter of the bones'

"Gigantic & malignant...rode on the storm...rambling host under her grim banner" (Walter Scott) Host = fairie rade of elvish Incubi - dangerous fae - nymphs & witches.

Closely linked to Gyre-Carlin (possibly same being under different names) mother witch in long grey mantle & carrying wand to summon storms.

Aine

Roots in Tuatha De Danann - then goddess of sovereignty.

Post-Christianity morphed into faerie queen associated with the sun & fire (link to sovereignty - king as bringer of fertility to the land, needed as is the sun?)

Associated with Midsummer Day, sometimes appears as red mare.

Aoibheall

Dates back to C11th.  Name possibly derived from "oibhan" - little beauty.

Chalk-white skin with blonde or red hair, once transformed (by Cliodhna) into white cat.

Carries magical harp which can summon mists &/or kill those who hear it

Cliodhna

Tuatha De Danann, also bean sidhe.

Fair haired, "the shapely one", accompanied by 3 magical birds including wren.

Seduces & drowns mortal men (especially poets), hence association with the shoreline & waves.

Possible triad with Aine & Aoibheall

Eabhna/Oonagh

High queen of the Daione Sidhe (people of the mounds) bound to pay tithe to Hel every 7 years - lure human men as sacrificial victims.

Peerless beauty - shining golden hair sweeping the ground, dress of silver sparkling with dewdrops like diamonds

Shape-shifter can appear as black cat or white cow.

First version way too Disney-princess!