Badb is a war goddess from Irish mythology, whose name derives from the Old Irish word for "crow" or "demon," rooted in a term meaning "battle, fight." In modern Irish, she is also known as Badhbh (pronounced approximately “bwœv” or “bwƒíw”), and she is often called Badb Catha (“battle crow”) due to her shape‑shifting into a crow. As a figure of death and dread, Badb sows fear and confusion among warriors, turning the tide of battle to her chosen side. She also appears before a fight to foretell the scale of slaughter, or to predict the death of a prominent person—sometimes through wailing cries, which has led scholars to connect her with the later banshee tradition. Role in Celtic Mythology Badb belongs to a triad of war goddesses known as the three Morrígna, alongside Macha and the Morrígan (also called Anand). Together these three were associated with battlefield madness, prophecies of doom, and supernatural intervention in conflicts. The Morrígan’s own name may mean either “demon queen” or “great queen,” reflecting the liminal and fearful power these goddesses commanded. Literary Depictions In surviving Irish legends, Badb is frequently described as a crow or hooded crow that flies over combatants, screaming encouragement to some and terror to others. The Táin Bó Cúailnge (Cattle Raid of Cooley) scenes of carnage often show the crow‑goddess gloating over corpses. Her connection to prophecy is most famous from the “Voices of the Badb” that give accounts of battles yet to come but already seen as doom struck. Unlike the banshee of later folklore, which keens only privately, the Badb’s wails are a public omen of fate. Cultural Summation Meaning: “crow, demon” (from Old Irish) with association to “battle, fight” Origin: Irish language and pre‑Christian Celtic belief Type: Mythological figure (goddess of war) / female personal name Usage regions: Ireland (historical mythology, revived modern namesake) Related figures: Morrígan, Macha (the three Morrígna)