Further Reading

Friday, 27 July 2007

The Holly King & The Oak King

The symbolism of the Horned God is also played out the theme of the Holly King and Oak King. The Horned God is the Holly King and the Oak King, two twin gods seen as one complete entity. Each of the twin gods rule for half of a year, fights for the favour of the Goddess, and 'dies'. But the defeated twin is not truly dead, he merely withdraws for six months, some say to Caer Arianrhod, 'the Castle of the ever-turning Silver Wheel', which is also known as 'the Wheel of the Stars'.

This is the enchanted realm of the Goddess Arianrhod where the god must wait and learn before being 'born again'. Arianrhod means "silver wheel" and the castle is the Aurora Borealis. She is the goddess of the astral skies.