With this, men began, according to Condren, to feel threatened by women as well, by any force seen as competition. Peter Berresford Ellis in his book, Celtic Women, Women in Celtic Society and Literature, concurs with Condren that goddesses in literature were often raped, died in childbirth and their status was destroyed by the symbolism of the rape. The goddesses, however, gave birth to great men who would in turn become great warriors. Several sources consulted point to the war-goddess as a symbolic adaptation to the culture who called on her to wreak death and destruction. The war-goddess is often portrayed too with a voracious sexual appetite.
Scholars agree that for a time women participated in battle.
An important myth tells the stor y of the outlaw of females in combat. A mother observes the carnage after a battle with her son at her side, after which she insists he swear to change the laws of combat for women. What disturbs the woman so is a beheaded woman whose child is still clut ching her mother's breast, milk on one cheek, blood on the other. Evidence also points to the cruel treatment of women during this particularly violent time. They were often raped by course warriors, starved, and basically used as bait.