#BookologyThursday #Celtic: The three apples #Lugh asked of the sons of Tuirenn as part of the compensation for the murder of his father „are the three apples from the Garden in the East of the World, and no other apples will do but these, for they are the most beautiful and have most virtue in them of the apples of the whole world. And it is what they are like, they are of the colour of burned gold, and they are the size of the head of a child a month old, and there is the taste of honey on them, and they do not leave the pain of wounds or the vexation of sickness on any one that eats them, and they do not lessen by being eaten for ever.“
Source: Gods and Fighting Men by Lady Gregory - Project Gutenberg eBook
Here’s the backstory: https://hear-me.social/@NeuKelte/114749586135573323

#WyrdWednesday #LegendaryWednesday #Celtic: `#Deichtine disappeared from #EmainMacha, until the nobles of #Ulster were led by a flock of magical birds to a house, where they were welcomed by the god #Lugh.
He told them his wife was due to give birth soon, and when she did the Ulstermen discovered she was Deichtine.`
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Súaltam

#ThickTrunkTuesday #Celtic: `In #Irish #mythology, the #HillOfUisneach is described as the sacred centre of #Ireland, the burial place of Irish gods such as #Lugh and the Dagda, the site of a sacred tree (the Bile Uisnig), and a place of assembly (the mórdáil Uisnig) associated with the #druids, which, according to later tradition, was held during the festival of Beltaine.`
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hill_of_Uisneach
#TreeOfTheDay #treetime #treeday #LifesBetterWithTrees #BetterWithForests

#FolkloreSunday #Celtic: #Lugh is associated with the sun. `At #Samhain he bade farewell to power, and fell again for half a year under the sway of the evil forces of winter and darkness.`
Source: #Celtic Myth & Legend, Poetry & Romance by Charles Squire

#MythologyMonday #Celtic: `When #Lugh’s spear was drawn out, it roared and struggled against its thongs; fire flashed from it; and, once slipped from the leash, it tore through and through the ranks of the enemy, never tired of slaying.`
Source: Celtic Myth & Legend, Poetry & Romance by Charles Squire

Tuatha De Danann

This “name” is usually translated as “folk of the goddess Danu.” They are also known by the earlier name: Tuath De (“tribe of the gods” or “divine tribe”). They’re a supernatural race in Irish mythology. Many of them are thought to represent deities of pre-Christian Gaelic Ireland.

The Tuatha De Danann are often pictured as kings, queens, druids, bards, warriors, heroes, healers, & craftsmen who have supernatural powers. They live in the Otherworld but interact with humans & the human world. They’re associated with sidhe.

Their traditional rivals are the Fomorians (Fomoire), who might represent the destructive powers of nature, & whom the Tuatha De Danann defeated in the Battle of Mag Tuired.

Prominent members include the Dagda (“the great god”), The Morrigan (“the great queen” or “phantom queen”), Lugh, Nuada, Aengus, Brigid, Manannan, Dian Cecht the healer, & Goibniu the smith, 1 of the Tri De Dana (“three gods of craft”).

They’re immune to ageing & sickness, & who have magic powers. The powers most often attributed to them are control over the weather & the elements, & the ability to shape shift themselves & other things.

They’re also said to control the fertility of the land. The tale De Gabail in t-Sida says the 1st Gaels had to establish friendship with the Tuatha De Danann before they could raise crops & herds.

They live in the Otherworld, which is described as either a parallel world or a heavenly land beyond the sea or under the earth’s surface. Many of them are associated with specific places in the landscape, especially the sidh mounds.

These are the ancient burial mounds & passage tombs which are entrances to Otherworld realms. The Tuatha De Danann can hide themselves with a feth fiada (“magic mist”) & appear to humans only when they wish to.

In euhemerized accounts, the Tuatha De Danann were descended from Nemed, leader of a previous wave of inhabitants of Ireland. In non-euhemerized accounts, they’re descended from Danu/Anu, a mother goddess. They came from 4 cities to the north of Ireland (Falias, Gorias, Murias, & Finias), where architecture, the arts, & magic.

According to Lebor Gabala Erenn, they came to Ireland “in dark clouds” & “landed on the mountains of the Conmaicne Rein in Connachta.” Otherwise Sliabh an Iarainn, “and they brought a darkness over the sun for 3 days & 3 nights.”

Sliabh an Iarainn (anglicized Slieve Anierin) is a mountain in County Leitrim, Ireland. It’s part of the Cuilcagh Mountains.

They immediately burnt the ships “so that they should not of retreating to them, & the smoke & the mist that came from the vessels filled the neighbouring land & air. Therefore it was conceived that they had arrived in clouds of mist.”

Led by King Nuada, they fought the First Battle of Magh Tuireadh on the west coast, in which they defeated & displaced the native Fir Bolg, who then inhabited Ireland. In the battle, Nuada lost an arm to their champion, Sreng.

Since Nuada was no longer “unblemished,” he couldn’t continue as king & was replaced by the half-Fomorian Bres, who turned out to be a tyrant.

The doctor Dian Cecht replaced Nuada’s arm with a working silver 1. (Think Bucky from Captain America.) He was reinstated as king. Back in those days, if a king wasn’t physically whole, then he wasn’t fit to be king.

However, Dian Cecht’s son, Miach, was dissatisfied with the replacement. So he recited the spell, “adult fri halt do and feith fri feth” (joint to joint of it & sinew to sinew), which caused flesh to grow over the silver over the course of 9 days & nights.

In a fit of jealous rage, Dian Cecht killed his own son. Because of Nuada’s restoration as king, Bres whined to his family & dad, Elatha, who sent him to look for help from King Balor of the Fomorians.

The Tuatha De Danann fought the Second Battle of Magh Tuireadh against the Fomorians. King Nuada was killed by King Balor’s poisonous eye. But KIng Balor was killed by Lugh (who was the champion of the Tuatha De Danann), who then took over as king.

A 3rd battle was fought against a wave of invaders, the Milesians, from the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula (present-day Galicia & Northern Portugal). These were descendants of Mil Espaine (who are thought to represent the Goidelic Celts).

The Milesians encountered 3 Tuatha De Danann goddesses, Eriu, Banba, & Fodla, who asked that the island be named after them. Eriu is the origin of the modern name Eire (which is the Irish language name for Ireland), & Banba & Fodla are still sometimes used as poetic names for Ireland.

Their 2 husbands (Mac Cuill, Mac Cecht, & Mac Greine) were kings of the Tuatha De Danann and created a magical storm in an attempt to drive them away. The Milesian poet calmed the sea with his verse, then his people landed & defeated the Tuatha De Danann at Tailtiu.

When Amergin was called upon to divide the land between the Tuatha De Danann & his own people, he cleverly allotted the portion above ground to the Milesians & the portion underground to the Tuatha De Danann.

The Tuatha De Danann were led underground into the Sidhe mounds by Manannan mac Lir & Tir na nOg onto a flowery plain/plain of honey attested to in the Voyage of Bran.

The Tuatha De Danann brought 4 magical treasure with them to Ireland, 1 a piece from their 4 cities: Dagda’s Cauldron, The Spear of Lugh, Lia Fail (The Stone of Fal), & Claiomh Solais (The Sword of Light).

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#aengus #amergin #anu #banba #battleOfMagTuired #bres #brigid #captainAmerica #celts #christian #claiomhSolais #conmaicneRein #connachta #countyLeitrim #cuilcaghMountains #dagda #dagdasCauldron #danu #deGabailInTSida #dianCecht #elatha #eriu #fethFiada #finais #firBolg #firstBattleOfMaghTuireadh #fodla #fomoire #fomorians #gaelic #gaels #galicia #goibniu #goidelic #gorias #iberianPeninsula #ireland #irish #irishMythology #kingBalor #kingNuada #leborGabalaErenn #liaFail #lugh #macCecht #macCuill #macGreine #manannan #manannanMacLir #miach #milEspaine #milesians #nemed #northernPortugal #otherworld #sidh #sidhe #sliabhAnIarainn #slieveAnierin #sreng #tailtiu #theMorrigan #theSpearOfLugh #theStoneOfFal #theSwordOfLight #tirNaNog #triDeDana #tuathDe #tuathaDeDanann2 #voyageOfBran

#BookologyThursday #Celtic: #Lugh had finally managed to be admitted to the feast at Tara.
`Then the great flag-stone, to move which required the effort of four-score yoke of oxen, Ogma hurled through the house, so that it lay on the outside of Tara. This was a challenge to Lug. But Lug cast it back, so that it lay in the center of the palace; and he put the piece which it had carried away into the side of the palace and made it whole.
“Let a harp be played for us,” said the company. So the warrior played a sleep-strain for the hosts and for the king the first night. He cast them into sleep from that hour to the same time on the following day. He played a wail-strain, so that they were crying and lamenting. He played a laugh-strain, so that they were in merriment and joyance.
Now Nuada, when he beheld the warrior’s many powers, considered whether Samildanach could put away from them the bondage which they suffered from the Fomorians. So they held a council concerning the warrior. The decision to which Nuada came was to change seats with the warrior. So Samildanach went to the king’s seat, and the king rose up before him till thirteen days had ended.`
Source: Ancient Irish Tales, ed. by Tom P. Cross & Clark H. Slover
Here’s the backstory: https://hear-me.social/@NeuKelte/115582897517221913

#BookologyThursday #Celtic: #Lugh wanted to attend the feast at Tara but the doorkeeper had denied him entry and questioned him. Thereupon `the doorkeeper went into the palace and declared all to the king. “A warrior has come before the enclosure,” said he. “His name is Samildanach (many-gifted), and all the arts which thy household practise he himself possesses, so that he is the man of each and every art.”
The king said then that the chess-boards of Tara should be taken to Samildanach, and he won all the stakes, so that then he made the Cro of Lug.
Then that was related to Nuada. “Let him into the enclosure,” says he; “for never before has man like him entered this fortress.” Then the doorkeeper let Lug pass him, and he entered the fortress and sat down in the sage’s seat, for he was a sage in every art.`
Source: Ancient Irish Tales, ed. by Tom P. Cross & Clark H. Slover
Here’s the backstory: https://hear-me.social/@NeuKelte/115582513801987801

#BookologyThursday #Celtic: #Lugh wanted to attend the feast at Tara but the doorkeeper blocked his way asking: “Who is there?”
“Here there is Lug Lamfada (i.e., Lug Long-Arm) son of Cian son of Diancecht and of Ethne daughter of Balor. Fosterson, he, of Tailltiu daughter of Magmor king of Spain and of Eochaid the Rough son of Duach.”
The doorkeeper asked of Lug: “What art dost thou practise?” said he; “for no one without an art enters Tara.” “Question me,” said he: “I am a wright.”
The doorkeeper answered: “We need thee not. We have a wright already, even Luchta son of Luachaid.”
He said: “Question me, O doorkeeper! I am a smith.”
The doorkeeper answered him: “We have a smith already, Colum Cualleinech of the three new processes.”
He said: “Question me: I am a champion.”
The doorkeeper answered: “We need thee not. We have a champion already, Ogma son of Ethliu.”
He said again: “Question me: I am a harper.”
“We need thee not. We have a harper already, Abcan son of Bicelmos whom the Tuatha De Danann chose in the fairy-mounds.”
Said he: “Question me: I am a hero.”
The doorkeeper answered: “We need thee not. We have a hero already, even Bresal Etarlam son of Eochaid Baethlam.”
Then he said: “Question me, O doorkeeper! I am a poet and I am a historian.”
“We need thee not. We have already a poet and historian, even En son of Ethaman.”
He said, “ Question me: I am a sorcerer.”
“We need thee not. We have sorcerers already. Many are our wizards and our folk of might.”
He said: “ Question me: I am a leech.”
“We need thee not. We have for a leech Diancecht.”
“Question me,” said he; “I am a cupbearer.”
“We need thee not. We have cupbearers already, even Delt and Drucht and Daithe, Tae and Talom and Trog, Glei and Gian and Glesi.”
He said: “Question me: I am a good brazier.”
“We need thee not. We have a brazier already, Credne Cerd.” He said again, “Ask the king,” said he, “whether he has a single man who possesses all these arts, and if he has I will not enter Tara.”
Source: Ancient Irish Tales, ed. by Tom P. Cross & Clark H. Slover
Here’s the backstory: https://hear-me.social/@NeuKelte/115582155339059260

The Dagda

Considered the great God of Irish Mythology. He’s the chief God of the Tuatha De Danann. The Dagda are portrayed as a father-figure, king, & druid. He’s associated with fertility, agriculture, masculinity, & strength. As well as magic, druidry, & wisdom. He can control life & death (with his staff), the weather & crops, as well as time & the seasons.

He’s often portrayed as a large bearded man or a giant wearing a hooded cloak. He owns a magic staff (lorc) of a dual nature: it kills with 1 end & brings to life with the other. He also owns a cauldron (the coire ansic), which never empties, & a magic harp (Uaithene, this may be the name of the harpist/player.).

The harp can’t be played unless called by its 2 bynames. The harp can fly itself to the Dagda when called. Think Thor’s hammer in the Marvel movies. He just sticks his hand out & the hammer comes to him. This is what happens with the Dagda & the harp.

He’s said to live in Bru na Boinne (Newgrange). Other places associated with or named after him include: Uisneach, Grianan of Aileach, Lough Neagh, & Knock Iveagh. The Dagda is said to be the husband of the Morrigan & the lover of Boann. His kids include: Aengus, Brigit, Bodb Derg, Cermait, Aed, & Midir.

The Dagda has several other names/epithets, that reflect aspects of his character:

• Eochu or Eochaid Ollathair, “horseman, great father” or “horseman, all-father”
• Ruad Rofhessa, “mighty one/Lord of great knowledge”
• Daire, “the fertile one”
• Aed, “the fiery one”
• Fer Benn, “horned man” or “man of the peak”
• Cera, “creator”?
• Cerrce, “striker”?
• Easal
• Eogabal

The Dagda was 1 of the kings of the Tuatha De Danann. The Tuatha De Danann are the race of supernatural beings who overcame the Fomorians, who inhabited Ireland previously, prior to the coming of the Milesians.

The Morrigan is depicted as his wife, his daughter was Brigit, & his lover was Boann, after whom the River Boyne is named. Though she was married to Elcmar & with whom he had the Aengus. Before the battle with the Fomorians, he was coupled with the goddess of war, the Morrigan, on Samhain.

In the tract found in the Yellow Book of Lecan, there were 3 items the Dagda named together, his staff (lorc), the shirt (leine) of protection from sickness, & the cloak (lumman) of shape-shifting color-changing.

The “great staff” (lorg mor) had a smooth end that brought the dead back to life. He resuscitated his son, Cermait Milbel with the smooth end of the staff. But the staff’s rough end caused instant death. The staff/club is also described in the Ulster Cycle narrative, Mesca Ulad. Where it was called the “terrible iron staff” (lorg aduathmar iarnaidi).

The Cauldron of the Dagda is 1 of the Four Treasures of the Tuatha De Danann. It was said “an assembly used not to go unsatisfied from it.” The cauldron “signified plenty.” His magic cauldron was otherwise known as the coire ansic (“the un-dry cauldron”).

After Uaithne, the Dagda’s Harper was abducted by the Fomorians, the Dagda went to the enemy’s hall & received his magic harp, which had 2 names. When the Dagda called upon his harp by its 2 names (Daur Da Blao & Coir Cetharchair), the harp leapt off the wall & came to him.

The harp was forbidden by the Dagda from supplying any sound. Unless it was called upon by the names, which translated to “Oak of Two Meadows” & “the Four Angled Music.” Hence, the harp was a richly ornamental magic harp made of oak which, when the Dagda played it, put the seasons in their correct order.

The Dagda had the skillet to play the “Three Strains” (joy, sorrow, sleep) which he used to immobilize the Fomorians & escape.

He had 2 pigs. 1 of which was always growing whilst the other was always roasting & ever-laden fruit trees. He is also described as being the owner of a black-maned heifer that was given to him from his labors prior to the Second Battle of Moytura. When the heifer calls her calf, all the cattle of Ireland are taken by the Fomorians as a tribute graze.

The Dagda is said to be the husband of the Morrigan, who’s called his “envious wife.” His kids include: Aengus, Cermait, & Aed (often called the 3 sons of the Dagda), Brigit, & Bodb Derg. He’s said to have 2 brothers, Nuada & Ogma. But this may be an instance of the tendency to triplicate deities. Elsewhere, the Dagda is linked exclusively with Ogma. The 2 are called “the 2 brothers.”

In the Dindsenchas, the Dagda is given a daughter named Ainge, for whom he makes a twig basket or tub that always leaks when the tide is in & never leaks when it’s going out. The Dagda’s dad is named Elatha, son of Delbeath.

Englec, the daughter of Elcmar, is named as a consort of the Dagda & the mom of his “swift son.” Echtgi the loathsome is another daughter of the Dagda’s named in the Banshenchas. Before the Second Battle of Mag Tuired, the Dagda builds a fortress for Bres called Dun Brese & is also forced y the Fomorian kings Elatha, Indech, & Tethra to build raths.

Raths (also called ringforts/ring forts) are small circular fortified settlements built during the Bronze & Iron Age & early Middle Ages up to about the year 1000 AD. They’re found in Northern Europe, especially in Ireland.

In the lead up to the Second Battle of Mag Tuired, when Lugh asks Dagda what power he’ll wield over the Fomorian host, he responds that he “will take the side of the men of Erin both in mutual smiting & destruction & wizardry. Their bones under my club will be as many hailstones under the feet of herds of horses.”

The Dagda has an affair with Boann, the goddess of the River Boyne. She lives at Bru na Boinne with her husband, Elcmar. The Dagda impregnates her after sending Elcmar away on a 1-day errand.

To hide the pregnancy from Elcmar, the Dagda casts a spell on him, making “the sun stand still” so he will not notice the passing of time. Meanwhile, Boann gives birth to Aengus, who’s also known as Maccan Og (“the young son”). Eventually, Aengus learns that the Dagda is his true dad & asks him for a portion of land.

In some versions of the tale, the Dagda helps Aengus take ownership of the Bru from Elcmar. Aengus asks & is given the Bru for laa ocus aidche. Because in Old Irish, this could mean either “a day & a night” or “day & night,” Aengus claims it forever. Other versions have Aengus taking over the Bru from the Dagda himself by using the same trick.

The Tochmarc Etaine tells the story of how Boand conceives Aengus by the Dagda. In the Aislinge Oengusso or Dream of Aengus, the Dagda & Boand help Aengus to find a mysterious woman who he has fallen in love with his dreams.

In a poem about Mag Muirthemne, the Dagda banishes an octopus with his “mace of wrath” using the words: “Turn thy hollow head! Turn thy ravening body! Turn thy resorbent forehead! Avaunt! Begone!” The Sea receded with the creature & the plain of Mag Muirthemne was left behind.

In the Dindsenchas, the Dagda is described as swift with a poison draught & as a justly dealing lord. He’s also called a king of Erin with hosts of hostages, a noble, slender prince, & the dad of Cermait, Aengus, & Aed.

He’s credited with a 70 or 80-year reign over the Tuatha De Danann. This was before dying at Bru na Boinne, finally succumbing to a wound inflicted by Cethlenn during the battle of Mag Tuired. The Dagda has similarities with the later harvest figure Crom Dubh.

He also has similarities with the Gaulish god, Sucellos, who’s depicted with a hammer & a pot, & the Roman god, Dis Pater. Dis Pater (a.k.a. Rex Infernus or Pluto) is a Roman god of the underworld. Dis was originally associated with fertile agricultural land & mineral wealth.

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