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Aengus
In Irish mythology, Aengus or Óengus is one of the Tuatha Dé Danann and probably originally a god associated with youth, love,Ó hÓgáin, Dáithí. ''Myth, Legend & Romance: An encyclopedia of the Irish folk tradition''. Prentice-Hall Press, 1991. pp.38–40 summer and poetic inspiration. The son of The Dagda and Boann, Aengus is also known as Macan Óc ("the young boy" or "young son"), and corresponds to the Welsh mythical figure Mabon and the Celtic god Maponos. He plays a central role in five Irish myths. Name In Old Irish his name is ''Óengus'' or ''Oíngus'' , a name attested in Adomnán's ''Life of St Columba'' as ''Oinogus(s)ius''. This is believed to come from a Proto-Celtic name meaning "true vigour". The medieval '' Dindsenchas'' derives it from "one desire", explaining that Boann gave him the name because her union with the Dagda had been her only desire. In Middle Irish this became ''Áengus'', and in Modern Irish ''Aonghus'' , . He is also known as ''Óeng ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Diarmuid Ua Duibhne
Diarmuid Ua Duibhne (, ), also known as Diarmuid of the Love Spot, is a hero and demigod in the Fenian Cycle of Irish mythology, traditionally thought to be set in the 2nd to 4th century. He is the son of Donn, son of Duibhne of the Fianna, and Cochrann, daughter of Cathaír Mór. Diarmuid becomes the foster son and protégé of Aengus Óg, one of the Tuatha Dé Danann and the god of love, to the extent that a god of love can be said to exist in the corpus. He grows up to be a skilled warrior and a well-liked, valued member of the Fianna who on one occasion saves Fionn and his band by single-handedly slaying over three thousand enemies in battle. Diarmuid is best known as the lover of Gráinne, the intended wife of Fianna leader Fionn mac Cumhaill in the legend '' The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Gráinne''. Among his sons were Donnchadh, Iollann, Ruchladh and Ioruad. Diarmuid Ua Duibhne is said to be the founder of the Scottish Clan Campbell. On the Campbell crest is a boar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dagda
The Dagda ( , ) is considered the great god of Irish mythology. He is the chief god of the Tuatha Dé Danann, with the Dagda portrayed as a father-figure, king, and druid.Koch, John T. ''Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia''. ABC-CLIO, 2006. pp. 553–54 He is associated with fertility, agriculture, masculinity and strength, as well as magic, druidry and wisdom."An Dagda" ''Mary Jones's Celtic Encyclopedia''. He can control life and death (cf. his staff, below), He is often described as a large bearded man or giant wearing a hooded cloak.Ward, Alan (2011). ''The Myths of the Gods: Structures in Irish Mythology''. pp. 9–10 He owns a magic staff () of dual nature: it kills with one end and brings to life wi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Dagda
The Dagda ( , ) is considered the great god of Irish mythology. He is the chief god of the Tuatha Dé Danann, with the Dagda portrayed as a father-figure, king, and druid.Koch, John T. ''Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia''. ABC-CLIO, 2006. pp. 553–54 He is associated with fertility, agriculture, masculinity and strength, as well as magic, druidry and wisdom."An Dagda" ''Mary Jones's Celtic Encyclopedia''. He can control life and death (cf. his staff, below), He is often described as a large bearded man or giant wearing a hooded cloak.Ward, Alan (2011). ''The Myths of the Gods: Structures in Irish Mythology''. pp. 9–10 He owns a magic staff () of dual nature: it kills with one end and brings to life with ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Newgrange
Newgrange () is a prehistoric monument in County Meath in Ireland, placed on a rise overlooking the River Boyne, west of the town of Drogheda. It is an exceptionally grand passage tomb built during the Neolithic Period, around 3100 BC, making it older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids. Newgrange is the main monument in the Brú na Bóinne complex, a World Heritage Site that also includes the passage tombs of Knowth and Dowth, as well as other henges, burial mounds and standing stones. Newgrange consists of a large circular mound with an inner stone passageway and cruciform chamber. Burnt and unburnt human bones, and possible grave goods or votive offerings, were found in this chamber. The monument has a striking façade made mostly of white quartz cobblestones, and it is ringed by engraved kerbstones. Many of the larger stones of Newgrange are covered in megalithic art. The mound is also ringed by a stone circle. Some of the material that makes up the monument ca ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Midir
In the Mythological Cycle of early Irish literature, Midir (Old Irish), Midhir (Modern Irish) or Mider was a son of the Dagda of the Tuatha Dé Danann. After the Tuatha Dé were defeated by the Milesians, he lived in the sidh of Brí Léith (believed to be Ardagh Hill, Co. Longford). The name Midir may come from the old Irish word for a judge, midithir. Description In Tochmarc Étaíne, Midir appears on a brown steed wearing a green mantle and red embroidered tunic with a golden brooch reaching from shoulder to shoulder, a silver shield with a rim of gold on his back with a silver strip and gold boss. He has bright yellow hair, a five pronged spear, and a fillet of gold on his head. When Midir appears suddenly in the midst of Eochaid Airem's court, the remark is made, “He was fair at all times, but on that night he was fairer.” Elsewhere in Tochmarc Étaíne, the following description of Midir is provided: A purple tunic about him, and golden yellow hair on him to the e ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Boann
Boann or Boand is the Irish mythology, Irish goddess of the River Boyne (''Bóinn''), an important river in Ireland's historical province of Kingdom of Meath, Meath. According to the ''Lebor Gabála Érenn'' and ''Táin Bó Fraích'' she was the sister of Bébinn, Befind and daughter of Delbáeth, son of Elatha, Elada, of the Tuatha Dé Danann. Her husband is variously Nechtan (mythology), Nechtan or Elcmar. With her lover the Dagda, she is the mother of Aengus. Etymology Her name is interpreted as "white cow" (; ) in the ''dinsenchas'', where she is also called "White Boand". Ptolemy's 2nd century ''Geography (Ptolemy), Geography'' shows that in antiquity the river's name was ''Bouvinda'' [Βουουίνδα], which may derive from Proto-Celtic language, Proto-Celtic ''*Bou-vindā'', "white cow". An alternate version of her name is given as Segais, hence Well of Segais. We are also told that Eithne was the wife of Elcmar and that another name for Eithne was Boand. Mytholo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Irish Mythology
Irish mythology is the body of myths indigenous to the island of Ireland. It was originally Oral tradition, passed down orally in the Prehistoric Ireland, prehistoric era. In the History of Ireland (795–1169), early medieval era, myths were Early Irish literature, written down by Celtic Christianity, Christian scribes, who Christianized them to some extent. Irish mythology is the best-preserved branch of Celtic mythology. The myths are conventionally grouped into 'List of literary cycles, cycles'. The Mythological Cycle consists of tales and poems about the god-like Tuatha Dé Danann, who are based on Ireland's pagan deities, and other mythical races like the Fomorians. Important works in the cycle are the ''Lebor Gabála Érenn'' ("Book of Invasions"), a legendary history of Ireland, the ''Cath Maige Tuired'' ("Battle of Moytura"), and the ''Aided Chlainne Lir'' ("Children of Lir"). The Ulster Cycle consists of heroic legends relating to the Ulaid, the most important of whi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tuatha Dé Danann
The Tuatha Dé Danann (, meaning "the folk of the goddess Danu"), also known by the earlier name Tuath Dé ("tribe of the gods"), are a supernatural race in Irish mythology. Many of them are thought to represent deities of pre-Christian Gaelic Ireland. The Tuath Dé Danann are often depicted as kings, queens, druids, bards, warriors, heroes, healers and craftsmen who have supernatural powers. They dwell in the Otherworld but interact with humans and the human world. They are associated with the ''sídhe'': prominent ancient burial mounds such as Brú na Bóinne, which are entrances to Otherworld realms. Their traditional rivals are the Fomorians (Fomoire), who might represent the destructive powers of nature, and whom the Tuatha Dé Danann defeat in the Battle of Mag Tuired. Prominent members include the Dagda ("the great god"); The Morrígan ("the great queen" or "phantom queen"); Lugh; Nuada; Aengus; Brigid; Manannán; Dian Cecht the healer; and Goibniu the smith ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Maponos
In ancient Celtic religion, Maponos or Maponus ("Great Son") is a god of youth known mainly in northern Britain but also in Gaul. In Roman Britain, he was equated with Apollo. The Welsh mythological figure Mabon ap Modron is apparently derived from Maponos, who by analogy we may suggest was the son of the mother-goddess Dea Matrona. The Irish god Aengus, also known as the ''Mac Óg'' ("young son"), is probably related to Maponos. Etymology In Gaulish, ''mapos'' means a young boy or a son. The suffix ''-onos'' is augmentative. Besides the theonym ''Maponos'', the root ''mapos'' is found in personal names such as ''Mapodia'', ''Mapillus'', and ''Maponius''; ''mapo'' is also found in the Carjac inscription (RIG L-86). The root is Proto-Indo-European ''*makʷos''. (Delamarre 2003 pp. 216–217). In Insular Celtic languages, the same root is found in Welsh, Cornish and Breton ''mab'' meaning ''son'' (Delamarre 2003 pp. 216–217), derived from Common Brythonic ''*mapos ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Aed (god)
Aed, or Aodh, is the prince of the Daoine Sidhe and a god of the underworld in Irish mythology. He is known from inscriptions as the eldest son of Lir, High King of the Tuatha de Dannan, and Aoibh, a daughter of Bodb Dearg. Aed is elsewhere described in the '' Dindsenchas'' as being the Dagda's son and brother of Cermait and Aengus killed by Corchenn of Cruach for seducing Corchenn's wife. Etymology Aed's name is derived from the Old Irish word for fire, derived from a Proto-Indo European verb meaning "to burn" or "to kindle". In the Dindsenchas, he is given the epithet "of the wind-swift horses" and called "Aed Luirgnech," meaning "big-shins". Children of Lir According to tradition, Aoibh died in childbirth after bearing Lir four children (two sets of twins): Fionnuala and Aodh were the first pair and Fiachra and Conn were the second. Aoife, the second wife of Lir, and in some versions of the story, the sister of Aobh, was very jealous of the children and conspired t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Étaín
Étaín or Édaín (Modern Irish spelling: Éadaoin) is a figure of Irish mythology, best known as the heroine of '' Tochmarc Étaíne'' (''The Wooing of Étaín''), one of the oldest and richest stories of the Mythological Cycle. She also figures in the Middle Irish ''Togail Bruidne Dá Derga'' (''The Destruction of Da Derga's Hostel''). T. F. O'Rahilly identified her as a sun goddess. Name The name ''Étaín'' () is alternately spelt as ''Edain'', ''Aideen'', ''Etaoin'', ''Éadaoin'', ''Aedín'', or ''Adaon''. It is derived from a diminutive form of Old Irish ''ét'', "passion, jealousy". She is sometimes known by the epithet Echraide ("horse rider"), suggesting links with horse deities and figures such as the Welsh Rhiannon and the Gaulish Epona.MacKillop, p. 195. In ''Tochmarc Étaíne'' Midir names her Bé Find (Fair Woman). However, the poem embedded in the text, "A Bé Find in ragha lium" may be an older, unrelated composition that was appended to the story later. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Brigid
Brigid or Brigit ( , ; meaning 'exalted one'),Campbell, MikBehind the Name.See also Xavier Delamarre, ''brigantion / brigant-'', in ''Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise'' (Éditions Errance, 2003) pp. 87–88: "Le nom de la sainte irlandaise ''Brigit'' est un adjectif de forme *''brigenti''... 'l'Eminente'." Delamarre cites E. Campanile, in '' Langues indo-européennes'' ("The name of the Irish Saint Brigid is an adjective of the form *''brigenti''... 'the Eminent'"), edited by Françoise Bader (Paris, 1994), pp. 34–40, that Brigid is a continuation of the Indo-European goddess of the dawn like Aurora. also Bríd, is a goddess of pre-Christian Ireland. She appears in Irish mythology as a member of the Tuatha Dé Danann, the daughter of the Dagda and wife of Bres, with whom she had a son named Ruadán. Her sacred tree appears to have been the birch, given some older Imbolc-related traditions. She is associated with wisdom, poetry, healing, protection, smithing and domesticat ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
