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Néit
In Irish mythology Neit (Néit, Nét, Neith) was a god of war. He was the husband of Nemain and/or Fea, and sometimes of Badb. Also grandfather of Balor, he was killed at the legendary Second Battle of Moytura. Etymology The name probably derives from the proto-Celtic *''nei-t-'' meaning fighting or passion. A similarly named deity appears on two Celtiberian inscriptions, as a Romanized '' Mars Neto'' and as ''Neito''. Legacy Neit is described as the uncle of the Dagda, who gave him ''Ailech Neit'' (Neit's Stonehouse), which is elsewhere described as the grave of Ahd, son of the Dagda. ''Ailech Imchell,'' described as the "bright home of horses" and an envied stronghold, is another place where Aed is said to be buried and which is said to be in the "precinct where dwelt Nemain and Neit." Neit is described as "dangerous" and "son of Indui, king of the north country, lord of horse breeding peoples." Neit's sons include Delbáeth, the father of Elatha, and Esarg, the father ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Balor
In Irish mythology, Balor or Balar was a leader of the Fomorians, a group of malevolent supernatural beings, and considered the most formidable. He is often described as a giant with a large eye that wreaks destruction when opened. Balor takes part in the Battle of Mag Tuired, and is primarily known from the tale in which he is killed by his grandson Lugh of the Tuatha Dé Danann. He has been interpreted as a personification of the scorching sun, and has also been likened to figures from other mythologies, such as the Welsh Ysbaddaden and the Greek Cyclops. Name The name ''Balor'' may come from Common Celtic ''*Boleros'', meaning "the flashing one". In the early literature he is also referred to as ''Balor Béimnech'' (Balor the smiter), ''Balor Balcbéimnech'' (Balor the strong smiter), ''Balor Birugderc'' (Balor of the piercing-eye), ''Balor mac Doit meic Néid'' (Balor, son of Dot son of Nét) or ''Balor ua Néit'' (Balor, grandson of Nét). Later forms are ''Balor Béi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lebor Gabála Érenn
''Lebor Gabála Érenn'' (literally "The Book of Ireland's Taking"; Modern Irish spelling: ''Leabhar Gabhála Éireann'', known in English as ''The Book of Invasions'') is a collection of poems and prose narratives in the Irish language intended to be a history of Ireland and the Irish from the creation of the world to the Middle Ages. There are a number of versions, the earliest of which was compiled by an anonymous writer in the 11th century. It synthesised narratives that had been developing over the foregoing centuries. The ''Lebor Gabála'' tells of Ireland being "taken" (settled) by six groups of people: the people of Cessair, the people of Partholón, the people of Nemed, the Fir Bolg, the Tuatha Dé Danann, and the Milesians. The first four groups are wiped out or forced to abandon the island; the fifth group represents Ireland's pagan gods, while the final group represents the Irish people (the Gaels). The ''Lebor Gabála'' was highly influential and was largely ... [...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] |
Nemain
In Irish mythology, Neman or Nemain (Modern Irish: Neamhan, Neamhain) is the spirit-woman or goddess who personifies the frenzied havoc of war. In the ancient texts where The Morrígan appears as a trio of goddesses — the three sisters who make up the ''Morrígna'' — include Macha and Badb; Nemain is strongly associated with Badb with whom she shares a husband, Neit. Nemain may be an aspect of Badb. Representation in literature In the grand Irish epic of the Tain Bo Cuailnge, Neman confounds armies, so that friendly bands fall in mutual slaughter. When the forces of Queen Medb arrive at Magh-Tregham, in the present county of Longford, on the way to Cuailnge, Nemain appears amongst them: “Then the Neman attacked them, and that was not the most comfortable night with them, from the uproar of the giant Dubtach through his sleep. The bands were immediately startled, and the army confounded, until Medb went to check the confusion.” Lebor na hUidhre, fol. 46, b1. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Badb
In Irish mythology, the Badb (Old Irish, ), or in modern Irish Badhbh (, )—also meaning "crow"—is a war goddess who takes the form of a crow, and is thus sometimes known as Badb Catha ("battle crow").http://www.dil.ie/5114 ''badb'', Author: Royal Irish Academy She is known to cause fear and confusion among soldiers to move the tide of battle to her favoured side. Badb may also appear prior to a battle to foreshadow the extent of the carnage to come, or to predict the death of a notable person. She would sometimes do this through wailing cries, leading to comparisons with the bean-sídhe (banshee). With her sisters, Macha and the Morrigan or Anand, Badb is part of a trio of war goddesses known as ''the three Morrígna''.''Cath Maige Tuired'': The Second Battle of Mag Tuired T ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cath Maige Tuired
''Cath Maige Tuired'' (modern spelling: ''Cath Maighe Tuireadh''; ) is the name of two saga texts of the Mythological Cycle of Irish mythology. It refers to two separate battles in Connacht: the first in the territory of Conmhaícne Cúile Tuireadh near Cong, County Mayo, the second near Lough Arrow in County Sligo. The two texts tell of battles fought by the Tuatha Dé Danann, the first against the Fir Bolg, and the second against the Fomorians. Maigh Tuireadh is typically anglicised as Moytura or Moytirra. Etymology The word ''cath'' is an Old Irish word meaning "battle, combat". ''Mag'' is an earlier spelling of ''maigh'', meaning "plain". Ellis suggests that ''tuired'' (''tuireadh'' in modern spelling) means "pillars" or "towers",Ellis, Peter Berresford, ''The Mammoth Book of Celtic Myths and Legends'', 2002, pp 28 but the Royal Irish Academy's '' Dictionary of the Irish Language'' translates ''tuiredh'' as "a lament". The First Battle of Mag Tuired The first text, so ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Neto (deity)
Neto or ''Mars Neto'' is the name of one of the deities of ancient Iberian Peninsula. It was revered in many places of the Peninsula, but mainly by the Iberians and Celtiberians. He was probably a god of war. Name and functions Macrobius in his ''Saturnalia'', calls Neto both a sun god and equivalent in Hispania to the Roman Mars and Apollo. A name ''Neito'' appears on the Celtiberian Botorrita bronze plaque.Contrebia Belaisca (Botorrita, Zaragoza) I. ''El bronce con alfabeto "ibérico" de Botorrita'', Beltraan & Tovar (1982) Zaragoza: Universidad de Zaragoza The name also recalls an Irish war god Neit whose name might be derived from the same Celtic Celtic, Celtics or Keltic may refer to: Language and ethnicity *pertaining to Celts, a collection of Indo-European peoples in Europe and Anatolia **Celts (modern) *Celtic languages **Proto-Celtic language *Celtic music *Celtic nations Sports Foot ... root meaning passion or conflict. References Lusitanian gods Basque gods W ... [...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] |
Delbáeth
Delbáeth or Delbáed ( or ) was one of several figures from Irish mythology who are often confused due to the repetition of the name in the mythological genealogies. Name According to the Dindsenchas, the name Delbaeth is derived from Dolb-Aed, meaning "enchanted fire" or "fire shape(d)." Family His father is variously listed as Aengus or Ogma of the Tuatha Dé Danann or Elatha of the Fomorians, and his mother was Ethniu of the Fomorians. He succeeded his grandfather Eochaid Ollathair ("the Dagda") as High King of Ireland. Delbáeth ruled the united Tuatha Dé Danann and Fomorians for ten years, before dying at the hand of his son, Fiacha. Children In some traditions the goddess Eithne is mentioned as his daughter. Portions of ''Lebor Gabála Érenn'' identify Delbáeth as the father of Brian, Iuchar, and Iucharba, and also mention that Delbáeth was also called "Tuirill Biccreo".Macalister, R. A. Stewart. (1941). ''Lebor Gabála Érenn''. Part IV. Irish Texts Societ ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Elatha
In Irish mythology, Elatha, Elotha, Elier or Elada (modern spelling: Ealadha) was a king of the Fomorians and the father of Bres by Ériu of the Tuatha Dé Danann, as well as Delbaeth, Ogma, Elloth (another name for Lir the father of Manannán mac Lir), and the Dagda by an unnamed mother. The imagery surrounding him suggests he may be associated with sources of light and illumination, such as solar deity, the sun. Overview Elatha is described as being the "beautiful Miltonic prince of darkness with golden hair". He was the son of Delbaeth and a king of the Fomorians, Fomor, and he was the father of Bres by Ériu, Eriu, a woman of the Tuatha Dé Danann. He came to her over the sea in a vessel of silver, himself having the appearance of a young man with yellow hair, wearing clothes of gold and five gold torcs. He was one of the Formorians, Fomor who took part in the Cath Maige Tuired, Second Battle of Magh Tuireadh. During the Cath Maige Tuired, Second Battle of Magh Tuireadh ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dian Cecht
In Irish mythology, Dian Cécht (; also known as ''Cainte'' or ''Canta'') was the god of healing, the healer for the Tuatha Dé Danann, and son of the Dagda according to the '' Dindsenchas''. He was the father of Cu, Cethen and Cian. His other children were Miach, Airmed, Étan the poet and Ochtriullach (Octriuil). Through Cian, he is also Lugh's paternal grandfather. Etymology The name Dian Cecht may be a combination of the Old Irish common words ''dían'' 'swift' and ''cécht'', glossed as 'power', hence the literal meaning may be literally "swift power".Koch, J. T. (2006),Celtic culture: a historical encyclopedia', Vols. 1-4 - p. 586. The refers to him as the "god of power", with ''cécht'' glossed as "power" (). In Old Irish, there is also the word ''cécht'' meaning 'plough-beam' (or less accurately 'ploughshare'), but this makes "little sense in the light of his activities", and this lexical meaning is "presumably not relevant". Linguistic knowledge about regular ... [...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] |
