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tuatha-de-danann-blog · 6 months

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Thoughts on the Irish Gods

I have made a family tree of the gods after reading through the LGE. It is a tricky task since the different accounts of the gods can contradict each other, but it was doable.

I have no idea if Ernmas is daughter to Nuada's grandson or daughter of Nuada's grandfather for example.

And the figure(s) Delbeath, Turienn, and Tuirill Biccero are confusing... are they different men? The same?

Plus, one of the Morrigan sisters, Morrigu, is said to be the same woman as Anand or Danand, but the accuracy of this is debated, and the verse text of the LGE suggests Morrigu is separate than Danand.

It's cool to see the different branches of the family tree and how they interact with each other.

For example, I saw Lugh in conflict with Ogma's decedents and the Dagda's decedents. There is also incest and accounts of who killed whom.

The women of the tuatha are made up of sorceress warrior women, healers, women associated with the domestic world/farming, and figures of sovereignty. According to one verse, one woman, Ethniu/Ethliu is mother to seven of the major gods. Wikipedia (yeah I know...) says the name Eithne, another name for her, means kernel or grain.

A simplification: I saw a bunch of gods who are brothers with their decedents come to Ireland, take it from another tribe. They were betrayed by one of their own, fought and defeated another tribe, and by then most of the brothers were dead and their kids all married and killed each other.

#irish mythology #tuatha de danann #irish myth #pagan #irish lore #mythology #celtic myth #the morrigan #dagda #goddess #witch #witchblr #pagan gods

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tuatha-de-danann-blog · 6 months

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The Real Mother of the Gods

Random internet articles will tell you how Danu is the mother of the Irish gods, like some overarching ancestral figure.

When reading the actual lore, this idea is pretty false. There may be a Danand, mother to three gods, but no great Danu. This is even argued, as a better translation may reveal they are three gods of skill, the word for skill confused or made into the name of a goddess.

While I was reading the verse portion of the Lebor Gabála Érenn volume 4 (LGE) on the tuatha, I discovered something interesting. Ethniu is named as mother to seven of the major gods: Luichtaine, Creidne, Goibnu, Dian Cecht, Nuada, Dagda, and Lugh.

Additionally, in the Cath Maige Tuired, if I am not mistaken, Ogma is named as one of her sons.

It is a shame this isn't discussed more. The prose text of the LGE does not mention this either. It mostly recounts who is the father to whom.

Ethniu is daughter of Balor, a Fomorian king. The Fomorians share ancestors with the gods, and live on islands close to Ireland.

Folk or fairy tales tell how Balor heard a prophecy that his grandson would kill him, so he locked Ethniu up, surrounded only by women, until a man looking for a magic cow Balor stole sneaks in and she gets pregnant with Lugh.

In the LGE it is mentioned she is given to Cian, a god, in marriage and they have Lugh.

But turning to the verse texts in the LGE, here is the small passage:

"They were powerful against their firm conflict,

The seven lofty great sons of Ethliu.

Dagda, Dian Cecht, Credne the wright,

Luichne the carpenter, who was an enduring.

consummate plunderer,

Nuada who was the silver-handed,

Lug Mac Cein, Goibninn the smith."

(The names have variations of how they're spelled in the LGE.)

Her first six sons are over different skills/roles, a smith, wright, carpenter, a physician, a king, and a druid/wizard/warrior, but her son Lugh possess all of the skills and becomes the king of the gods after Nuada’s death.

I think Ethniu/Ethliu should get the credit for being mother of the gods.

#irish mythology #tuatha de danann #irish myth #pagan #irish lore #celtic myth #goddess #irish gods #witchblr #myth #mythology #gods #goddesses #lore #folklore #irish literature

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tuatha-de-danann-blog · 6 months

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The Irish Gods pt 2

During the war against Bres and the Fomorians, Lugh had a conflict with 3 brothers. They were the 3 sons of Turien. These 3 brothers killed Lugh's father. As punishment, Lugh sent them on a voyage to retrieve magical treasures. The brothers ended up dying, and Lugh refused to let them be healed by one of the magic treasures.

After the war, the Fomorians steal the Dagda’s harp. Lugh, the Dagda, and another god go to retrieve it. The Dagda calls the harp to him. It flies off the wall and hits and kills some Fomorians. He plays the harp, and it puts the Fomorians to sleep.

Eventually, Lugh tricks Bres and kills him. Lugh had fake cows made and filled the utters with bogwater. Bres was under a stipulation where he had to drink whatever was offered to him. Lugh offered Bres a drink from the "cows." Bres drank, got sick, and died.

Next, Lugh kills the Dagda’s son, Cermait. (Cermait and Lugh's wife had slept together). The Dagda preserved his son's body and wandered around until he found and stole a staff that resurrected Cermait. This staff brought life with one end and death with the other.

Lugh was eventually killed by the Dagda’s grandson, Mac Cecht.

The Dagda was king for a while until he died of a wound he received in the battle with the Fomorians. Next, Delbeath, son of Ogma was made king until he was killed by a king from over the sea. His son became king until he was killed by a man associated with a creek.

The Dagda’s 3 grandsons, Mac Cecht, Mac Cuill, and Mac Gréine share the kingship of Ireland.

The Milesians, a tribe from Spain, invade and conquer the gods, and the 3 kings and their wives are killed in battle. Some of the invaders promised to name the land after the 3 wives. One of the wives was Eriu, Bres' mother by Elatha.

The gods go to live in the sidhe mounds or "the land of promise," a type of otherworld.

#irish mythology #tuatha de danann #irish myth #pagan #irish lore #celtic myth #goddess #the morrigan #irish gods #witchblr #part two

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tuatha-de-danann-blog · 6 months

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The Irish Gods pt. 1

After reading several texts, I've painted this picture of the Irish gods.

There is the war god Net. His descendants procreate with his granddaughter Ethniu. She has 7 sons: the smith, the carpenter, the wright, the physician (Dian Cecht), the king (Nuada), the druid warrior (the Dagda), and the god of every skill (Lugh).

Elatha, Net's grandson, is a Fomorian king. He is father to Bres, the Dagda, and Ogma the champion; though, one text makes Ogma the son of Ethniu.

The gods lived in islands in the northern parts of the world where they learned all their magic, sciences, and art.

They invaded Ireland. They sailed there, and clouds shielded their arrival.

They had four treasures: the cauldron that everyone left satisfied from, the spear no one could defeat, the sword that nothing could escape from, and the stone of destiny that shouted when the true king of the land put his foot on it.

They battled the Firbolg, the existing inhabitants, for Ireland. The Morrigan and her sisters cast clouds and rain of fire and blood over the Firbolg. The gods defeat the Firbolg. (The Firbolg and gods have common ancestors).

Nuada loses his hand in battle. A blemished king can't rule. Bres is made king in hopes his Fomorian side would render the Fomorians under the gods' power.

The smith god made a silver hand. Dian Cect attached it to Nuada, making a working silver hand.

One text says Bres was a bad king. He chose the Fomorian side of his family. He made the Dagda build forts and Ogma carry wood. There was no food or drink at his court. The gods were taxed heavily, and all their wealth went to the Fomorians.

Miach, Diancecht's son, restores Nuada’s real flesh hand, unburying it, attaching it, and restoring it completely. Nuada is able to be king again. Diancecht was jealous of Miach, so he killed him. From his grave grew healing herbs. His sister gathered the herbs on a cloth, but Dian Cecht mixed them, and their healing knowledge was lost.

A poet made a satire about Bres. It embarrassed him and brought him dishonor. The gods told him they wanted to remove him as king. He went to his dad Elatha for help to battle gods. Elatha refused. Bres went to the Fomorian Balor for help. (Balor is the war god Net's son).

Meanwhile, Balor's grandson, Lugh, son of Ethniu and the god Cian (Dian Cecht’s son) comes to the god's court. They don't let anyone in without a skill. Lugh was the only one that had all the skills put together. They let him in. He was stronger than Ogma, and Nuada put him in charge of the war.

The Dagda slept with the Morrigan at the mouth of a river. Afterward, she gave him war intel and told him her plan: to kill one of the Fomorians. (Some texts say the Dagda and Morrigan are married to each other).

The Dagda’s daughter, Brigid, is married to Bres. She owns the king of the cows and king of the pigs. Her son with Bres is a spy. The son is killed by the gods, and Brigid is the first to cry and scream in mourning in Ireland.

The war was on. Dian Cecht and his kids made a healing well, filling the water with herbs. Anyone wounded who bathed in it was healed. Only people with their head cut off or brains bashed in could not be healed. The smith god and his brothers magically repaired the gods' weapons by the next day of battle.

Lugh defeated Balor in battle. Balor had an "evil eye." Whatever it looked upon was destroyed. Lugh hit the eye with his sling shot. The eye shot through the back of Balor's skull and killed several many Fomorians.

They spared Bres' life if he agreed to teach them the times to plant and harvest.

Nuada had died in battle, and Lugh was made king.

See pt. 2

#irish mythology #tuatha de danann #irish myth #pagan #irish lore #celtic myth #goddess #the morrigan #irish gods #witchblr