LadyWillowHawk
June 1st, 2004, 08:10 PM
Lesson 3 *
CELTIC MYTHOLOGY:
We will now examine the first and most important of Irish sagas regarding Her earliest inhabitants. The text which we have been discussing is the well known"'Irish Book of Conquests" There is
little said about the original inhabitants of Ireland. Speculation is
that the race was invented to provide six races which would correspond to the six ages of the world. We know that the leader's name was Lahdra, who having sixteen wives died of excess of women (no Christian overtones here). Lahdra was the first to die in Ireland, the whole race later being wiped out by the Deluge (the Great Flood). The lack of information here is suggestive that Christians may have chosen to neglect the Celtic creation concepts while adding that the flood killed them, and their chief died of excess women to bonify Christian ideologies, however, this is personal speculation.
The next race to land was Partholon some 268 years later. Again this legend is thought to be the product of the imaginative monks. Partholon appears as the God of Vegetation. However we are not merely dealing with a single deity, rather we are dealing with an entire race of which Partholon is another name.
This is the first race (mythical, non-human race) to control Ireland. When Partholon landed three lakes and nine rivers existed, seven new ones were formed in His lifetime. Partholon cleared four planes and quote, "He found no tiller of the soil before Him" With Him came; the steward Accasbel who constructed the first guest house, Brea who put up the first dwelling, made the first cauldron, and fought the first duel, Malaliach who acted as the first surety (guarantee is an essential part of the Celtic legal system), brewed the first beer from bracken, ordained divination, sacrifice, and ritual. Also came Bachorbadhra, the first foster-father (fosterage formed the basis of Irish education) and Biobal who introduced gold and Bobal who introduced cattle. During this time Partholon's wife committed the first adultery and won compensation from Him because He failed to protect His property. The race of Partholon fought the first battle against the Fomorians (Fomorian translates to latent demon). The Fomorian race are native powers who must be driven to the limits of the world to curb their ravaging and devouring of produce. During Partholon's time they had dwelt for two hundred years on the coastal islands "having no other foods". The Fomorians were said to
fight "with one foot, one hand, and one eye" The meaning of this is unclear, the suggestion has been made that this was a ritual posture, however, being demons it may indicate a grotesque form. Partholon successfully drove them off within seven days. However, like the powers of chaos they constantly re-occur, disrupting and destroying. On Beltane (May 1) the race of Partholon was wiped out by a mysterious plague. No record remains to show how their institutions (legal, education) were passed on to later Celts, but we know they were.
Thirty years later the race of Nemed arrived. They were Gauls whose race name means "Sacred". Four lakes and two forts were built, also twelve planes were cleared in their time. The race of Nemed fell prey to the evil Fomorians becoming their slaves. At each Samhain two thirds of their corn, milk, and children were taxed by the Fomorians. In despair they eventually abandoned Ireland.
The Fir Bolg arrived on the first of August or Lughnasadh, third great feast ofthe Celtic year. The other tribes that came with them were the Gaileoin and the Fir Domnam, they were however, united as one. They were the first people to leave descendants in Ireland. The Fir Bolg were a war based society. They were representatives of the European shift from agricultural to warfaring societies. The Fir Bolg introduced the iron spearhead and the monarchy system. Their king was Eochaid Mac Eirc. It was said of their king that "no rain fell during His reign, but only the dew". Harvests were said to be good and He established the justice system. A king's justice system at that time was judged by the fertility of the soil. In other words, if the law of the land was fair a good harvest was guaranteed, this is known as the 'magic formula of Kingship".
The Tuatha De Danann landed on Beltane and defeated the Fir Bolg in the second battle of Mag Tured. Magic was their primary asset; culled from the islands of North of Greece and adeptly wielded by this race of Magician Gods, attended by mortal servant farmers. And with them they brought four great magical items: the sword of light which belonged to the God Nuada, the stone of destiny which belonged to the God Fa!, the spear of victory which belonged to the God Lugh, and finally the cauldron of plenty which belonged to the God Dagda. The Tuatha confronted the Fomorians in a great epic battle said to
represent chaos versus order, magic playing a heavy role. This is the way the battle started; Nuada, King of the Tuatha, lost an arm which disqualified Him as King (any mutilation disqualifies a king). Bres (the Handsome) was chosen (Bres. though son of the Fomorian King was fostered {educated} by the Tuatha). Bres was very stingy, making none of the kingly courtesies. He provided no entertainment, nor food or drink, nor gifts, nor weaponry for His chieftains or his peers. And after insulting a bard, the first curse of Ireland was laid upon His head, which was "Without food upon His dish, without cow's milk on which a calf grows, without a man's abode under the gloom of night, enough to reward poets. man that be the fate of Bres? The Chieftains
demanded His crown. Bres called on his father to engage them in battle. They were the five chieftains of the Tuatha; Nuada, Dagda, Ogma, Goibniu, and Diancecht, and they managed to expel the Fomorians through war and magic.
Finally the sons of Mil landed on the feast of Beltane. These were the first mortals to land in Ireland, and they were greeted by Eire,Banbha, and Fondhla, three native Irish Goddesses. Eire, in welcoming the visitors predicts the island will belong to them forever, and upon Her request the island is to be named after Fire and Her two sisters. However, Donn, eldest of the sons of Mil states," It is not you we must thank, but our Gods and magic powers". To the pretentious young man She replies," What is that to you, for neither you, nor your children will enjoy this island". As it turns out Donn was drowned before finding a home. Buried on an island off the west coast, now known as the House of Donn, his descendants were said to follow him there in death. It is seen that by respecting the former deities of Ireland Amairgin finds himself a home and for his people while Donn, through his lack of respect, finds tragedy. A stand off between sons of Mil and the Tuatha De Danann occurs as is the custom, an arbitration bard settles the dispute.. The sons ofMil are asked to go off to the Ninth Wave having to fight a Druidic wind in order to return to the land (a Druidic wind is special in that it only blows at mast level). Amairgin sings praise to the Goddess Eire, lands safely, and burst into a song of pride.
The attitude expressed is that of religion, which brings the needed blessings of the Goddess, and magic with which one stands against all obstacles taking his fate into his own hands. The sons of Mil fought the Tuatha, killing many including the three Goddesses. The Christians thought they were all driven out, however country folklore tells a different story. They believe, even to this day, that the Tuatha De Danann live underground in springs, mounds, pools, wells, and such. The sons ofMil, although they were the conquering race still paid their respects to the ancient Gods of Ireland. Because they controlled the surface of the land the Old Ones could still cripple the crops or ensure fertility at will. The magic never left, it simply went underground.
HOMEWORK:
Research 4 unfamiliar Celtic deities.
Note: I started you off with this CELTIC MYTHOLOGY lesson to give you
a good jumping off point for the lessons ahead. Every lesson from here on out will have a Mythology question. (Smiles)
Homework due: Sat. June 12th/04.When students do not hand in their homework on time,it puts the lessons behind.Please be sure to hand in your homework on time.
Please make sure your user name is on your homework!
BB
**LadyWillowHawk**
CELTIC MYTHOLOGY:
We will now examine the first and most important of Irish sagas regarding Her earliest inhabitants. The text which we have been discussing is the well known"'Irish Book of Conquests" There is
little said about the original inhabitants of Ireland. Speculation is
that the race was invented to provide six races which would correspond to the six ages of the world. We know that the leader's name was Lahdra, who having sixteen wives died of excess of women (no Christian overtones here). Lahdra was the first to die in Ireland, the whole race later being wiped out by the Deluge (the Great Flood). The lack of information here is suggestive that Christians may have chosen to neglect the Celtic creation concepts while adding that the flood killed them, and their chief died of excess women to bonify Christian ideologies, however, this is personal speculation.
The next race to land was Partholon some 268 years later. Again this legend is thought to be the product of the imaginative monks. Partholon appears as the God of Vegetation. However we are not merely dealing with a single deity, rather we are dealing with an entire race of which Partholon is another name.
This is the first race (mythical, non-human race) to control Ireland. When Partholon landed three lakes and nine rivers existed, seven new ones were formed in His lifetime. Partholon cleared four planes and quote, "He found no tiller of the soil before Him" With Him came; the steward Accasbel who constructed the first guest house, Brea who put up the first dwelling, made the first cauldron, and fought the first duel, Malaliach who acted as the first surety (guarantee is an essential part of the Celtic legal system), brewed the first beer from bracken, ordained divination, sacrifice, and ritual. Also came Bachorbadhra, the first foster-father (fosterage formed the basis of Irish education) and Biobal who introduced gold and Bobal who introduced cattle. During this time Partholon's wife committed the first adultery and won compensation from Him because He failed to protect His property. The race of Partholon fought the first battle against the Fomorians (Fomorian translates to latent demon). The Fomorian race are native powers who must be driven to the limits of the world to curb their ravaging and devouring of produce. During Partholon's time they had dwelt for two hundred years on the coastal islands "having no other foods". The Fomorians were said to
fight "with one foot, one hand, and one eye" The meaning of this is unclear, the suggestion has been made that this was a ritual posture, however, being demons it may indicate a grotesque form. Partholon successfully drove them off within seven days. However, like the powers of chaos they constantly re-occur, disrupting and destroying. On Beltane (May 1) the race of Partholon was wiped out by a mysterious plague. No record remains to show how their institutions (legal, education) were passed on to later Celts, but we know they were.
Thirty years later the race of Nemed arrived. They were Gauls whose race name means "Sacred". Four lakes and two forts were built, also twelve planes were cleared in their time. The race of Nemed fell prey to the evil Fomorians becoming their slaves. At each Samhain two thirds of their corn, milk, and children were taxed by the Fomorians. In despair they eventually abandoned Ireland.
The Fir Bolg arrived on the first of August or Lughnasadh, third great feast ofthe Celtic year. The other tribes that came with them were the Gaileoin and the Fir Domnam, they were however, united as one. They were the first people to leave descendants in Ireland. The Fir Bolg were a war based society. They were representatives of the European shift from agricultural to warfaring societies. The Fir Bolg introduced the iron spearhead and the monarchy system. Their king was Eochaid Mac Eirc. It was said of their king that "no rain fell during His reign, but only the dew". Harvests were said to be good and He established the justice system. A king's justice system at that time was judged by the fertility of the soil. In other words, if the law of the land was fair a good harvest was guaranteed, this is known as the 'magic formula of Kingship".
The Tuatha De Danann landed on Beltane and defeated the Fir Bolg in the second battle of Mag Tured. Magic was their primary asset; culled from the islands of North of Greece and adeptly wielded by this race of Magician Gods, attended by mortal servant farmers. And with them they brought four great magical items: the sword of light which belonged to the God Nuada, the stone of destiny which belonged to the God Fa!, the spear of victory which belonged to the God Lugh, and finally the cauldron of plenty which belonged to the God Dagda. The Tuatha confronted the Fomorians in a great epic battle said to
represent chaos versus order, magic playing a heavy role. This is the way the battle started; Nuada, King of the Tuatha, lost an arm which disqualified Him as King (any mutilation disqualifies a king). Bres (the Handsome) was chosen (Bres. though son of the Fomorian King was fostered {educated} by the Tuatha). Bres was very stingy, making none of the kingly courtesies. He provided no entertainment, nor food or drink, nor gifts, nor weaponry for His chieftains or his peers. And after insulting a bard, the first curse of Ireland was laid upon His head, which was "Without food upon His dish, without cow's milk on which a calf grows, without a man's abode under the gloom of night, enough to reward poets. man that be the fate of Bres? The Chieftains
demanded His crown. Bres called on his father to engage them in battle. They were the five chieftains of the Tuatha; Nuada, Dagda, Ogma, Goibniu, and Diancecht, and they managed to expel the Fomorians through war and magic.
Finally the sons of Mil landed on the feast of Beltane. These were the first mortals to land in Ireland, and they were greeted by Eire,Banbha, and Fondhla, three native Irish Goddesses. Eire, in welcoming the visitors predicts the island will belong to them forever, and upon Her request the island is to be named after Fire and Her two sisters. However, Donn, eldest of the sons of Mil states," It is not you we must thank, but our Gods and magic powers". To the pretentious young man She replies," What is that to you, for neither you, nor your children will enjoy this island". As it turns out Donn was drowned before finding a home. Buried on an island off the west coast, now known as the House of Donn, his descendants were said to follow him there in death. It is seen that by respecting the former deities of Ireland Amairgin finds himself a home and for his people while Donn, through his lack of respect, finds tragedy. A stand off between sons of Mil and the Tuatha De Danann occurs as is the custom, an arbitration bard settles the dispute.. The sons ofMil are asked to go off to the Ninth Wave having to fight a Druidic wind in order to return to the land (a Druidic wind is special in that it only blows at mast level). Amairgin sings praise to the Goddess Eire, lands safely, and burst into a song of pride.
The attitude expressed is that of religion, which brings the needed blessings of the Goddess, and magic with which one stands against all obstacles taking his fate into his own hands. The sons of Mil fought the Tuatha, killing many including the three Goddesses. The Christians thought they were all driven out, however country folklore tells a different story. They believe, even to this day, that the Tuatha De Danann live underground in springs, mounds, pools, wells, and such. The sons ofMil, although they were the conquering race still paid their respects to the ancient Gods of Ireland. Because they controlled the surface of the land the Old Ones could still cripple the crops or ensure fertility at will. The magic never left, it simply went underground.
HOMEWORK:
Research 4 unfamiliar Celtic deities.
Note: I started you off with this CELTIC MYTHOLOGY lesson to give you
a good jumping off point for the lessons ahead. Every lesson from here on out will have a Mythology question. (Smiles)
Homework due: Sat. June 12th/04.When students do not hand in their homework on time,it puts the lessons behind.Please be sure to hand in your homework on time.
Please make sure your user name is on your homework!
BB
**LadyWillowHawk**