NAME Mabb
EPITHET The Midwife
ALTERNATIVE Mab / Mabb {Maeve}
GENDER F
CATEGORY deity
TYPE deliverer of dreams
CULTURE Elfin (Fay Folk)
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Sligo
TERRITORY Connacht
LANDMARKS Sligo Bay
SITES Mabb's Cairn
AGE Iron
REMARKS Mabb was known as the midwife of the Fay Folk
because of her function of facilitating the birth of
dreams. Dreams were regarded as gifts of the Fay.
NAME Mabon
EPITHET The Divine Youth / The Great Son / Son of the
Divine Mother (Mabon ap Modron) / Son of
Lightning (Mabon ap Mellt) / The Divine Hunter
ALTERNATIVE Mabo / Maponos
GENDER M
SYMBOL horned snake
CATEGORY deity / hero
TYPE youth / healing / fertility / music / poetry /
sports / hunter
CULTURE Belgae - Catuvellauni / Gallic - Arverni /
Cymry (tribes that fight side by side)
COUNTRY France / England / Wales / Portugal / Canada /
United States
REGION Haute-Marne / Puy-de-Dôme / Northumberland /
Gloucester / Clwyd {clud} / Prado da
Rodela /
Ontario / Colorado / Nevada / New York
TERRITORY Gaul
LANDMARKS springs / Marne / Amance / Tyne
SITES Bourbonne-les-Bains / Source-de-la-Roche /
Chesterholm / Corbridge / Ruabon Mountain / Caer
Loyw
AGE Iron
DATES BC 6th c / BC 3rd c / AD 6th c
ACCESSORIES horse (White Brown-mane) / hounds
RELATIVES Modron (mother); Mellt (father)
SEE ALSO Bedwyr / Byanu / Cei / Culhwch / Glythfyr
Llydaweg / Isbaddaden / Modron
REMARKS Mabon ap Modron was the son of Modron (Marne)
and Mellt (lightning). His mother was the the water
goddess of the river Marne in France, an area controlled by
the Catuvellauni tribe. During BC 3rd century, warriors of
the Catuvellauni migrated with other Belgae tribes and
settled in England.
Mabon was the youthful hunter, the sun god. In
France, Mabon (Maponos) was venerated at the hot springs
(Bourbonne-les-Bains) near the Amance river in the
territory of the Lingones and at Source-de-la-Roche
(Chamalières). In the territory of the Arverni in England,
Mabon was venerated near Hadrian's Wall at Chesterholm and
Corbridge on the Tyne river. In Wales, Ruabon mountain
southwest of Wrexham was named after Mabon.
There is an ogham inscription in northern Portugal by
a spring at Prado da Rodela that declares the fountain is
sacred to Mabon and the craigs above are sacred to his
mother Byanu.
At Petroglyphs Park in Ontario, Canada there is an
ogham inscription dedicated to Mabon. In the United States
there are ogham inscriptions in Colorado, a pictograph
depicting Mabon in Nevada and an ogham prayer addressed to
Mabon in New York.
In Welsh legend, Isbaddaden demanded that Culhwch to
retrieve for him the razor (tusk) from the chief boar
Ysgithwyn and the comb (bristle) and shears (jaw) from
between the ears of the great boar "Twrch Trwyth". He
instructed Culhwch that in order to complete this task he
should find Mabon ap Modron who had been kidnapped at the
age of three nights and taken to Caer Loyw in The
Otherworld (present-day Gloucester). Mabon was was rescued
by Cei and Bedwyr so that he could help in the hunt.
Mabon rode Gweddw's horse White Brown-mane, who was
swift as a wave, and snatched the razor from between the
ears of Twrch Trwyth as he ran into a river. He also
handled the two whelps of Glythfyr Llydaweg and the hound
Drudwyn pup of Greid son of Eri to hunt Ysgithrwyn, Chief
Boar.
NAME Mac Cecht
EPITHET Son of the Plow
ALTERNATIVE Ceacht
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY hero / warrior
TYPE chariot warrior / battle champion to Conaire
(Ard Righ Eirinn)
CULTURE Danann?
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath
TERRITORY Mide
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg / Magh Liffey / Magh Ai / Magh
Cnamroiss (Field of Bonewood) / Magh Brengair
SITES Da Derga's Hostel / Spring of Uaran Garad
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Ath Cliath
ACCESSORIES thunder feat / supernatural shield / lance /
sword
RELATIVES son of Snade Teiched; Conaire (foster-father)
ENEMIES Ingcel / sons of Donn Desa
SEE ALSO Cessair / Conaire / Conall Cernacht / Da Derga /
Donn Desa / Le Fer Flaith / Ingcel
REMARKS Mac Cecht was a foster-son and battle champion
to Conaire, high chieftain of Ireland. He had his raith on
Magh Brengair and was described as a half-fury of giant
stature. He carried a large wooden shield that was
surfaced with iron. His shield had a hardened rim and a
leather boss the size of a cauldron. His lance had a
mighty shaft with a blue-red iron head that continually
dripped blood. He wore an iron sword of great proportions
that was held in a large leather scabbard. On his feet he
wore large leather boots.
When Conaire and his troop of warriors were travelling
to Da Derga's Hostel on the Magh Liffey, Mac Cecht went
ahead to light the chieftain fire (Torc Caille) in
Conaire's rooms. He struck the fire just as the raiders
were approaching the shore of Ireland. The roar of the
fire was so loud it drove the 3x50 ships onto the shoulder
of the sea.
When the raider ships finally reached the beach, their
landing noise was so great that it shook the Hostel,
knocking the weapons from the wall racks. Mac Cecht leaped
to his armor, making as much noise as the Thunder Feat of
300 warriors. When the raiders, including the sons of Donn
Desa, heard the description of Mac Cecht, they fled over
the 3 ridges and Ingcel had to make them take their pledges
over again.
On Mac Cecht's first encounter with the raiders, he
killed 600. The filidh of the raiders then cast a spell of
thirst on the high chieftain of Ireland. Conaire asked Mac
Cecht to find him water because the hostel's water had been
used up putting out the fire that was burning the hostel.
Mac Cecht did not want to go because the safety of the high
chieftain was his primary concern. He left the decision to
the other champions and Conall Cernacht told him to leave
the defence of the high chieftain to them and go to fetch
the water.
Mac Cecht took Le Fer Flaith, Conaire's young son, and
fought his way through the raiders and headed to the
nearest water hole. This was the nearby well of Cessair at
Crich Cualann but he could not find any water there because
of the spell of the raiders' druid.
Mac Cecht explored the rivers of Bush, Boyne, Bann,
Barrow, Neim, Luae, Laigdae, Shannon, Suir, Sligo, Samair,
Find, Ruirthhech and Slaney but again he found no water. He
then visited Lough Derg, Loch Luimnig, Lough Foyle, Lough
Mask, Lough Corrib, Loch Laig, Loch Cuan, Lough Neagh and
Morloch but found no water in them either. Mac Cecht then
searched for Uaran Garad on Magh Ai which he could not see
until a wild duck rose up from the water and the spring
became visible to him.
Mac Cecht filled the golden cup which was large enough
to hold an ox and a boar but when he did, Le Fer Flaith
fell from under his garment. He was dead, as the warrior's
heat from Mac Cecht's body had melted the flesh from his
bones. Mac Cecht buried Le Fer Flaith in the ground at
Magh Cnamroiss (Field of Bonewood).
Mac Cecht then raced back to the hostel in order to be
there by morning. He was crossing the 3rd ridge toward the
hostel when he spied Conaire's head being cut off by two
raiders. He slew one with his sword and crushed the other
with a pillar stone. He retrieved Conaire's head and gave
it a drink from his golden cup. Conaire's head then sang
praises of the worth of Mac Cecht before dying. Conaire
had died with only 9 of his warriors around him, the rest
having fled when they had the chance.
Mac Cecht and Conall Cernacht burnt the raider ships
and battled with the raiders. Ingcel, his two brothers
Echell and Tulchinne (yearling) and the two Reds of Roiriu
were the only 5 raiders to escape alive. Because Conaire
the high chieftain of Ireland was dead when Mac Cecht got
back, he and Conall were never friends afterwards.
After the battle, Mac Cecht was lying wounded on the
field of battle when he saw a young woman walking among the
fallen. He called her over to ask her what was gnawing at
his wound. It was a wolf and she grabbed it by the tail
and pulled it off. Mac Cecht took it by the throat and
killed it with a single blow. He then cleaned his own
wounds and patched himself up enough to take Conaire's body
to Tara, then continued on his way to his own raith at Magh
Brengair, where he died.
NAME Mac Da Tho
EPITHET Son of Two Mutes (Macc Da Tho)
ALTERNATIVE Mesroeda mac Datho / macc Datho / mic Datho
GENDER M
CATEGORY deity / warrior / chieftain / hosteller
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Carlow
TERRITORY Leinster
LANDMARKS Magh nAilbi (plain of Ailbe)
CENTERS Hostel (Bruidhean)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Mac Da Tho's
ACCESSORIES Ailbe (giant hound) / enormous boar
RELATIVES Buan (wife); Dath (father); Mesgegra (brother);
Ucha (consort); Lena (son)
ENEMIES Connacht / Ulster / Athairne
SEE ALSO Athairne / Buan / Blai / Dath / Lena / Mesgegra
/ Ucha
REMARKS Mesroeda Mac Da Tho kept a hostel (Bruidhean) in
the extreme south of present-day county Carlow in the
ancient province of Leinster. His hostel was constructed
from logs, mud and wattle with 50 rooms between each of the
7 doors that led to 7 passages where there were 7 hearths
with 7 cauldrons, each containing an ox and a boar. Anyone
staying at the hostel would dip the flesh fork into the
cauldron and what was forked out on the first try was what
that person received to eat.
Mac Da Tho had a huge hound named Ailbe that defended
all of Leinster. The dog's fame was known throughout
Ireland and one unlucky day Mac Da Tho received messengers
from both Ailill and Medbh of Connacht and Cobchobar mac
Nessa of Ulster wanting to acquire the hound. The
messengers of Connacht offered to trade 3 score milch cows,
a chariot and the 2 best horses in Connacht. The
messengers from Ulster offered cattle and treasures and the
friendship of Conchobar.
Mac Da Tho knew he was in a dangerous position and to
accept the offer from either would spell disaster from the
other. After a sleepless night, his wife Buan suggested
that he offer the hound to both parties, invite them to a
feast and let them fight it out. Mac Da Tho thought this
an excellent idea and invited the two parties.
Both parties arrived at the same time and were made
welcome to a champion's feast. The feast was to be Mac Da
Tho's boar which had been fed on the milk of sixty cows for
7 years. It was slaughtered and roasted with 40 oxen as a
side dish. Mac Da Tho, who was acting as host himself,
asked how the boar should be divided. Bricriu suggested
that the choice be made according to the brave deeds and
trophies of champions.
Bricriu's suggestion led to bragging, insults, fights
and then total chaos when Conall of Ulster won the
arguments and ate the whole hind end, leaving only the
front quarter to the warriors of Connacht. Mac Da Tho then
let the hound loose so it could pick its own side.
The hound Ailbe (fair woman) chose to side with Ulster
who were winning. She chased the warriors of Connacht and
at the plain of Ailbe she seized the pole of Ailill's
chariot. His charioteer Ferloga drove over the hound,
decapitating her, and then rode on with the dog's head
impaled on the pole. They sped through Bellaghmoon,
Reerin, Ath Midbine (Mastiu), Drum Criach (Kildare),
Rathangan, Feighcullen, Ford of Mac Lugna, the hill of 2
plains across, Cairpre's Bridge and on to the ford of the
dog's head (Farbill) where Ailbe's head finally let go of
the chase.
Ulster had its revenge when the Ollamh Athairne stayed
overnight at the hostel and demanded that Mac Da Tho send
his wife Buan to his bed. Mac Da Tho refused and Athairne
complained to Conchobar, who sent Conall Cernacht to deal
with the offense. Conall killed Mac Da Tho in combat, then
offered his own services to Buan but she preferred suicide.
Conall then mixed some of Mac Da Tho's brain with lime and
made a brainball. This was the same brainball that Cet mac
Magach stole and used to kill Conchobar in revenge for
Conall's having killed Mac Da Tho and Buan.
NAME Macc Da Reo
ALTERNATIVE Mac Dareo
GENDER M
CATEGORY hosteller
TYPE 1 of the 5 hostellers of Ireland
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Leitrim
TERRITORY Connacht
SITES Breifne
CENTERS Macc Da Reo's hostel (Bruidhean)
AGE Iron
DATES AD 2nd c
BATTLES Macc Dareo's Hostel
ACCESSORIES hostel
SEE ALSO Cairbre Caitcheann
REMARKS Macc Da Reo was considered as one of the 5
hostellers of Ireland and had his bruidhean at Breifne in
county Leitrim.
There was a battle at his hostel between the armies of
the three Goidel chieftains and the warriors of the
Aitheachean (subject tribes) who were led by Cairbre
Caitcheann. Some evidence points toward Macc Da Reo as
being Cairbre Caithcheann.
NAME MacCecht
EPITHET Son of the Plow
ALTERNATIVE Dermait / Tethor / MacCeacht
GENDER M
FESTIVAL summer solstice
CATEGORY deity / warrior / chieftain
TYPE champion
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Sligo / Donegal
TERRITORY Connacht / Ulster
LANDMARKS Plain of Towers (Magh Tuireadh)
SITES Raith Aileach / Teltown (Tailltenn)
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 16th-15th c / BC 16th c / BC 1546-1516 (Kings
List)
BATTLES second battle of Magh Tuireadh (north Moytura) /
Taillcenn (died)
RELATIVES Cermat (father); Fodhla (consort); MacGreine and
MacCuill (brothers); Daghda (grandfather); Danu
(great-grandmother); Magog, Iarbonel and Ordan
(ancestors)
ENEMIES Fomorii / Goidel / Eremon / Mechi
SEE ALSO Cermat Milbel / Daghda / Danu / Delbaeth /
Eremon / Fodhla / Fiachu / Iarbonel / Ith /
MacCuill / MacGreine / Magog / Neto / Ordan
REMARKS MacCecht was a son of Cermat and descendant of
Ordan. MacCecht killed Mechi son of Danu in combat because
it was prophesied that he would be the cause of a disaster
to the island of Ireland itself. When Mechi was killed,
they found that he had three hearts and in each was a
snake. If the snakes had grown to maturity they would have
devastated Ireland.
MacCecht, son of Cermat, and his brothers were at
Sidhe Grianian Aileach on the Inishowen Peninsula in county
Donegal. The sons of Cermat were meeting because there was
discontent that Neto had received too large a share from
the cattle and possessions of Fiachu, son of Delbaeth. The
brothers asked a stranger who had just arrived from afar to
give a judgment on how this should be handled.
The stranger, whose name was Ith, pronounced a
judgment that spoke so highly of the island that the three
brothers became suspicious that he wanted the land for his
own people. They decided to kill him and this act led to
the invasion of Ireland by the Goidel from Spain.
MacCecht mated with Fodhla, a fertility goddess of
Ireland. This was an annual ritual to ensure prosperity
for the tribe. MacCecht and his brothers ruled Ireland
jointly for 30 years before he was killed during the battle
of Taillcenn by Eremon, a nephew of Ith.
EPITHET The Chariot Child
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Gailioin
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Connacht
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid
RELATIVES Magach (mother); Doiche (father); Anluan,
Bascell, Cet, Doche, En, and Scandal (brothers);
Maga (sister); Ailill (nephew)
ENEMIES Cualnge / Pictland / Ulster
SEE ALSO Ailill macMata / Anluan / Bascell / Cet mac
Magach / Doche macMagach / En / Maga Muresc /
Magach of Connacht / Scandal
REMARKS MacCorb raised a troop of battle-line warriors
to fight on the side of Connacht during the cattle raid
into Cualnge.
NAME MacCuill
EPITHET Son of Hazel
ALTERNATIVE Ermit / Ethur / Sethor / Mac Coll / Mac Cool
GENDER M
SYMBOL hazel
FESTIVAL summer solstice
CATEGORY deity / warrior / chieftain
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Sligo / Donegal
TERRITORY Connacht / Ulster
LANDMARKS Plain of Towers (Magh Tuireadh)
SITES Raith Aileach / Teltown (Tailltenn)
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 16th-15th c / BC 16th c / BC 1546-1516 (Kings
List)
BATTLES second battle of Magh Tuireadh (north Moytura) /
Taillcenn (died)
ACCESSORIES supernatural spear
RELATIVES Cermat (father); Banbha (consort); MacGreine and
MacCecht (brothers); Daghda (grandfather); Danu
(great-grandmother); Magog, Iarbonel and Ordan
(ancestors)
ENEMIES Fomorii / Goidel / Eber
SEE ALSO Banbha / Cermat Milbel / Daghda / Delbaeth /
Eber / Fiachu / Iarbonel / Ith / Lugh / MacCecht
/ MacGreine / Magog / Ordan
REMARKS MacCuill was a son of Cermat and a descendant of
Ordan. He avenged his father's death when he killed Lugh
with his supernatural spear.
MacCuill and his brothers were at Sidhe Grianian
Aileach on the Inishowen Peninsula in county Donegal. The
sons of Cermat were meeting because there was discontent
that Neto had received too large a share from the cattle
and possessions of Fiachu, son of Delbaeth.
The three brothers asked a stranger who had just
arrived from afar to give a judgment on how this should be
handled. The stranger, whose name was Ith, made a judgment
that spoke so highly of the island that the brothers became
suspicious that he wanted the island for his own people.
MacCuill and his brothers decided to kill Ith and this
act led to the invasion of Ireland by the Goidel from
Spain. MacCuill mated with Banbha, a fertility goddess of
Ireland, in an annual ritual to ensure prosperity for the
tribe. MacCuill and his brothers ruled Ireland jointly for
30 years before he was killed by Ith's cousin Eber during
the Goidel invasion at the battle of Taillcenn.
NAME MacGreine
EPITHET Aed Donn (dark fire)
ALTERNATIVE Cethor / Cethus / Mac Grene
GENDER M
SYMBOL sun
FESTIVAL summer solstice
CATEGORY deity / warrior / 8th Ri Ruirech
TYPE sun god / head chieftain
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Sligo / Donegal
TERRITORY Connacht / Ulster
LANDMARKS Plain of Towers (Magh Tuireadh) / Inishowen
Peninsula
SITES Teltown (Tailltenn) / Grianan Aileach (burial
tumulus)
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 16th-15th c / BC 16th c / BC 1546-1516 (Kings
List)
BATTLES second battle of Magh Tuireadh (north Moytura) /
Taillcenn (died)
RELATIVES Cermat (father); Eire (consort); MacCecht and
MacCuill (brothers); Daghda (grandfather); Danu
(great-grandmother); Magog, Iarbonel and Ordan
(ancestors)
ENEMIES Fomorii / Goidel / Amhairghin
SEE ALSO Amhairghin / Cermat Milbel / Daghda / Danu /
Delbaeth / Eire / Fiachu / Iarbonel / Ith /
MacCecht / MacCuill / Magog / Net / Ordan
REMARKS Fair MacGreine, son of Cermat, and his brothers
were at Raith Ailig (Grianan of Aileach) on the Inishowen
Peninsula in county Donegal. The sons of Cermat were
meeting because there was discontent that Neto had received
too large a share from the cattle and possessions of Fiachu
son of Delbaeth.
The brothers asked a stranger who had just arrived
from afar to give a judgment on how this should be handled.
The stranger, whose name was Ith, made a judgment that
spoke so highly of the island that the three brothers
became suspicious that he wanted the island for his own
people.
The brothers decided to kill him and this act led to
the invasion of Ireland by the Goidel from Spain.
MacGreine, as the sun god of his people, was mated to Eire,
the earth goddess or fertility goddess. The Danann divided
Ireland into 3 and the 3 brothers ruled jointly for 30
years before the MacGreine was slain by Ith's cousin
Amhairghin during the battle of Taillcenn. He was
presumeably buried at Grianan Aileach and gave it the name.
NAME Macha
ALTERNATIVE Macha {Mah-kha, Mak-kah} / Mhacha
GENDER F
SYMBOL mare
FESTIVAL Beltainn (Brillant Fires)
CATEGORY deity
TYPE moon goddess / fertility
CULTURE Nemedian tribe
COUNTRY Turkey / Ireland
REGION Armagh
TERRITORY Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh Machae (plain of Macha)
SITE Moy
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 19th-18th c
RELATIVES Starn (husband); Semeon and Beoan (sons); Erglan
(grandson); Nemhedh (father-in-law/2nd husband);
Magog (ancestor)
ENEMIES Fomorii
SEE ALSO Beoan / Erglan / Magog / Nemhedh / Starn /
Semeon
REMARKS Macha came to Ireland from Turkey as the wife of
Starn son of Nemhedh. When Starn died in the battle of
Murbolg, Macha became the wife of Nemdedh. Macha's son
Beoan died in the battle of Cnamros, killed by Conann, the
same Fomorii chieftain who had killed her husband. After
the battle of Cnamros, Nemdedh died of a plague.
Macha died of exhaustion in the 12th year of the
taking of Ireland and was buried in Airgialla. The plain
was called Magh Machae (plain of Macha) and is now known as
Moy, near Armagh.
NAME Macha
EPITHET The Battle Goddess
ALTERNATIVE Macha {Mah-kha, Mak'-kah} / Maucha / Mhacha
GENDER F
SYMBOL raven
FESTIVAL assembly of Emain / summer solstice / Lughnasadh
(Lugh's Wedding)
CATEGORY deity / warrior
TYPE fertility goddess / war goddess
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Mayo / Sligo
TERRITORY Connacht
LANDMARKS Plain of Towers (Magh Tuireadh)
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 16th-15th c
BATTLES first battle of Magh Tuireadh (south Moytura) /
second battle of Magh Tuireadh (north Moytura)
RELATIVES Ernmas (mother); Delbaeth (father); Nuadha and
Daghda (consorts); Danu, Badbh and Elcmar
(sisters); Eire, Fodhla and Banbha (half-
sisters); Fiachu, Olloman and Indui (brothers);
Glonn, Gnim and Coscar (half-brothers); Corpre
Crom (half-brother/nephew); Fea and Nemhain
(nieces); Etain (grandmother); Etarlam and Oghma
(grandfathers); Magog, Iarbonel, Ordan and Net
(ancestors)
ENEMIES Balor
SEE ALSO Badbh Catha / Balor / Banbha / Daghda / Danu /
Delbaeth / Eire / Elcmar / Ernmas / Etain
/ Fea
/ Fiachu / Fodhla / Iarbonel /
Indui / Magog /
Nemhain / Net / Nuadha / Oghma / Olloman / Ordan
REMARKS Macha, daughter of Ernmas, daughter of Etarlam,
son of Ordan, was a skilled warrior of the Danann. Macha's
sexual character (life) was the link between her role a war
goddess (death) and as a mother goddess (birth). Before
the battle of south Moytura, Macha mated with Nuadha and
Daghda.
Macha was killed in combat by Balor during the battle
of north Moytura. She became one of the 5 war goddesses
(moon phases) of Ireland along with Babdh, Fea, Nemhain and
Danu (The Morrighan). Each goddess had her own area of
expertise and when mortals went to war, the goddesses had
to be appeased to win their favor.
NAME Macha
EPITHET Of the Red Tresses (Mong Ruadh)
ALTERNATIVE Macha {Mah kha, Mak kah} / Mhacha
GENDER F
CATEGORY hero / warrior / druid / Ard Righ Eirinn
TYPE chariot warrior / visionary / high chieftain
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Armagh
TERRITORY Connacht / Leinster / Mide / Munster / Ulster
SITES Ard Macha (Armagh) / Bron-Bherg (House of
Sorrow)
CENTERS Emain Macha (Brooch of Macha)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 7th c / BC 622-615 (Ard Righ - Kings List)
RELATIVES Aedh Ruadh (father); Cimbaeth (husband/cousin);
Dithorba (cousin); Ugaine (foster-son);
Airgetmar (great-grandfather); Ir (ancestor)
ENEMIES Dithorba / Rechtaid Rigderg
SEE ALSO Aedh Ruadh / Airgetmar / Cimbaeth / Ir / Ugaine
Mor
REMARKS Macha of the red hair, daughter of Aedh Ruad and
descendant of Ir, was the 53rd high chieftain of Ireland.
When Macha's father died, Cimbaeth became the next high
chieftain and she became the head chieftain of Ulster.
Her cousin Dithorba was head chieftain of the Fianna
of Inis Fail, so ruled the south. When Macha became the
head chieftain of Ulster, Dithorba raised an army against
her. Macha killed Dithorba in combat and took his sons as
prisoners. She forced them to build Emain Macha (Brooch of
Macha), the seat of power for Ulster. Macha also built
Ireland's first hospital which was called Bron-Bherg (House
of Sorrow) and Ard Macha (Macha's Heights).
Macha eventually married Cimbaeth and when he died she
ruled Ireland as the high chieftain for 7 years from Emain
Macha until she was slain in battle by Rechtaid Rigderg of
Munster.
NAME Macha
EPITHET Pure Macha / Bright Grian
ALTERNATIVE Macha {Mah-kha, Mak-kah} / Mhacha
GENDER F
SYMBOL mare
FESTIVAL Lughnasadh (Lugh's Wedding)
CATEGORY deity / filidh
TYPE moon goddess / fertility / Sovereign / prophet
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Armagh
TERRITORY Ulster
SITES Emain Macha (Navan)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
RELATIVES Sainreth mac Imbaith (father); Crunnchu
(husband)
ENEMIES Conchobar
SEE ALSO Crunnchu / Sainreth mac Imbaith
REMARKS One night the silent beautiful Macha arrived out
of nowhere at Crunnchu's raith and took over the duties of
his past wife. She and Crunnchu fell in love and soon she
was pregnant with twins.
As fair day approached and Crunnchu prepared for the
trip to Emain Macha, his wife begged him not to go. He
refused, so she made him promise not to mention her name
because she could only stay with him as long as as she was
not mentioned.
At the fair, while Crunnchu was watching horse races
in which the head chieftain of Ulster's horses kept
winning, he exclaimed that his wife could outrace the
chief's horses if she were there. The head chieftain
overheard this and demanded that she be brought to the
racing field and compete.
Macha told him that she was about to give birth and
asked that she be allowed to wait until she delivered. The
head chieftain would not listen so she cursed that the men
of Ulster that they would suffer her pains.
Macha then raced against the head chieftain's horses
and won but at the finish line she gave a great cry as she
gave birth to twins. Macha's curse was called Noiden
(Novena) and for 9 generations the warriors of Ulster would
feel her pains of childbirth for 5 days and 4 nights
whenever Ulster was in grave danger. The pains continued
until the time of Fur mac Dallan son of Mainech mac
Lugdach, but would not affect youths, women or anyone not
from Ulster. Since then, at the assembly of Emain on
Lughnasadh, women's races have been held.
NAME MacRoth
GENDER M
SYMBOL club of peeled hazel
CATEGORY messenger
TYPE chief messenger to the Ri Ruirech of Ulster
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Roscommon
TERRITORY Connacht
SITES Mound of Slane in Mide
CENTERS Raith Cruachain (Rathcroghan)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid
ENEMIES Cualnge / Pictland / Ulster
SEE ALSO Ailill macMata / Cu Chulainn / Dare macFiachu /
Ferghus mac Roig / Medbh
REMARKS MacRoth was the chief messenger of Connacht.
Medbh sent him to Dare macFiachu of Cualnge to ask him if
she could have the Brown Bull on loan for a year and at the
end of the year he would be returned along with 50 heifers.
If the deal caused trouble for him among his neighbors, he
was to be invited to come with the bull and he would
receive an equal amount of land in Connacht, a chariot
worth 21 bond maids and the close friendship of Medbh.
MacRoth then headed north with 9 couriers to the raith
of Dare macFiachu where he was well received. Dare
received the message with favor and had ale and the best of
food served to the messengers. As the chef was bringing in
the food, he overheard one of the couriers say that if the
bull was not given willingly it would have be taken by
force. The chef told Dare what he had heard and Dare then
changed his mind about giving the bull to Connacht. MacRoth
brought back the sad news and Medbh decided to go to war
over the issue.
During the Cualnge Cattle Raid, MacRoth was sent to
parley with Cu Chulainn after the failed negotiations at
Glenn Fochaine. Laeg described him as a handsome blond-
haired man with a broad face and brown skin color. He wore
a headband of brown ornamental cloth and a brown hooded
cloak decorated in red and fastened with a bronze fibula.
He wore a 3-striped doublet made from leather, and well-
worn boots. He carried a single-edged sword with walrus-
tooth ornamentation on the hilt, and a club of peeled
hazel.
MacRoth offered Cu Chulainn the milk cows and the
women they had captured if he would stop his thunderfeat
with his sling every night. Cu Chulainn refused because
the cattle would only be killed by marauders for meat and
the captured maidens would all be bearing the children of
the Host of Connacht.
MacRoth was sent to Cu Chulainn again and this time
offered dry cows and noble women, but Cu Chulainn refused
again saying the Ulstermen would kill the dry cows and the
noble women would be made slaves and dishonored. He added
that if anyone in the camp knew what he would accept, that
person should inform Ailill and Mebdh. He then warned
MacRoth that if he continued to receive such useless
offers, he would be tempted to kill the messenger who
conveyed them.
In preparation for the upcoming battle of Gairech and
Irgairech, MacRoth was sent to observe the gathering of the
forces of Ulster as they met on the mound in Slane of Mide.
He then described the different warriors to Ferghus, who
identified them.
NAME Maddan
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Rix
TYPE chariot warrior / high chieftain of Britain
CULTURE Greek / Goidel - Coritani tribe
COUNTRY England / Wales / Scotland
TERRITORY Lloegr / Cambria / Albainn
CENTERS Caer Troia (town of Troy) present-day Ilford
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 11th c (ruled 40 years) / BC 1031 (died)
RELATIVES Gwendolen (mother); Locrinus (father);
Mempricius and Malin (sons); Corineus
(grandfather/foster-father); Brute
(grandfather); Habren (half-sister)
SEE ALSO Brute / Corineus / Gwendolen / Locrinus /
Mempricius
REMARKS Maddan, a warrior of Trojan ancestry, was the
high chieftain of Britain for forty years and during this
time the country was peaceful and prosperous. When he
died, his sons fought for the position of the high
chieftain of the tribes.
NAME Mael Fhothartaig
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Carlow
TERRITORY Leinster
CENTERS Dinn Rig
AGE Iron
ACCESSORIES Daithlin and Doilin (hounds)
RELATIVES Ronan (father); Ethne (mother); Congal (foster-
brother)
ENEMIES Aedan / Ronan / stepmother
SEE ALSO Aedan / Ronan
REMARKS Mael was accosted by his stepmother who wanted
intercourse with him. When he refused, she accused him of
trying to rape her. Mael's foster-brother Congal helped
her with her plan and his father believed them rather than
his own son. His father then hired an assassin named Aedan
to kill him. His children attempted to revenge his murder
by executing Aedan.
NAME Maelchod
EPITHET The Eloquent
ALTERNATIVE Maelchlod
GENDER F
CATEGORY poet
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Ulster
CENTERS Carnmag
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd c
RELATIVES Rudraige (consort); Ailell (son); Sencha
(grandson)
SEE ALSO Ailell macMailchlo / Rudraige / Sencha
REMARKS Maelchod was a famous poet of Ulster before the
time of Conchobar.
NAME Maelduin
ALTERNATIVE Mael Duin / Mael-Duin / Maeldun / Maile Duin
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE mariner
CULTURE Goidel - Eoghanachta tribe
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Galway
TERRITORY Connacht
LANDMARKS Galway Bay / Aran Islands
AGE Ui Néill
DATES AD 7th c
RELATIVES Ailill Agach (father); Aoife (mother); Fergal
Flaithemda (son); Mael Fithri (foster-father)
SEE ALSO Ailill Agach / Fergal Flaithemda
REMARKS Maelduin was a handsome youth who excelled at
sports, horses and weapons. One day he was mocked by
another youth because he did not know his lineage. He went
to his foster mother and demanded to know who his real
mother and father were.
His foster-mother took him to visit his mother, Aoife,
and she told him that his father was Ailill Agach of the
Eoghanachta of the Aran Islands in Galway Bay.
Maelduin went to his father's people and found out
that his father had been killed by raiders from Leix. On
the advice of a filidh, he built a 3-skin boat which he
started on a specific day. The day of departure was
divined and he was told to allow only 17 warriors to
accompany him, no more and no less.
When Maelduin set sail to leave, his 3 foster-brothers
swam out to the boat and were reluctantly taken aboard. The
first place they came to was a small island with a fortress
on each end. Warriors were having contests of combat and
Maelduin heard one of them boast that he had slain Ailill
Agach.
Maelduin prepared to land and avenge his father's
death, but a fierce wind came up and blew them past another
island where ants were the size of foals. The adventures
continued along from island to island, seeing wonderful
things including the island of the Little Cat. The Little
Cat guarded a deserted white house full of treasure and
when one of the mariners tried to steal a necklace, the cat
killed him. The next island had a bronze fence dividing 2
flocks of sheep. One flock was black and the other was
white and between the two was a giant shepherd who would
take a white sheep and put it in the pen with the black
sheep and it would immediately turn black. When he placed
a black sheep among the white flock, it would immediately
turn white. When Mael threw a white wand (peeled) into the
pen with the black sheep, it immediately turned black also.
They sailed on to another island which was divided
into four with fences of gold, silver, bronze and crystal.
In the section of gold were chieftains, in the silver were
their wives the sovereigns, the bronze fence enclosed
warriors and the crystal fence their maidens.
Maelduin and his adventurers landed on many more
islands until they saw one that had a falcon similar to
those of Ireland. They followed it and finally reached the
island where the killer of Ailill lived. The Christianized
ending claims that after spending time and telling the
story of their adventures, the two became friends.
NAME Maelgwn
EPITHET Dragon of the Isles
ALTERNATIVE Maelgwyn / Maelchon
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Brenin
TYPE horse warrior / head chieftain
CULTURE Venedolian tribe
COUNTRY Wales
REGION Gwynedd {Gwin-eth} / Clwyd {clud}
TERRITORY Gwynedd
SITES Caer Deganwy
AGE Post-Roman
DATES AD 6th c / AD 547 (died)
RELATIVES Bridei, Rhun (sons); Elffin (nephew); Ceredig
and Cunedda (ancestors)
ENEMIES Taliesin
SEE ALSO Ceredig / Cunedda / Elffin / Rhun / Taliesin
REMARKS Maelgwn was a descendant of Ceredig and Cunedda
and was the head chieftain of the territory of Gwynedd
(Gwynedd / Clwyd). One day he happened to brag that his
wife was the most faithful, his horses the fastest and his
druids were of the most eloquent tongue.
Elffin, a nephew who owed his very survival to
Maelgwn's kindness, had the audacity to compare his wife's
fidelity, the swiftness of his horses and the eloquence of
his druid. Maelgwn reacted immediately and had the young
upstart bound with a silver chain held by 13 locks. Maelgwn
made his first mistake when he sent his son Rhun to seduce
Elffin's wife. Rhun returned with a finger that was
wearing a gold ring which Elffin proved was not the finger
of his wife.
Maelgwn sent for Elffin's druid. This was his second
mistake because Taliesin satirized his druids speechless
and Maelgwn had to free Elffin.
Maelgwn made his third mistake when he accepted the
challenge to race his horses against Elffin's. Not only
did he lose the race but Elffin received a pot of gold
which freed him from his dependance on Maelgwn. It was
recorded that Maelgwyn died from the yellow plague.
NAME Maga
ALTERNATIVE Mata / Magu
GENDER F
SYMBOL mare
CATEGORY deity / rigbean (noble woman)
TYPE mother goddess
CULTURE Danann / Pictish - Setanta tribe (Tabhaira clan)
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Ulster
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
RELATIVES Cass (husband); Fachtna (son); Ross the Red
(husband); Ferghus and Sualtaim (sons); Cathbad
(husband); Dechtire, Elbha and Findchaem
(daughters); Genonn and Imrinn (sons); Anghus
(ancestor)
SEE ALSO Anghus mac Og / Cathbad / Dechtire / Elbha /
Fachtna Fathach / Ferghus mac Roig / Findchaem /
Genonn Gruadsolus / Imrinn / Ross the Red
/ Sualtaim macRoig
REMARKS Maga was a descendant of Anghus mac Og of the
Danann on her father's side and the Tabhaira clan of the
Pictish Setanta tribe from England on her mother's side.
ALTERNATIVE Maga of Mumu / Magu / Mata of Muiresc / Murisc
GENDER F
CATEGORY rigbean (noble woman)
TYPE wife of the Ri Ruirech
CULTURE Gailioin
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Carlow
TERRITORY Leinster
CENTERS Dinn Rig
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
RELATIVES Magach (mother); Doiche (father); Ross Ruad
(husband); Ailill, Finn and Carbre (sons);
Anluan, Bascell, Cet, Doche, En, MacCorb and
Scandal (brothers)
ENEMIES Cualnge / Pictland / Ulster
SEE ALSO Ailill macMata / Anluan / Bascell / Carbre / Cet
mac Magach / Doche macMagach / En / Finn /
MacCorb / Magach of Connacht / Ross Ruad /
Scandal
REMARKS Maga Muresc married Ross Ruad and bore him three
sons. Carbre became head chieftain of Leinster, Ailill
became head chieftain of Connacht and Finn became a high
chieftain of Ireland.
ALTERNATIVE Maga / Mata / Magu
GENDER F
CATEGORY rigbean (noble woman)
CULTURE ?
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Connacht
CENTERS Raith Cruachain (Rathcroghan)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
RELATIVES Doiche (husband); Maga Muresc (daughter);
Anluan, Bascell, Cet, Doche, En, MacCorb and
Scandal (sons)
SEE ALSO Anluan / Bascell / Cet / Doche / En / MacCorb /
Maga Muresc / Scandal
REMARKS Magach of Connacht married Doiche and bore him
one daughter and 7 sons. Her daughter's son Ailill macMata
called upon his uncles, the sons of Maga, to gather their
warriors to help in the upcoming cattle raid into Ulster.
The sons of Maga contributed 30,000 warriors to the raid.
NAME Magalos
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Gallic - Boii tribe
COUNTRY France
TERRITORY Gaul
LANDMARKS Rhône valley
AGE Iron
DATES BC 3rd c / BC 218
BATTLES second Punic war
REMARKS Magalos joined with Hannibal and the
Carthaginians when they passed through his territory and
fought as a Carthaginian mercenary in Italy during the
second Punic War.
EPITHET Father of the Goidel
ALTERNATIVE Ma Gog (Plain of Gog)
GENDER M (?)
CATEGORY hero / warrior / chieftain
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Turkey
REGION Asia Minor
TERRITORY Phrygia / Bosporus / Kizilirmak
LANDMARKS Plateau of Phrygia / Black Sea
AGE early-Bronze
DATES BC 21st c
RELATIVES Iafeth (father); Aithech (son); Gomer, Madai,
Iabal, Tubal, Mosoch and Thiras (brothers)
SEE ALSO Gomer / Iafeth / Nemhedh / Partholon
REMARKS Magog was the youngest son of Iafeth and he and
his oldest brother are both considered to be the father of
the Goidel and the Scythian.
The children of Magog were the Partholeans and the
Nemedians who had their homeland on the Plateau of Phrygia
in Asia Minor. The territory was bordered by the Black
Sea, the Bosporus and the Kizilirmak (Halys) river. This
territory is referred to by its ancient Aryan name Phrygia.
Other than the blood lines of Partholon and Nemhedh
the sons of Gomer and Magog are given as the same people in
The Book Of The Taking Of Ireland. It is quite possible
that Magog was a female and was the half-sister/wife of
Gomer. The ancient stories were at different times
modified to fit into the creation mythology of the new
Roman religion that was conquering the lands of the Celtic
people.
NAME Maine
EPITHET Of the Honey-words
ALTERNATIVE Mane
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY warrior / poet
CULTURE Danann / Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Dublin
TERRITORY Mide
LANDMARKS Magh Liffey
SITES Da Derga's Hostel
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Ath Cliath
RELATIVES son of Carbad; Nera (great-grandfather)
ENEMIES Conaire / Host of Eirinn
SEE ALSO Conaire / Da Derga / Nera
REMARKS During the battle of Ath Cliath at Da Derga's
hostel, it was Maine and the 3 sons of Hua Toiges who
actually killed Conaire, with encouragement from the people
of the sidhe.
NAME Mal
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY hero / warrior
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Dublin
TERRITORY Mide
LANDMARKS Magh Liffey
SITES Da Derga's Hostel
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Ath Cliath
RELATIVES Telband (father)
ENEMIES Ingcel / sons of Donn Desa
SEE ALSO Birderg / Conaire / Da Derga / Donn Desa
/
Ingcel / Munremar mac Gerrcend
REMARKS Mal was a son of the chieftain Telband and
during the destruction at the hostel of Da Derga he fought
on the side of Conaire, the high chieftain of Ireland. Mal
shared a room with his two friends Birderg and Munremar.
Mal was described as a brown man with a head of curly
brown hair and thick ankles and limbs. He carried a black
shield decorated with animals in gold, an ivory-hilted
sword and a 5-barbed javelin. He wore thick ankle
bracelets and a dark cloak with red speckles.
Mal and his two friends performed a trick of throwing
their swords into the air and then the scabbards and by the
time they caught them, each sword would be in a scabbard.
Then they would throw their scabbards into the air and then
their swords and by the time they fell, each scabbard would
have sheathed a sword. Many raiders would fall before this
trio who escaped the destruction at Da Derga's Hostel.
NAME Mal
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Ard Righ Eirinn
TYPE chariot warrior / high chieftain
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath
TERRITORY Connacht / Leinster / Mide / Munster / Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Iron
DATES AD 105-109 (Ard Righ - Kings List)
ACCESSORIES Boramha Tribute (cattle counting)
RELATIVES Rochraide (father); Tiobraide Tireach
SEE ALSO Fedilimid Rechtmar / Tuathal Teachtmhair
REMARKS Mal became the high chieftain of Ireland after
he killed Tuathal Teachtmhair by treachery in Dal Araide.
He kept the cattle tax or Boramha Tribute against Leinster
during his rule. After 4 years of rule he was killed by
Fedilimid son of Tuathal who became the new high chieftain.
NAME Malaliach
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Beltainn (Brillant Fires)
CATEGORY druid
TYPE judge / master brewer / lawmaker
CULTURE Partholean tribe
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Munster
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 19th c
BATTLES Magh Ibha
ENEMIES Fomorii
REMARKS Malaliach brewed the first beer from bracken and
ordained divination, sacrifice and ritual. He was also the
first surety (guarantee was an essential part of the Celtic
legal system) and developed the rules of oblation,
adoration and sortilege.
NAME Manannan
EPITHET Son of the Sea / Horseman of the Crested Waves
ALTERNATIVE Manandan / Manannan {Mah-nu-nahn'} / Manonnan /
Oirbsen / Oirbsin / Oirbsiu
GENDER M
FESTIVAL summer solstice
CATEGORY deity / hero / warrior / filidh / mariner
TYPE god of the sea, storms, merchants and fishermen
/ shapechanger
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland / Scotland / Isle of Man
REGION Isle of Arran
TERRITORY Connacht / The Otherworld - Land of Promise (Tir
Tairnigire)
LANDMARKS Plain of Towers (Magh Tuireadh) / Loch Corrib
(Loch Oirbsen) / Magh Oirbsen
SITES Emhain Abhlach (Emain of the Apple Trees) / Peel
Castle
CENTERS raith at Grower
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 16th-15th c
BATTLES second battle of Magh Tuireadh (north Moytura)
/ Cuillend
ACCESSORIES headband / cloak of invisibility / helmet /
armor / boots / chariot / 2 horses / ship / 2
sword / dirk / 2 pronged spear / supernatural
boars / crane bag / cup of truth
RELATIVES Elloth (father); Gormlinde (wife); Orbsen,
Ilbhreach, Illanach, Cairpre Condualach, Failbi
Findbuide, Gaiar and Goth Gaithy (sons); Echdonn
Mor (daughter/consort); Gaelo (son); Bron and
Ceti (brothers); Lugh (foster-son); Eladu
(grandfather); Magog and Iarbonel (ancestors)
ENEMIES Uillenn
SEE ALSO Aoife / Eladu / Fand / Fionnbharr / Iarbonel /
Ilbhreach / Lugh / Magog / Net / Nuadha /
Uillenn Faebarderg
REMARKS Manannan, son of Elloth, son of Eladu, son of
Delbach, son of Net, was also the son of a sea goddess.
Manannan's birth name was Orbsen from which came the names
Loch Oirbsen and Magh Oirbsen. Manannan's 2 brothers were
Bron, for whom Magh Broin in Ui Amalgada was named, and
Ceti, who gave his name to Magh Cetni in the terrritory of
Cairpri.
Manannan was a handsome noble warrior who ruled the
waves in his supernatural ship Aigean Scuabadoir (Ocean
Sweeper). The ship would follow his commands without the
use of sail or oars. He traded in goods between Wales and
Ireland and was also responsible for ferrying dead heroes
to Tir Tairnigiri (The Land of Promise). This was their
final resting place, in The Otherworld situated somewhere
in the west.
Manannan entertained his guests in luxury at his
magnificent palace beneath the sea. He also had a raith at
Grower made from human bones. Emhain Abhlach (Emain of the
Apple Trees) was a haunt of his and was thought to be the
Isle of Arran, in the Firth of Clyde, or the Isle of Man.
Manannan usually dressed in a satin shirt and golden
armor. Over this he wore his green cloak of invisibility
held with a silver fibula. On his head he wore a headband
of gold and a helmet of flame, and on his feet he wore
golden boots.
Manannan was given a supernatural sword named
Freagarthach (Answerer) by his foster-son Lugh who acquired
it in the Land of the Living (Tir Inna Beo). The sword
could not be turned from its mark. He also had another
sword (Retaliator) and a dirk named Froach Beag (Little
Fury), a sword named Froach Mor (Great Fury) and a two-
pronged spear called Red Javelin (Gae-Ruadh). Manannan
could sometimes be seen riding his chariot hauled by his
two white horses Splendid Mane and Aonbarr over the waves
as if they were on solid land.
Manannan had many treasures and among them was a
musical instrument in the form of a silver bough with 3
golden apples (crotales). When the bough was shaken, it
produced soothing music that would cure the sick and heal
the wounded.
Manannan had a golden cup of truth which would break
into 3 pieces if a lie were told under it and would mend
itself if 3 truths were told over it. He also had a
cranebag full of treasures. The bag was made from the skin
of a crane that was once the woman named Aoife.
Manannan supplied armor for his foster-son Lugh before
the second battle of Magh Tuireadh. He helped feed the
Tuatha De Danann by supplying food from two supernatural
boars. The boars would come back to life the day after
they were eaten as long as their bones were thrown into the
air. While one boar was being roasted, the other was
gaining weight.
Manannan was killed by Uillenn of the Red Edge during
the battle of Cuillend. He was buried in a large tumulus
which can still be seen by Peel Castle on the Isle of Man
or at Loch Oirbsen (present-day Lough Corrib). During the
civil war of the Danann, Manannan's people were led by
Fionnbharr.
ALTERNATIVE Manawyddan {man-u-wid'-un, man-ow-eeth-an}
GENDER M
CATEGORY hero / warrior / chieftain / druid / Brenin
TYPE horse warrior / artificer / shieldmaker / grain
farmer / head chieftain
CULTURE Goidel / Belgae
COUNTRY Wales / England
REGION Gwynedd {Gwin-eth} / Clwyd {clud} /
Pembrokeshire
TERRITORY Gwynedd / the 7 cantels of Dyfed / Lloegr
LANDMARKS Prescelly Mountains
SITES Harlech / Gwales
CENTERS Caer of Gorsedd Arberth (Narberth)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Ath Cliath
RELATIVES Llyr (father); Penarddun (mother); Evnissyen,
Nissyen and Bran (half-brothers); Branwen (half-
sister); Rhiannon (wife); Pryderi (step-son);
Beli (uncle); Cassubellaunos (uncle)
ENEMIES Llwyd / Matholwych
SEE ALSO Beli / Bran ap Llyr / Branwen / Cassubellaunos /
Cigva / Evnissyen / Gwawl fab Clud / Llassar
Llaes Gyfnewid / Llwyd / Llyr / Matholwych /
Nissyen / Penarddun / Pryderi / Pwyll / Rhiannon
REMARKS After the great battle in Ireland against the
high chieftain Matholwych, Manawyddan was one of the 7
suvivors. He accompanied Bran to Harlech, the island of
Gwales in Pembrokeshire, then to London where they buried
Bran's head.
Manawyddan was one of the 3 humble chieftains who
never owned land. After Bran had been laid to rest, he
travelled to Dyfed with Pryderi. In time Pryderi suggested
that Manawyddan and his mother Rhiannon should marry
because his father Pwyll had been killed by Cassubellaunos.
The courtship with Rhiannon worked out well and
Pryderi gave them the 7 cantels of Dyfed to rule with the
Caer of Gorsedd Arberth (Narberth) in the Prescelly
Mountains of Pembrokeshire as his center. One day while he
and Rhiannon, Pryderi and Cigva were sitting on Gorsedd
Arberth everything disappeared but their fortress.
They had no recourse but to turn to a primitive way of
life and live by hunting and fishing. They soon grew
tired of that and went to Lloegr (England) to work as
artisans. First they enamelled pommels for saddles in the
style that Lassar Llaes made. They were of such quality
that the other saddlers jealous of their success drove them
off. Next they tried their hand at making shields. Again
they were driven off because of their success due to the
quality of their product. Then they began to ply their
trade as shoemakers. Again the local shoemakers were angry
because everyone wanted to buy their shoes and boots
because of the beautiful gold buckles. They would have
fought the others but they were afraid Cassubellaunos would
find out that they were in his territory.
Eventually they tired of living this way and returned
to the fortress at Gorsedd Arberth. There they continued
to live by hunting and fishing. During a hunt one day, the
dogs spotted a white boar with red ears that ran into a
white fortress which none of them had seen before. Against
Manawyddan's advice, Pryderi followed the dogs inside and
never returned. Manawyddan waited until evening, then went
back to Arberth and told Rhiannon what happened. On the
next morning Rhiannon went to the fortress herself looking
for her son and then the fortress disappeared, taking her
with it.
Manawyddan and Cigva were then left on their own and
after a try at crafts again, they turned to grain farming.
When the grain began to ripen, it started to disappear
field by field. One night Manawyddan stayed awake to watch
his fields throughout the night. Then he noticed that the
grain was being stolen by a horde of mice. He caught a fat
female mouse and began the preparations to hang her for
thievery.
As he was preparing the gallows, 3 times a man
appeared and tried to get the mouse away from him. The
third person was a ovate named Llwyd who admitted that the
fat mouse was his pregnant wife who, along with the others,
had been changed into mice to rob Rhiannon in revenge for
what she had done to Gwawl. In return for not hanging his
wife, he promised that everything would be returned to
normal, that Rhiannon, Pryderi and the dogs would reappear,
and that nothing more would be done against them.
NAME Mane Andoe
EPITHET The Unslow (Andoe) / The Swift / The Undumb
ALTERNATIVE Maine
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY warrior / raider / messenger
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Goidel / Gailioin
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Dublin
TERRITORY Connacht / Mide / Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh Liffey / Magh Muirthemni
SITES Da Derga's Hostel / Imroll Belaig Eoin (Misthrow
at Bird Pass) / Ard in Dirma (Height of the
Troops)
CENTERS Raith Cruachain (Rathcroghan)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Ath Cliath / Cualnge Cattle Raid (killed)
ACCESSORIES the gift of far-sight and judgment
RELATIVES Medbh (mother); Ailill (father); Athramail,
Gaib Uile, Mathramail, Milscothach, Mingor,
Morgor and Orlam (brothers); Finnabair and Sadb
Sulbair (sisters); Furbaide (half-brother)
ENEMIES Diarmait / Host of Eirinn / Ulster
SEE ALSO Ailill macMata / Conaire Mor / Conchobar mac
Nessa / Cu Chulainn / Da Derga / Diarmait
mac
Conchobar / Doche macMagach / Dubthach Doel /
Fiachna macFerfebe / Finnabair / Furbaide / Mane
/ Mane Milscothach / Medbh / Nathcrantail /
Orlam
REMARKS Mane was a warrior of Connacht and he fought
against Conaire, the high chieftain of Ireland, during the
destruction at Da Derga's Hostel. He supplied 280 warriors
and he himself escaped alive from the destruction. He and
his brother Milscothach used their gifts to reckon the
arrival of Conaire and his warriors at Da Derga's Hostel.
Mane again supplied 3000 warriors when his mother
raided into Ulster for the Brown Bull. Because Mane had
the gift of far sight and good judgment, his mother sent
him to persuade the champion warrior Nathcrantail to come
to Druim En in the plan of Muirthemni and challenge Cu
Chulainn to single combat.
One day Mane was with Doche when they met up with
Fiachna macFerfebe and Dubthach. Doche threw a spear at
Fiachna whom he did not like, but hit his friend Dubthach
by mistake. Mane's cousin Fiachna hurled a spear at Doche
but hit Mane, wounding him. The place was named Imroll
Belaig Eoin (Misthrow at Bird Pass).
Mane was sent to parley with Diarmait, a son of
Conchobar. Diarmait told him that Conchobar wanted the
return of the Brown Bull and his cattle, plus compensation
for the damage done, but because Medbh had pledged a
meeting of the bulls she could bring Finnbhenach (the
white-horned bull) to Cualnge.
Mane delivered the message but Medbh and Ailill
refused all conditions. When Mane returned to Imroll
Belaig Eoin with their refusal, Diarmait suggested that
they exchange spears. They both died, along with 3 score
on each side. The hill became known as Ard in Dirma
(Height of the Troops).
NAME Mane Athramail
EPITHET Fatherlike (Athramail)
ALTERNATIVE Maine
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY warrior / raider
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Goidel / Gailioin
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Dublin
TERRITORY Connacht / Mide / Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh Liffey / Magh Muirthemni
SITES Da Derga's Hostel / Imorach Smiromrach
(Edge of the Marrow Bath)
CENTERS Raith Cruachain (Rathcroghan)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Ath Cliath / Cualnge Cattle Raid
RELATIVES Medbh (mother); Ailill (father); Andoe, Gaib
Uile, Mathramail, Milscothach, Mingor, Morgor
and Orlam (brothers); Finnabair and Sadb Sulbair
(sisters); Furbaide (half-brother)
ENEMIES Host of Eirinn / Ulster
SEE ALSO Ailill macMata / Cethern macFintain / Conaire /
Cu Chulainn / Da Derga / Finnabair /
Furbaide /
Mane / Mane Mathramail / Medbh / Orlam
REMARKS Mane was a warrior of Connacht who was the image
of his father so he was named "fatherlike". He fought
against Conaire, high chieftain of Ireland, during the
destruction at Da Derga's. Mane supplied 450 warriors and
he himself escaped with his life.
Mane Athramail was described as a tender youth with
curly dark hair. He wore a yellow silk tunic with red
embroidery on the hood, and over that a green cloak held
with a silver fibula. He carried a shield with the image
of a beast in silver, a 5-pronged spear with veins of
silver and a white-handled sword at his side.
During the Cualnge Cattle Raid, Mane supplied 3000
warriors. His mother sent him to parley with Cu Chulainn
but he got into an argument with Laeg and Cu Chulainn and
was lucky to escape with his life. During the Strait-Fight
with Cethern at Imorach Smiromrach (Edge of the Marrow
Bath) he and his brother Mane Mathramail struck Cethern
together, causing one wound.
NAME Mane Gaib Uile
EPITHET Grasp-them-all (Gaib Uile) / All the Qualities
(Cotagaib Uli) / All Comprehending
ALTERNATIVE Maine
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY warrior / raider
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Goidel / Gailioin
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Dublin
TERRITORY Connacht / Mide / Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh Liffey / Magh Muirthemni
SITES Da Derga's Hostel / Imorach Smiromrach
(Edge of the Marrow Bath)
CENTERS Raith Cruachain (Rathcroghan)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Ath Cliath / Cualnge Cattle Raid
RELATIVES Medbh (mother); Ailill (father); Andoe,
Athramail, Mathramail, Milscothach, Mingor,
Morgor and Orlam (brothers); Finnabair and Sadb
Sulbair (sisters); Furbaide (half-brother)
ENEMIES Host of Eirinn / Ulster
SEE ALSO Ailill macMata / Cethern macFintain / Da Derga /
Finnabair / Furbaide / Mane / Medbh / Orlam
REMARKS Mane was a warrior of Connacht and during the
destruction at Da Derga's Hostel he fought against the high
chieftain of Ireland at Ath Cliath. He supplied 600
warriors but he himself escaped alive.
Mane Gaib Uile had a physical and mental makeup that
reflected both of his parents. He was described as a tall
red warrior wearing a diadem of gold on his head. He wore
a hammered sword with a gold hilt in a scabbard of pure
white silver with ornamentation in gold.
During the Cualnge Cattle Raid he supported his mother
with 3000 warriors and when the host was attacked by
Cethern at Imorach Smiromrach he and his father struck him
with alternating spear-thrusts.
NAME Mane Mathramail
EPITHET Motherlike (Mathramail)
ALTERNATIVE Maine
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY warrior / raider
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Goidel / Gailioin
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Dublin
TERRITORY Connacht / Mide / Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh Liffey / Magh Muirthemni
SITES Da Derga's Hostel / Imorach Smiromrach
(Edge of the Marrow Bath)
CENTERS Raith Cruachain (Rathcroghan)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Ath Cliath / Cualnge Cattle Raid
RELATIVES Medbh (mother); Ailill (father); Andoe,
Athramail, Gaib Uile, Milscothach, Mingor,
Morgor and Orlam (brothers); Finnabair and Sadb
Sulbair (sisters); Furbaide (half-brother)
ENEMIES Host Eirinn / Ulster
SEE ALSO Ailill macMata / Cethern macFintain / Conaire /
Finnabair / Furbaide / Da Derga / Mane /
Medbh /
Orlam
REMARKS Mane was a warrior of Connacht who fought
against Conaire, the high chieftain of Ireland, during the
battle at Ath Cliath. Mane contributed 280 warriors to the
destruction but he himself escaped.
Mane Mathramail was described as a tender youth
looking like his mother with curly blond hair, wearing a
tunic of smooth yellow silk with a hood that was
embroidered with red. Over this he wore a green cloak
fastened with a silver fibula. He wore a white-hilted
sword and carried a bright shield with a drawing of a beast
in silver. In the other hand he carried a 5-pronged spear
with a vein of silver on the shaft.
During the Cualnge Cattle Raid, Mane contributed 3000
warriors to help his parents against Ulster. During
Cethern's Strait-Fight at Imorach Smiromrach he and his
brother Mane Athramail struck Cethern together, causing a
single wound.
NAME Mane Milscothach
EPITHET Honeyed speeched (Milscothach) / Honeytongue /
Honeyworded / Loquacious / Above Description
(Moepirt) / The Boastful
ALTERNATIVE Maine
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY warrior / raider
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Goidel / Gailioin
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Dublin
TERRITORY Connacht / Mide / Munster / Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh Liffey
SITES Temair Luachra (Tara of the Rushes) / Da Derga's
Hostel
CENTERS Raith Cruachain (Rathcroghan)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Ath Cliath / Cualnge Cattle Raid
ACCESSORIES the gift of hearing
RELATIVES Medbh (mother); Ailill (father); Andoe,
Athramail, Gaib Uile, Mathramail, Mingor, Morgor
and Orlam (brothers); Finnabair and Sadb Sulbair
(sisters); Furbaide (half-brother); CuRoi
(foster-father)
ENEMIES Host of Eirinn / Ulster / Cu Chulainn
SEE ALSO Ailill macMata / Conaire / Cu Chulainn / CuRoi
macDaire / Da Derga / Finnabair / Furbaide
/
Mane / Mane Andoe / Medbh / Orlam
REMARKS When Mane Milscothach was born, he was fostered
to CuRoi macDaire and was celebrating his first month's
birthday at Temair Luachra when Cu Chulainn arrived with a
party of drunk champions from Ulster who had became lost on
the way to Cu Chulainn's raith.
Mane fought against Conaire, the high chieftain of
Ireland, at the battle of Ath Cliath. He contributed 500
warriors and he himself escaped with his life. He and his
brother Mane Andoe used their gifts to reckon the arrival
of Conaire and his warriors to Da Derga's Hostel.
During the cattle raid into Ulster, Mane supplied 3000
warriors to help his mother and father. He was killed by a
sling-stone thrown by Cu Chulainn. Another brother was
later cut down by Cu Chulainn's sword.
NAME Mane Mingor
EPITHET The Gentle-pious (Mingor) / The Sweetly Dutiful
/ Mildly Submissive
ALTERNATIVE Maine
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY warrior / raider
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Goidel / Gailioin
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Dublin
TERRITORY Connacht / Mide / Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh Liffey / Magh Muirthemni
SITES Da Derga's Hostel
CENTERS Raith Cruachain (Rathcroghan)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Ath Cliath / Cualnge Cattle Raid
RELATIVES Medbh (mother); Ailill (father); Andoe,
Athramail, Gaib Uile, Mathramail, Milscothach,
Morgor and Orlam (brothers); Finnabair and Sadb
Sulbair (sisters); Furbaide (half-brother)
ENEMIES Host of Eirinn / Ulster
SEE ALSO Ailill macMata / Conaire / Da Derga /
Finnabair
/ Furbaide / Mane / Medbh / Orlam
REMARKS Mane was a warrior of Connacht who contributed
500 warriors to fight against Conaire, the high chieftain
of Ireland, at the battle of Ath Cliath. During the cattle
raid into Ulster he supplied 3000 warriors to help his
mother in her campaign.
NAME Mane Morgor
EPITHET The Very-pious (Morgor) / Strongly-dutiful /
Greatly-submisive
ALTERNATIVE Maine Margar
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY warrior / raider
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Goidel / Gailioin
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Dublin
TERRITORY Connacht / Mide / Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh Liffey / Magh Muirthemni
SITES Da Derga's Hostel
CENTERS Raith Cruachain (Rathcroghan)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Ath Cliath / Cualnge Cattle Raid
RELATIVES Medbh (mother); Ailill (father); Andoe,
Athramail, Gaib Uile, Mathramail, Milscothach,
Mingor and Orlam (brothers); Finnabair and Sadb
Sulbair (sisters); Furbaide (half-brother)
ENEMIES Host of Eirinn / Ulster
SEE ALSO Ailill macMata / Conaire / Da Derga /
Finnabair
/ Furbaide / Mane / Medbh / Orlam
REMARKS Mane was a warrior of Connacht and contributed
500 warrriors to fight against Conaire, the high chieftain
of Ireland, during the battle at Ath Cliath. Mane escaped
the destruction with his life. Mane also contributed 3000
warriors during his mother's cattle raid into Ulster.
NAME Manhogan
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Beltainn (Brillant Fires)
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Pictish / Briton
COUNTRY France / England
REGION Brittany / Cornwall
TERRITORY Gaul / Llydaw / Lloegr
LANDMARKS Loire / The island of Beli
AGE Iron
DATES BC 6th c / BC 550 ca.
SEE ALSO Belenos
REMARKS Manhogan was a Pictish warrior chieftain who was
part of the La Tène A migration from Llydaw (Brittany) in
Gaul to Cornwall in Lloegr (England). He made a sacrifice
to Belenos on the Isle of Beli, as explained in the
following:
Llad Yn Eurgyrn, (The gift is the golden horn)
Eurgyrn Yn LLaw, (The golden horn in the hand)
Llaw Yn Ysci, (The hand on the knife)
Ysci Yn Modrydav, (The knife on the leader of the herd)
Fur iti Iolav, (Sincerely I worship thee)
Buddyg Veli, (Beli giver of good)
A Manhogan Rhi, (Morgan the King)
Rhygeidwei Deithi, (Who preserves the honour of Bel)
Ynys Vel Veli (The island of Beli)
from Davies, Celtic Research, p. 191
NAME Mann
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE chariot warrior / champion
CULTURE Fir Domnann tribe
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Connacht / Ulster / Irrus Domnann
LANDMARKS Magh Mandachta (plain of Mann's death)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid (died)
RELATIVES Muresc (father); Dare (grandfather); Daman
(brother); Ferdiad (nephew)
ENEMIES Cu Chulainn / Cualnge / Pictland / Ulster
SEE ALSO Cu Chulainn / Ferdiad / Laeg / Medbh
REMARKS Medbh sent Mann to fight against Cu Chulainn. He
was described as a dark man, stout, thick-necked and bull-
like. He was said to be a slovenly person in his eating
and sleeping habits, foul-mouthed and rough. Mann rode his
chariot to meet Cu Chulainn unarmed, thinking he would have
a better chance against the young lad than with weapons.
Mann and Cu Chulainn decided to wrestle, and when Cu
Chulainn was thrown to the ground for the third time, Laeg
began to taunt him as to who would get the champion's
portion that night. Cu Chulainn flew into a rage and tore
Mann apart. Magh Mandachta (Plain of Mann's Death) in
Ulster was named after him.
NAME Manus
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Ri Ruirech
TYPE head chieftain of the Red Shields
CULTURE Pictish ?
COUNTRY Scotland / Ireland
REGION Dublin
TERRITORY The Otherworld - Lake of Pools (Lochlinners)
LANDMARKS Hill of Howth
SITES Dun Kincorry
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3rd c
RELATIVES Muileartach (foster-mother); Ocean Smith
(foster-father)
ENEMIES the Fianna
SEE ALSO Ailbhinn / Fergus Finnbheoil / Goll mac Morna /
Muileartach
REMARKS Manus arrived by ship on the shores of Ireland
at Dun Kincorry near the hill of Howth, and Fergus was sent
as the ambassador of the Fianna to greet him. Manus told
Fergus that he had come to Ireland to retrieve his wife who
had been stolen from him by Ailbhinn. Manus's champion
Erragon was beaten by Goll but Manus managed to escape with
his life.
Muileartach, the foster-mother of Manus, was not
pleased and she and her husband sailed for Ireland where
she smashed in the door of the Fianna's stronghold and
stole the "cup of victory" and took it home to Lochlinner
for her foster-son.
Now that Manus had the Cup of Victory, he gathered his
warriors and struck out again for Ireland where he
challenged the Fianna. His wife was now married to Fionn
but he still wanted her back plus Fionn's hounds. Manus's
warriors were all killed, the Cup of Victory was lost and
he had to beg for his life.
NAME Marban
EPITHET Ollamh (Master Poet and Philosopher of Ireland)
GENDER M
CATEGORY herder / ollamh
TYPE swineherd / poet / philosopher
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Leinster
AGE Iron
ENEMIES Dael Duiled
REMARKS Marban, a swineherd from Leinster, entered a
contest which had the title "Master Poet and Philosopher of
Ireland" as the prize. He won the contest, beating Dael
Duiled, a poet and the Ollamh of Leinster.
NAME March
EPITHET Horse son of Horses (March ap Meirchiawn) /
Horse Ears
ALTERNATIVE March {Markh} (stead or boundary)
GENDER M
SYMBOL stallion
CATEGORY warrior / Brenin
TYPE head chieftain of Cornwall
CULTURE Cymry (tribes that fight side by side)
COUNTRY England
REGION Cornwall
AGE Post-Roman
DATES AD 6th c
RELATIVES Tristan (nephew); Eseult (wife)
ENEMIES Morold / Tristan
SEE ALSO Arthur / Gwalchmai / Iseult / Morold / Tristan
REMARKS March sent his champion Tristan to fight single
combat with Morold, a champion of the high chieftain of
Ireland, because he was tired of paying taxes and supplying
Ireland with his young warriors.
Tristan won but was wounded by a poisonous weapon in
the combat. March sent his nephew to Ireland in the guise
of a minstrel to be cured by the physician of the high
chieftain.
When Tristan returned he was raving about the beauty
of the druid and March fell in love with her. March sent
Tristan to Ireland once more to woo her for him. After
much adventure Tristan returned with Iseult. March married
her but found out that his wife and nephew were having an
affair because they had mistakenly drunk a bottle of love
potion.
The affair was brought to the attention of March by
the court dwarf, and Tristan and Iseult fled to live in the
forest of Kelyddon. Arthur sent Gwalchmai as negotiator
between the couple and March. In the end Iseult agreed to
return to March and Tristan was sent to Brittany.
NAME Marcia
GENDER F
CATEGORY ovate / Rix
TYPE law maker / high chieftain
CULTURE Briton - Trinovantes tribe
COUNTRY England / Wales / Scotland
REGION Cornwall
TERRITORY Lloegr / Cambria / Albainn
LANDMARKS Thames
CENTERS Trinovantum (London)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 4th-3rd c
RELATIVES Guithelin (husband); Sisillius (son)
SEE ALSO Gurguit
REMARKS Marcia became the high chieftain of Britain
after the death of her husband Guithelin who had become
ruler after Gurquit. She was an ovate skilled in the arts
and developed a set of laws "Lex Martiana" which became
known as the Mercian Law. When she died, her son became
the high chieftain.
NAME Marganus
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Brenin
TYPE chariot warrior / head chieftain
CULTURE Goidel - Coritani tribe
COUNTRY England / Scotland
TERRITORY Albainn
LANDMARKS Humber river
SITES Margon
AGE Iron
DATES BC 8th c / BC 789 (died)
RELATIVES Goneril (mother); Maglaurus (father); Regan and
Cordelia (aunts); Cunedagius (cousin); Leir
(grandfather)
ENEMIES Cordelia / Cunedagius
SEE ALSO Cordelia / Cunedagius / Goneril / Leir / Regan
REMARKS When Marganus became the head chieftain after
his father died, he and his cousin Cunedagius formed an
alliance and attacked Cordelia, the high chieftain of
Britain at the time. After they had defeated their aunt,
the two cousins divided the island.
Marganus took Albainn, the territory between the
Humber and Caithness, but because he was the older of the
two he thought he should be made high chieftain of all the
tribes. He attacked his cousin but was killed in the
battle. The site was named Margon in his memory.
NAME Mariccus
EPITHET Champion of the Gauls
GENDER M
CATEGORY deity / warrior
TYPE revolutionary (peasant revolt)
CULTURE Gallic - Boii tribe
COUNTRY France
TERRITORY Gaul
AGE Iron
DATES AD 1st c / AD 68
ENEMIES Rome
REMARKS When Nero died, Mariccus proclaimed himself the
champion of Gaul and a god. The peasants did not want to
live under Roman rule and saw their chance to free
themselves, but the revolt failed.
EPITHET Lord of Gwynedd / Master of the Wand
ALTERNATIVE Math {math} (Treasure or Wealth) / Math mab
Mathonwy (Math son of Mathonwy)
GENDER M
SYMBOL bear [matu]
CATEGORY hero / warrior / Brenin / ovate
TYPE horse warrior / head chieftain / sorcerer
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Wales
REGION Gwynedd {Gwin-eth} / Clwyd {clud} / Mona
TERRITORY Gwynedd
CENTERS Caer Dathl (Fort Dathal) at Caernarfon
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
ACCESSORIES spell-binding wand / incredibly acute hearing
RELATIVES Mathonwy (mother); Don (sister); Arianrod
(niece/foster-daughter); Gilfaethwy and
Gwyddion (nephews/foster-sons); Amaethon and
Govannon (nephews)
SEE ALSO Amaethon / Arianrod / Blodeudd / Don /
Gilfaethwy / Govannon / Gwyddion / Llew Llaw
Gyffes / Mathonwy / Pryderi
REMARKS Math was one of the Three Masters of Britain and
was foster-father and teacher to his nephew Gwyddion.
Math's fortress was Caer Dathl, a site at present-day
Caernarfon. Caer Arfon means "the fortress overlooking
Mona" which was the most important druidic site in Britain.
Math had a geis which demanded that during times of
peace he must rest his feet in the lap of a virgin. At the
time of this story the virgin was his niece Goewin, later
to become the moon goddess Arianrod.
Math's nephews raped thier cousin so Math used his
sorcery to punish Gilfaethwy and Gwyddion. They were also
the cause of the death of Pryderi, the head chieftain of
Dyfed. Math changed the young men into a stag and a hind,
a boar and a sow, then a wolf and a bitch. Math made them
live as a different species each year. They were
alternately male and female so they would suffer the
embarassment of siring and carrying an offspring of the
other. Each year they came to the gates of Caer Dathal and
presented their offspring which Math then changed into
human and named them Hyddwn (deer), Hychdwn (boar), and
Bleiddwn (wolf). The children were then raised Caer Dathal
as a constant reminder to the two nephews for what they had
done to their cousin.
Math trained Goewin as a filidh and she became the
moon goddess Arianrod. Math used his supernatural
abilities to help Gwyddion conjure a wife out of flowers
for Llew.
NAME Mathgen
EPITHET Born of a Bear
ALTERNATIVE Matgen / Math
GENDER M
SYMBOL bear
FESTIVAL summer solstice
CATEGORY filidh
TYPE sorcerer
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Sligo
TERRITORY Connacht
LANDMARKS Plain of Towers (Magh Tuireadh)
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 16th-15th c
BATTLES second battle of Magh Tuireadh (north Moytura)
ENEMIES Fomorii
SEE ALSO Lugh
REMARKS When Mathgen, son of Umor, was interviewed by
Lugh in reference to a battle with the Fomorians, he was
asked what he could do to help win. Mathgen replied that
he would throw the mountains of Ireland onto the Fomorians.
ALTERNATIVE Matholwch {math-ahl'-oh-ikh, ma-hlol-lukh,
math'-o-law}
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Ard Righ Eirinn
TYPE chariot warrior / high chieftain
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath / Gwynedd {Gwin-eth} / Clwyd {clud}
TERRITORY Connacht / Leinster / Mide / Munster / Ulster
LANDMARKS Liffey / Magh mBreg
SITES Aberffraw / Ath Cliath (Dublin area)
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Ath Cliath
ACCESSORIES silver staff / golden plate / cauldron
RELATIVES Branwen (wife); Gwern (son); Bran (brother-in-
law)
ENEMIES Evnissyen / Bran
SEE ALSO Beli Mawr / Bran / Branwen / Conaire Mor / Da
Derga / Evnissyen / Llassar Llaes
REMARKS Matholwych, the high chieftain of Ireland,
sailed to Gwynedd in Wales with a flotilla of 13 ships. He
had come to court the goddess Branwen. Matholwych
negotiated a deal with Bran, the head chieftain of Wales,
which united the two groups of Danann in a marriage that
took place at Aberffraw.
After the marriage, Matholwych suffered humiliation at
the hands of Evnissyen, who was angered that he had not
been consulted over the agreement between the two peoples.
As compensation, Bran gave Matholwych new horses, a silver
staff as tall as himself and a golden plate the size of his
face. Bran apologized but said that he could not kill
Evnissyen because he was the grandson of Beli Mawr of the
Catuvellauni tribe.
As further compensation, Bran gave Matholwych a
supernatural cauldron. The cauldron had the the ability of
bringing dead warriors back to life and they would lack
only speech. The cauldron originally came from the Lake of
the Cauldron in Ireland and had been taken to Wales by
Llassar Llaes. Matholwych was now satisfied that he was
justly reimbursed for his insult, and he and his new bride
left for Ireland.
For the first year, all went well. Branwen was an
asset at Tara and won over the important people with her
charm and generosity. During the first year a son was born
and he was named Gwern (alder).
In the second year, nobles of the court began to speak
against her, reminding Matholwch of the insult that he had
received at the court of her brother Bran. Matholwch
caused Branwen to suffer indignities and cut off all
exchange of information between the two nations.
Nevertheless Branwen did manage to get a message to her
brother Bran, and he raised an army to invade Ireland.
Branwen was restored to her position and was consulted
on the building of a great dwelling that would hold Bran
and the holding of a great feast in his honor. Bran, being
a warrior of giant stature, carried a large club on his
shoulder as he waded through the water to Ireland. Bran
and his warriors crossed the Liffey by building a bridge of
hurdles where the Town of the Hurdle Ford (Baile Atha
Claith) was eventually built.
At first, peaceful negotiations were attempted and the
opposing warriors had a feast in the specially-prepared
house for Bran. Negotiations were proceeding when
Evnissyen became upset, grabbed the son of Branwen and
Matholwych and threw him into the fire.
The battle that followed was fierce and the Irish were
winning because of the cauldron but eventually Evnissyen
destroyed it and the battle became more even. Matholwych
and his warriors were destroyed during the battle and only
7 of the invading warriors returned to Wales.
This battle in Ireland was most likely the British
version of the Irish story of the Destruction at Da Derga's
Hostel when Conaire Mor was killed.
ALTERNATIVE Mathonwy {Math-onow-wee}
GENDER F
SYMBOL bear (matu)
CATEGORY rigbean (noble woman)
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Wales
REGION Gwynedd {Gwin-eth} / Clwyd {clud}
TERRITORY Gwynedd
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
RELATIVES Math (son); Don (daughter)
SEE ALSO Math
REMARKS Mathonwy was the mother of Math and may also
have been the mother of Don.
NAME Matres
GENDER F
CATEGORY deity
TYPE triple goddess (health/fertility/prosperity)
CULTURE Belgae - Treveri tribe
COUNTRY Germany / Belgium / Luxembourg
REGION Rhineland
TERRITORY Gaul
LANDMARKS Ardennes / Rhine / Moselle
AGE Bronze / Iron
DATES BC 9th c / BC 1st c
REMARKS Matres was a fertility goddess of the Treveri
tribe who were settled in the Rhineland from BC 9th century
to the coming of the Romans in BC 1st century. The tribe
was situated in the Ardennes around the Rhine and Moselle
rivers.
NAME Meargach
EPITHET Green Spear
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE chariot warrior
COUNTRY Ireland
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3rd c
BATTLES Cnoc-an-aire (died)
RELATIVES Aille (wife)
ENEMIES Oscar
SEE ALSO Aille Shnuadh-Gheal / Conan Maol / Fionn mac
Cumhaill / Oscar
REMARKS Meargach was killed by Oscar during the battle
of Cnoc-an-aire. In revenge, his wife had her druid Fer
Gruadh (The Gray Man) capture Fionn and a number of the
Fianna. Conan freed them with trickery, Oscar killed Fer
Gruadh, then Aille committed suicide.
NAME Medb Lethderg
EPITHET Intoxicating Red Side
ALTERNATIVE Medbh Lethderg (Half Red)
GENDER F
CATEGORY deity
TYPE bride / Sovereign
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Carlow
TERRITORY Leinster
CENTERS Dinn Rig
AGE Iron
DATES AD 2nd-AD 3rd century
ACCESSORIES The Ale of Cuala
RELATIVES Conan of Cuala (father); Fedilimid (consort);
Cahir and Conn (sons); Art and Cormac (consorts)
SEE ALSO Art Aenfer / Cahir Mor / Conn Cetcathach /
Cormac macAirt / Fedilimid Rechtmar / Lugh
REMARKS Medb Lethderg, the daughter of Conan of Cuala of
Leinster, was the goddess (Sovereign) of Ireland. She was
the consort to 9 high chieftains of Ireland. First she
would serve them food and dergflaith (a drink called red
ale and red sovereignty), then she would mate with them.
While she served Conn, who may have been her son, Lugh
read a list of the future high chieftains of Ireland. A
filidh recorded the names in ogham on a yew stave.
NAME Medbh
EPITHET The Intoxicating One
ALTERNATIVE Medb {Maeve, Mou} / Medhbh / Medhbha
Medb of Cruachan
GENDER F
SYMBOL cow
CATEGORY deity / warrior
TYPE moon goddess / chariot goddess / Sovereign /
war / fertility
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Roscommon
TERRITORY Connacht
LANDMARKS Shannon / Knocknarea Mountain
SITES Hostel (Bruidhean) / Imorach Smiromrach
(Edge of the Marrow Bath) / Carrowmore
CENTERS Raith Cruachain (Rathcroghan)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c (ruled 88 years)
BATTLES Mac Da Tho's / Cualnge Cattle Raid / Gairech &
Irgairech
ACCESSORIES 9 chariots /spear / sword / mead / bird /
squirrel / horse / charioteer-Fer Loga
RELATIVES Eochaidh Feidhleach (father); Ethne (mother);
Ailill (husband); Finnabair and Sabd Sulbair
(daughters); Andoe, Athramail, Gaib Uile,
Mathramail, Milscothach, Mingor, Morgor and
Orlam (sons); Clothra, Derbriu, Ele, and Ethne
(sisters); Bress, Nar, Lothar and Congal
(brothers); Mughain (half-sister); Ercol
(foster-father); Garmuin (foster-mother);
Ferghus (consort)
ENEMIES Ulster / Furbude
SEE ALSO Ailill macMata / Calatin / Carbre Niafer /
Cethern macFintain / Clothra / Conall Cernacht /
Conchobar mac Nessa / Dare macFiachu /
Eochaidh
Feidhleach / Eocho Bec / Erc mac
Cairbre / Ercol
/ Ethne / Fedelm / Ferloga / Ferdiad mac Damain
/ Ferghus mac Roig / Finn macMata / Finnabair /
Furbude Fer Bend / Lugaid mac Curoi / Mac Da Tho
/ MacRoth / Mane / Mughain / Orlam / Rucht
Chnint
REMARKS Medbh acquired the position of sovereignty of
Ireland when her father Eochaidh was the high chieftain of
all Ireland. Out of his 6 daughters Medbh was the most
graceful, haughtiest, highest, and the best warrior. She
was paid suit to by many of the noble males of Ireland
including Finn macMata, Carbre Niafer, Conchobar mac Nessa
and Eocho Bec. Medbh considered that none of these men had
the qualities that she wanted in a husband: absence of
fear, meanness and jealousy.
One day Medbh found Rucht Chnint in the form of a
waterworm in the water she had drawn from a spring. He
told her to marry Ailill macMata and was then devoured by a
cow and reborn as the White Bull. Medbh followed the
advice and married Ailill. Her bride price was a chariot
worth 3x7 female slaves (21 cumals), red gold the width of
Ailill's face, the weight of his forearm in silvered
bronze, and clothing for 12 men.
Medbh as Sovereign of Ireland was represented by the
cow which was a symbol of the moon. Unlike Ulster,
Connacht measured time by the moon and 9 different
chieftains were obliged to be her consort before they were
accepted. Medbh said that she always had another man in
the shadows; she needed 30 men a day and only kept those
who could keep her satisfied. She had the power to deprive
men of their strength.
Medbh was best remembered for instigating the Cualnge
Cattle Raid, where she led an army against the province of
Ulster to gain from them a mystical bull. One night, Medbh
and Ailill were counting up their possessions to see who
was the richest when it was discovered that Ailill had the
magnificent white bull "Finnbhenach". The bull was
originally hers but it did not want to be in the possession
of a woman so had gone to Ailill's herd. Medbh sent
MacRoth, her messenger, to seek a comparable bull. He
found one in Ulster named the Brown Bull of Cualnge. The
magnificent bull was owned by Dare macFiachu.
Medbh tried to negotiate the sale of the bull but
failed. While MacRoth and his 9 couriers were being
entertained by Dare, the host was insulted and refused to
make any deals with Medbh. This led to the call to arms of
the warriors of Ireland against the North.
Warriors from the provinces of Leinster, Munster,
Connacht, the exiled Ulster warriors and Firbolg warriors
who had begun to return to Connacht from the islands off
Scotland all assembled at Magh Ai between the 4 fords of
Ath Moga, Ath Bercna, Ath Slissen and Ath Coltna. There
they spent two weeks drinking and eating while the filidh
sought a good omen.
Medbh grew restless and rode over to seek an augury
from the filidh. Her charioteer was following a right-hand
circle for good luck when she spied Fedelm, a filidh of the
Danann, coming toward her on a chariot. Medbh asked her
for a sign 3 times and each time the filidh replied that a
young dragon would stop her warriors and that the warriors
of Connacht would be bathed in blood.
Medbh decided to ignore the filidh and commenced the
invasion into Ulster. She travelled with 2 chariots ahead,
2 on each side, 2 behind and her own in the center. She
did this to control space around her so she would not be
covered with the dust raised by the army as it moved. When
the Host of Connacht stopped to camp, Medbh's tent was
always to the left of Ailill's.
As the troops moved toward the north, Medbh realized
that the Galians of Leinster were the most efficient
warriors. She was unsure of their loyalty and feared their
efficiency so she had Ferghus, her commander, distribute
them among the other companies.
Because Medbh had earned Cu Chulainn's disrespect, he
had told her that he would cast a stone close to her head
whenever he saw her. One day Cu Chulainn shot her pet
squirrel as it sat on her shoulder. Medbh disguised her
handmaiden as herself and sent her to the river for water.
Cu Chulainn, thinking it was Medbh, killed her with a shot
from his sling.
Medbh used her daughter Finnabair as bait to entice
different warriors to fight Cu Chulainn. She served 50
wagon-loads of beer while she enticed Ferdiad to fight. She
herself was a warrior and fought numerous combats which she
won. She was the second person to wound Cethern during his
Strait-Fight at Imorach Smiromrach (Edge of the Marrow
Bath) when he rode crazily into her camp in his chariot
without armor and an iron spit as his only weapon.
Cethern described her as a beautiful woman. Her blond
hair hung to her shoulder blades and she often had two
golden birds on her shoulders. She wore a dress of silk
with gold woven into the fabric and a purple cloak held
with a golden brooch. Her weapon of choice was a straight-
ridged red spear.
During the Cualnge Cattle Raid, Medbh had a running
affair with Ferghus. During the battle of Gairech and
Irgairech, Medbh again proved herself a mighty warrior when
during a rage she 3 times forced her enemies to fall back
until she finally came up against a wall of javelins. Soon
after, Ferghus held his bargain with Cu Chulainn and turned
from him in battle, taking his Ulster exiles with him. This
started a retreat for the Host of Connacht.
Medbh had the bad luck of beginning menstruation and
needed Ferghus to raise a shield shelter. The place was
called Fual Medbha (Medbh's Water). That evening Cu
Chulainn added insult to injury when he overtook Medbh and
protected her until Athlone when she crossed the Shannon
river.
After her defeat by Ulster during the Cualnge Cattle
Raid, Medbh negotiated a seven-year peace with them. Even
though Medbh lost the battle with Ulster, she did manage to
have Cu Chulainn killed by inciting revengeful feelings in
Erc mac Cairbre, Lugaid mac Curoi and the survivors of the
Clanna Calatin. Medbh was a ruthless woman, killing with
ease those who tried to upset her plans. She drowned her
sister Clothra. One Beltainn she had Conall Cernacht kill
her husband Ailill in revenge for his having killed her
lover Ferghus.
When Medbh finally grew old she retired to her retreat
on Inis Clothrann (Quaker Island) in Lough Ree, county
Galway. One morning while she was bathing in her pool
called Loch Riabhach (The Gray Lake), Furbude Fer Bend shot
her in the forehead with a sling-stone, thereby revenging
the death of his foster-father Cu Chulainn. Medbh, the
most powerful female ruler in Ireland, had ruled for 88
years. Her burial site, Medbh's Cairn, is said to be on
Knocknarea Mountain in the Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery.
NAME Medrawt
ALTERNATIVE Modred / Morded / Mordred
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
CULTURE Cymry (tribes that fight side by side)
COUNTRY Wales / England / Scotland
REGION Cornwall
LANDMARKS River Camel
SITES Richborough / Winchester / Water-Meadow (died)
AGE Post-Roman
DATES AD 6th c
RELATIVES Lot of Lodonesia (father); Gwyar (mother);
Gwalchmai (brother); Arthur (uncle); Gwenhyvar
(consort)
ENEMIES Arthur
SEE ALSO Arthur / Cador / Gwalchmai / Gwenhyvar / Gwyar
REMARKS Arthur left Medrawt in charge of Britain when he
went to the continent to fight the Romans. When Arthur's
absence became prolonged, Medrawt and Gwenhyvar formed a
relationship and decided to rule Britain themselves. They
invited other Celtic tribes of Picts, Scotti and Irish as
well as Germani tribes to settle in Britain.
The civil war that evolved was a bloody one that began
when Arthur landed at Richborough. Medrawt fought and
killed his brother Gwalchmai in that battle but was put to
flight. They regrouped at present-day Winchester where he
fought another bloody battle against Arthur.
Medrawt was again forced to run and this time he had
ships prepared to take his remaining troops to Cornwall.
The final battle took place at present-day Water-Meadow by
the river Camel. Medrawt divided his 60,000 warriors into
6 divisions of 6,666 warriors each. This left 20,000
warriors for his own division. Arthur had about the same
number but divided his troops into 9 divisions of 6,666
soldiers each.
When the battle began, Arthur took his division and
charged his nephew Medrawt who had 5 times as many
warriors. The death toll that day was high and in that
battle Medrawt died. Arthur's wounds were bad and he was
taken to Avalon. The leadership of Britain was turned over
to Constantine the son of Cador, chieftain of Cornwall and
cousin of Arthur.
NAME Mempricius
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Rix
TYPE chariot warrior / high chieftain of Britain
CULTURE Greek / Goidel - Coritani tribe
COUNTRY England / Wales / Scotland
TERRITORY Lloegr / Cambria / Albainn
CENTERS Caer Troia (town of Troy) present-day Ilford
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 11th c (ruled 20 years) / BC 1011 ca. (died)
RELATIVES Gwendolen (grandmother); Maddan (father); Malin
(brother); Locrinus (grandfather); Ebraucos
(son)
ENEMIES Malin
SEE ALSO Ebraucus / Gwendolen / Locinos / Maddan
REMARKS When his father Maddan died, Mempricius called
his brother to a meeting and then murdered him. Mempricius
ruled as a tyrant and eliminated anyone who opposed him.
Mempricius married and his wife bore him a son, but he
lost the support of the goddess and his people when he
turned from women and failed in his role as the
representative of male fertility. He ruled for 20 years
until he became lost on a hunt one day and was devoured by
wolves.
NAME Mend mac Salcholcan
EPITHET Son of One Heel
ALTERNATIVE Menn mac Salcholga
GENDER M
CATEGORY hero / warrior / chieftain
TYPE chariot warrior / Red Branch champion
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Armagh
TERRITORY Ulster
LANDMARKS Dun Rudrige
SITES Tech Midchuarta / Renna (Waterways) of the Boyne
/ Hostel (Bruidhean) / Mound of Slane in Mide
CENTERS Emain Macha (Navan)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Mac Da Tho's / Cualnge Cattle Raid /
Red-Shame of Menn / Gairech & Irgairech
ACCESSORIES sword (Brattach) / spear with a tip on each end
RELATIVES Salchad (father)
ENEMIES Connacht
SEE ALSO Bricriu / Cet mac Magach / Mac Da Tho / MacRoth
REMARKS Mend was a Red Branch champion who was present
during the feast to celebrate Bricriu's new home, Tech
Midchuarta at Dun Rudrige.
When Mend challenged Cet to the hero's portion during
the feast at Mac Da Tho's hostel, Cet reminded him that he
had cut the heel off his father's foot with his sword
during a fray and that the son of a one-footed man should
not challenge him.
During the Cualnge Cattle Raid, Mend brought his
warriors from Renna (Waterways) of the Boyne in the north
and gave battle to the Host of Connacht until he and his
warriors were crimson with blood. Mend came to an
agreement with Connacht that if he took his warriors back
to his own land, the host would move a day's journey to the
north. They would then fight at the great battle that was
to come at Gairech and Irgairech. This was agreed and the
fray was called the Red-Shame of Mend.
MacRoth described Mend when he appeared at the Mound
of Slane in Mide as a fine noble man of large stature with
a head of fox-red hair and bulging red eyes. He wore a
bright hooded shirt that reached to his knees, covered by a
many-colored cloak held with a wheel-shaped silver fibula.
He carried a gray shield in his left hand and a well-
sharpened spear. At his side was a silver-hilted sword and
a slender blue lance. He and his warriors were still
covered with cuts and blood from the previous fight and
were back looking for revenge.
NAME Menelaus
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Achaean / Danann / Mycenaean / Argives
COUNTRY France / Spain
TERRITORY Gaul / Belgica / Argos / Lacedaemon
LANDMARKS Seine / Mount Esparteros
SITES Troy
CENTERS Sparta
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 13th c / BC 1240 (defeat of Troy)
ACCESSORIES ship with oars
RELATIVES Atreus (father); Aerope (mother); Helen (wife);
Hermione (daughter); Agamemnon (brother)
ENEMIES Trojans
SEE ALSO Agamemnon / Helen / Paris
REMARKS Menelaus son of Atreus left Gaul to marry Helen,
daughter of Tyndarus, chieftain of Lacedaemon. Tyndarus
abdicated his position to Helen and Menelaus, giving them
control of a territory rich in the valuable resources of
copper, tin and silver. Paris, the son of the Trojan
chieftain, came for a visit and was treated hospitably, but
when Menelaus was away in Crete, Paris abducted his wife
and took her back with him to Troy in an attempt to lay
claim to the territory.
Menelaus asked his brother Agamemnon to take his fleet
of ships to Troy to reclaim Helen. This initiated the
Trojan War. After the war was over, Menelaus left Troy
(England) once more in the company of his wife Helen, whom
he had forgiven for her unfaithfulness. They took 8 years
on their return voyage to Sparta (Spain), including a stop
in Egypt (Seine-Maritime) where Menelaus dedicated a
memorial to the memory of his brother Agamemnon who had
been assassinated.
NAME Menn macUthechair
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE battle-line soldiers for the Ri Ruirech
(Conchobar)
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath
TERRITORY Ulster
SITES Mound of Slane in Mide
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid / Gairech & Irgairech
RELATIVES Uthechar (father); Celtchair and Glasne
(brothers)
ENEMIES Host of Connacht
SEE ALSO Celtchair / MacRoth / Uthechar
REMARKS Menn and his brother Glasne were the leaders of
the troop of battle-line soldiers from the household of
Conchobar. When they arrived at the Mound of Slane in Mide
they caused a stir by their many feats of arms. MacRoth
described Menn as a very large swarthy youth with playful
eyes.
Menn wore a tunic of mail next to his skin covered by
a dark-gray tunic with silver pins set with stones. He
carried a thick shield and a hollow lance fastened with
many rivets. He also carried horn-tipped swords at his
side.
Menn's warriors were said to tear up the earth with
their feet because of their rage at not being allowed to
attack the camp of the Host of Connacht until everyone had
arrived.
NAME Menw Fab Teirgwaedd
EPITHET Master of Spells / Of the Vedas / Of the Verds
ALTERNATIVE Menw ap Teirnaedd {Menoo ap Tair-noo-ayth} /
Mengw
GENDER M
CATEGORY ovate
TYPE sorcerer
CULTURE Cymry (tribes that fight side by side)
COUNTRY Wales / England / Ireland
REGION Gwent
LANDMARKS River Usk
CENTERS Caerleon-on-Usk (Kaerusk)
AGE Post-Roman
DATES AD 5th-6th c
RELATIVES son of Teirgwaedd
SEE ALSO Arthur / Culhwch / Uther
REMARKS Menw Fab Teirgwaedd had the ancient knowledge of
the Vedas which he taught to Uther. He had the ability to
create a cloak of invisibility which is why he was one of
the 7 chosen by Arthur to accompany Culhwch on his quest.
NAME Mesgegra mac Datho
EPITHET Son of Two Mutes (Macc Da Tho)
ALTERNATIVE Mess Gegra
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Ri Ruirech
TYPE chariot warrior / head chieftain
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Carlow
TERRITORY Leinster
CENTERS Dinn Rig
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
RELATIVES Dath (father); Ucha (wife); Mesroeda (brother)
SEE ALSO Dath / Eochaidh Airemh / Mac Da Tho (Mesroeda) /
Ucha
REMARKS Mesgegra was the head chieftain of Leinster and
swore allegiance to Eochaidh Airemh, the high chieftain of
Ireland.
NAME Mess Buachalla
EPITHET Mogha Lamha (serf's hand)
ALTERNATIVE Mes / Messbuachalla {mess-boo'hala} (the
cowherd's foster-child)
GENDER F
SYMBOL cow
CATEGORY rigbean (noble woman)
CULTURE Goidel / Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Armagh
TERRITORY Ulster / Mide
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg
SITES Emain Macha (Navan)
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
RELATIVES Etain Oig (mother); Eochaidh Airemh (father);
Cormac (step-father); Findlam (foster-father);
Nemglan (consort); Conaire (son); Eterscel
(husband); Eremon and Tea (ancestors)
SEE ALSO Conaire Mor / Cormac Condloinges / Eochaidh
Airemh / Eremon / Etain Oig / Eterscel / Findlam
/ Maine / Nemglan / Tea
REMARKS Mess was the daughter of Etain Oig and Cormac, a
chieftain of Ulster. Because she was born a female or
because he thought she was the daughter of Eochaidh Airemh
and not his, Cormac ordered her sacrificed to the pit but
the servants obeyed other orders. The baby was taken to
Findlam, the cowherd of Eterscel, high chieftain of
Ireland.
Findlam built her a special home of mud and wattle
without doors and a skylight for a window so that she would
never be discovered. She grew to be a beautiful maiden of
many talents, excelling in needlepoint.
One day her hideaway was found by some of Eterscel's
servants who had never noticed it before. They climbed the
wall and spied through the skylight and saw a beautiful
maiden inside. They ran to tell the high chieftain of
Ireland what they had found. Eterscel's filidh had
prophesied that he would marry a woman of an unknown race
and he surmised that this was the woman.
The same evening a bird of beautiful plumage flew
through the skylight and into Mess's refuge where it turned
into Nemglan, a handsome warrior of the Danann. They spent
the night together and he told her that she would have a
son whom she was to name Conaire son of Mess Buachalla.
The next day she was taken to the high chieftain and
they fell in love. When they were married he paid her
bride price of 7 cumals (21 cows). Eterscel made Mess's
foster-father Findlam a man of land, gave him a new name,
Fedlimthi Rechtaidi, and made him a chieftain. Then she
bore the high chieftain a male child and he was called
Conaire. Mess insisted that her son be fostered between
the 3 households of her foster-father, the Honeyworded
Maines and her own household. The chieftains of Erin were
to send their children to be fostered at those 3
households.
NAME Miach
ALTERNATIVE Mioach
GENDER M
FESTIVAL summer solstice
CATEGORY deity / hero / druid
TYPE god of medicine / physician / surgeon
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Mayo
TERRITORY Connacht
LANDMARKS Plain of Towers (Magh Tuireadh)
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 16th-15th c
BATTLES first battle of Magh Tuireadh (south Moytura)
RELATIVES Diancecht (father); Airmid and Etain (sisters);
Cian, Ochttriuil, Cethen and Cu (brothers);
Esaire (grandmother); Net (great-grandfather);
Iarbonel and Magog (ancestors)
ENEMIES Fomorii / Diancecht
SEE ALSO Airmid / Bress / Cian / Diancecht / Esaire /
Etain / Iarbonel / Magog / Net / Nuadha
REMARKS Miach son of Diancecht, son of Esaire, daughter
of Net, was a healer like his father and sister. He showed
his superiority when he replaced the damaged eye of
Nuadha's porter with that of a cat. The porter was awake
in one eye during the day and the other during the night.
Miach's masterpiece was replacing Nuadha'a silver arm with
that of flesh and blood, joint to joint and vein to vein.
This took 3x9 days to heal, then Nuadha was reinstated as
the head chieftain, freeing the Danann from the tyrannical
rule of Bress.
This proved Maich to be the superior physician, an
ability which led to his death when his father slew him out
of jealousy. On his grave grew 360 medicinal herbs in
combinations which could cure all ills and give eternal
life. Airmid gathered the herbs together on her cloak in
the proper order but when Diancecht saw this, he grew
angry, grabbed the cloak and shook the herbs into the air,
losing the secrets forever.
NAME Mide
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Beltainn (Brilliant Fires)
CATEGORY druid
TYPE astronomer
CULTURE Nemedian tribe
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Wexford / Westmeath
TERRITORY Leinster / Mide
SITES Camross / Uisneach
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 19th-18th c
BATTLES Cnamros
ENEMIES Fomorii
SEE ALSO Nemhedh
REMARKS After the battle of Cnamros (Camross) near
Taghmon in Co. Wexford, Mide lit the first Needfire (tein-
eigen) for his people in Ireland. He chose Uisneach as the
center of Ireland and it burned for 7 years. The Nemedian
chieftains lit their fires from this and from the chieftain
fires were lit the individual hearth fires.
For this deed, Mide and his successor received a boar
and a sack of corn from every household. The local druids
proclaimed that Mide's fire was evil but he quietened them
by cutting out their tongues, burying them in the ground at
Uisneach and then sitting on them. In time when the 5
provinces of Ireland were established the central one was
named Mide in his honor.
NAME Midhir
EPITHET The Proud / The Judge
ALTERNATIVE Mider {Mid'-er, Meeth-er} / Midir
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY deity / warrior / chieftain / filidh
TYPE god of the Underworld / supernatural / judge
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Longford
TERRITORY Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg
SITES Slieve Gallory / Sidhe Brugh na Boyna
CENTERS Sidhe Bri Leith
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 16th-15th c
BATTLES Danann Civil War
ACCESSORIES three cranes
RELATIVES Indui (father); Fuamnach (wife); Bri (daughter);
Donn (son); Be Find (consort); Nuadha and Bresal
(uncles); Magog, Iarbonel and Ordan (ancestors)
SEE ALSO Ailill of Echraide / Anghus mac Og / Be Find /
Boann / Bodb Dearg / Bresal Etarlam /
Cermat /
Daghda / Diancecht / Elcmar /
Fionnbharr /
Fuamnach / Iarbonel / Ilbhreach /
Lir / Magog /
Nuadha / Ochall Ochne / Ordan / Triath
REMARKS Midhir, son of Indui, son of Echtach, son of
Etarlam, son of Ordan, resided at the Sidhe Bri Leith in
Slieve Gallory west of Arvagh in county Longford. His home
was guarded by 3 cranes that robbed trouble-makers of their
courage and will to fight and screamed out to strangers:
"Pass By! Keep Away! Do Not Enter!".
Midhir was once described as a handsome well-dressed
man with blond hair held in place with a band of gold. He
wore a tunic with red embroidery and over that the green
cloak of the Sidhe. The cloak was held on by a gold pin
that reached from one shoulder to the other. He had a
silver shield with a golden rim and he carried a 5-pronged
spear with a ribbon of gold from shaft to butt.
Midhir was married to Fuamnach and they were the
foster-parents of Anghus mac Og. The Sidhe Bri Leith had a
large green which was the playing field used by the 3x50
boys and 3x50 girls who were the fosterages of the sidhe.
Anghus was the leader of the males because he was the most
noble of the group. There was also another leader of the
children at play and he was Triath, son of Febel, a
Firbolg. The two boys did not like each other and would
throw insults back and forth. One day Triath accused
Anghus of not knowing who his parents were or what his race
was. This caused Anghus to be very upset and he went to
Midhir and demanded to know his parentage.
Midhir told him that his mother was Boann and his
father was Daghda. He took him to see Daghda so he would
know his history, and in the end Anghus received Sidhe
Brugh na Boyna on Magh mBreg as his home.
One Samhain eve, Midhir went to visit Anghus at Brugh
na Boyna. While he was there, he attempted to stop a
quarrel on the playing field and had his eye put out by a
branch of holly. Anghus arranged to have Diancecht fix
Midhir's eye so he would not be blemished, and asked Midhir
to stay for a year. Midhir said he would agree if Anghus
would dress him according to his rank, give him a chariot
and acquire for him the most beautiful woman in Ireland.
Anghus agreed to this and discovered that Be Find,
daughter of Ailill of Echraide, was the most beautiful
maiden in Ireland at the time. Anghus was told he would be
allowed to woo Be Find for Midhir if he completed 3 tasks.
Midhir and Be Find fell in love and stayed together for a
year at Sidhe Brugh na Boyna.
Midhir then decided that he would take Be Find back to
his sidhe to meet his first wife, Fuamnach. Anghus warned
him to be careful, as Fuamnach was a powerful sorcerer and
was under his protection against harm from the Danann. When
Midhir took his second wife to his sidhe, Fuamnach used her
talents to change Be Find into a mayfly.
After the Danann lost the war with the Goidel, Daghda
gave up the position as head chieftain and Bodb Dearg
became the new leader. Midhir was not happy about this
choice and since the different chieftains took sides, a
civil war developed among the Danann. The civil war
brought about the end of Danann as a major influence in
Ireland. The main chieftains involved in the war were Bodb
Dearg, Ilbhreach, Lir, Midhir, Ochall Ochne and Fionnbharr,
who replaced Manannan. Midhir of The Mighty Deeds died at
the hand of Elcmar.
NAME Miodchaoin
ALTERNATIVE Miodhchaoin {Mee-than} / Mochaen
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE guardian of a sacred hill
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland / Scotland
TERRITORY The Otherworld - Scandinavia (Lochlann)
SITES Cnoc (hill)
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 16th-15th c
RELATIVES Aedh, Corca, and Conn (sons); Cian (foster-son)
ENEMIES sons of Tuirill Piccroe (Delbaeth)
SEE ALSO Brénos / Cian / Lugh / Delbaeth
REMARKS Miodchaoin was the foster-father of Cian and it
was his geis that he could not let anyone shout from the
top of his hill (Cnoc). Lugh made this one of the
obligations that the sons of Tuirill Piccroe (Delbaeth)
must fulfill as punishment for killing Cian. Brénos and
his two brothers managed to slay Miodchaoin and his three
sons and raise three shouts from the top of the hill, then
they died from their wounds.
NAME Moccos
ALTERNATIVE Moccus (boar)
GENDER M
SYMBOL boar
CATEGORY deity
TYPE boar god / protector of boars
CULTURE Gallic - Lingones tribe
COUNTRY France
REGION Haute-Marne
TERRITORY Gaul
LANDMARKS Plateau of Langres / Marne
CENTERS Langres
AGE Iron
DATES BC 6th c
REMARKS The Lingones settled moved to the Plateau of
Langres in BC 6th century. Moccos was venerated at the
headwaters of the Marne river which was in their territory.
NAME Modron
EPITHET The Great Mother (Modron) / The Divine Mother
(Matrona) / Mother of Youth (Modron app Mabon)
ALTERNATIVE Marne
GENDER F
CATEGORY deity
TYPE mother goddess (fertility/prosperity/protection)
/ water goddess
CULTURE Belgae - Catuvellauni tribe / Gallic - Lingones
COUNTRY France / England
REGION Haute-Marne
TERRITORY Gaul / Belgica
LANDMARKS Marne (Matrona)
SITES spring at the headwaters
AGE Iron
DATES BC 6th c / BC 3rd c
RELATIVES Mabon (son)
SEE ALSO Mabon
REMARKS In BC 6th century the Lingones controlled the
headwaters of the Marne where Modron was venerated. The
Catuvellauni tribe were settled on the same river and in BC
3rd century, veneration of the goddess was brought to
England with the Belgic migration.
The goddess Modron was venerated under the name
Matrona in France and a solar wheel belonging to her son
Maponos (Mabon) was found in the river.
NAME Moenicaptus
EPITHET Slave of the Main
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
CULTURE Gallic
COUNTRY France
TERRITORY Gaul
AGE Iron
DATES BC 3rd c / BC 214 (died)
BATTLES Jean
ENEMIES Rome
REMARKS Moenicaptus has a name which could translate as
dumb or speechless slave. He was fighting as a mercenary
for the Carthaginians when he was killed at the battle of
Jean during the 2nd Punic War.
NAME Molistomos
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Gallic
COUNTRY Yugoslavia / Antariatae
TERRITORY Illyricum
SITES Tara river
AGE Iron
DATES BC 4th c / BC 310
ENEMIES Antariatae (Illyrians)
SEE ALSO Brennius
REMARKS Molistomos led a raid of Celtic warriors against
the Antariatae (people of Tara) or Illyrians, which caused
such chaos that the inhabitants fled from their territory
and ran into an army of Macedonians. Molistomos and his
warriors settled the territory and paved the way for
Brennius and his swarm of warriors.
NAME Mongan
ALTERNATIVE Mongan mac Fiachna Finn
GENDER M
CATEGORY deity / warrior / Ri Ruirech / filidh
TYPE sea god / head chieftain / shapechanger
CULTURE Danann / Goidel - Dal nAraide tribe
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Ulster / The Otherworld - Land of Promise (Tir
Tairngire)
AGE Ui Néill
DATES AD 7th c / AD 625
RELATIVES Manannan (god-father); Dubh Lacha (wife);
Fiachna Finn (step-father)
SEE ALSO Brandubh / Caoilte / Fiachna Finn / Fionn mac
Cumhaill / Manannan
REMARKS Mongan was sired by the Danann god Manannan and
when he was 3 nights old he was taken to the Land of
Promise (Tir Tairnigiri) where he was raised until he was
12 years old. He was then brought to the home of his
mother who was the wife of Fiachna Finn and a goddess of
the Dal nAraide. Mongan was raised as Fiachna's son and
eventually became the head chieftain of Ulster.
Mongan married Dubh Lacha, a beautiful maiden who was
born on the same night as he was. His friend Brandubh who
was the head chieftain of Leinster also fell in love with
Dubh Lacha. Unluckily, one day when Mongan was in high
spirits he offered Brabdubh anything he desired and
Brandubh said he wanted to sleep with Mongan's wife.
Luckily, Mongan possessed many supernatural gifts
which he inherited from his father so he quickly put them
to use. He arrived at Brandubh's raith in the guise of a
son of the head chieftain of Connacht. He had with him an
ancient hag whom he caused to look like Cuimne, the
beautiful daughter of the head chieftain of Munster.
Brandubh became excited by the beauty from Munster and
was willing to exchange her for Dubh Lacha. After Mongan
and his wife had left the raith of Brandubh, the woman
returned to her normal shape of an ancient hag.
Once Mongan had a wager as to the death of a chieftain
named Fothad who had been slain in battle by Caoilte of the
Fianna. Mongan summoned Caoilte from the Land of the Dead
and asked him to recite the deed. During the process
Caoilte revealed that Mongan was a reincarnation of Fionn
mac Cumhaill.
NAME Mongfhinn
ALTERNATIVE Mongfind / Muingfionn
GENDER F
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead) / The Festival of
Mongfind
CATEGORY filidh
TYPE socerer
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath
TERRITORY Munster / Mide
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg
SITES Tlachtga
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Iron (late)
DATES AD 4th c
RELATIVES Fidach (father); Eochu Muigmedon (husband);
Brénos, Ailill, Fergus and Fiachra (sons);
Crimthann mac Fidaig (brother); Niall (step-
son)
SEE ALSO Cairenn Chasdubh / Eochu Muigmedon / Niall
Noighiallach / Torna Eices
REMARKS Mongfhinn, a filidh from Munster, married the
high chieftain of Ireland. As his 1st wife, she was in
command of the household and hostile to his concubine
Cairenn Chasdubh and her child Niall.
Mongfhinn tried to kill Niall a number of times. Once
when he was a baby she left him naked on the hill of Tara
but the bard Torna Eices found him and returned him to his
father.
Mongfhinn tried to poison Niall with venom but her
brother the high chieftain of Ireland and foster-father to
Niall died instead when he intercepted the poison.
Mongfhinn herself died on the eve of Samhain when she
mistakenly took poison that she had prepared for Niall.
In later years, the Festival of Mongfind was held
during the time of Samhain. Mothers of the common people
took their petitions to her at Tlachtga to ward off her
evil intent towards children.
NAME Mor Muman
EPITHET Big Muman
GENDER F
SYMBOL sun
CATEGORY deity / rigbean (noble woman)
TYPE fertility goddess / daughter of the Ri Ruirech
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Carlow / Kerry
TERRITORY Munster
SITES Corco Duibne
CENTERS Dinn Rig
AGE Iron
RELATIVES Aedh Bennan (father); Fingen mac Aeda
(brother/consort); Sechnasach (son)
REMARKS Mor Muman was an offspring of Aedh Bennan, a
chieftain of Munster. She was driven by voices to find her
brother or half-brother Fingen mac Aeda so he would sire
their son Sechnasach.
As a goddess, the chieftains of Ireland were obliged
to seek her out at her home on the western end of Corco
Duibne in Munster where she was said to sit on her throne
when the sun was shining.
NAME Morann
GENDER M
CATEGORY head filidh of Ulster
TYPE judge
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Armagh
TERRITORY Ulster
CENTERS Emain Macha (Navan)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid
ACCESSORIES caul
SEE ALSO Amorgen Iarngiunnach / Conchobar mac Nessa / Cu
Chulainn / Ferghus mac Roig / Sencha macAilella
REMARKS Morann was born with a caul over his head. His
father ordered that he should be drowned and he was thrown
into the sea. A wave broke his caul and he suddenly began
to speak. He was rescued and given to a smith to foster.
Conchobhar mac Nessa made him the head filidh of
Ulster. When asked who should foster Cu Chulainn, Morann
suggested that Sencha should teach him to speak, Ferghus
mac Roig should teach him the art of combat and Amorgen
should look to his other affairs.
NAME Morc mac Deiled
ALTERNATIVE Morca
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY hero / warrior / chieftain
TYPE people of the sea
CULTURE Fomorii
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Donegal
LANDMARKS Tory Island (Tor Innis - island of towers)
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 19th-18th c
BATTLES Magh Ceitne
RELATIVES Delga (father)
ENEMIES Nemedian
SEE ALSO Conann mac Faeboir / Delga / Fergus Lethderg
REMARKS Morc son of Delga landed with 3x20 shiploads of
warriors at Conann's Tower (Tuir Chonaind) on Tory Island.
Conann was dead and the island was in the hands of the
Nemedian under a chieftain named Fergus Lethderg (Redside).
Morc attacked with his warriors and the battle that
followed was devastating to both sides. The warriors
continued fighting even as the tide rose over the
battlefield. Many died by drowning and when the battle was
finally over, only a few warriors remained on either side.
NAME Mordial
EPITHET The Architect of Ceraint
GENDER M
CATEGORY druid
TYPE architect
CULTURE Pictish / Briton
COUNTRY France / England
REGION Brittany / Cornwall
TERRITORY Llydaw / Lloegr
LANDMARKS Loire
AGE Iron
DATES BC 6th c / BC 550
RELATIVES son of Greidial
SEE ALSO Coll / Corvinwr / Prydain
REMARKS Mordial was a druid of the Pictish culture who
migrated with Prydain to Cornwall in Lloegr (England) from
Llydaw (Brittany). He taught the tribes to work with stone
and use a line. He was one of the 3 great modellers of
Britain.
NAME Morfran
ALTERNATIVE Afagddu (Blackness) / Morfran (Cormorant or
Sea Raven) / Yfagddu (Utter Darkness)
GENDER M
SYMBOL raven
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE horse warrior
CULTURE Cymry (tribes that fight side by side)
COUNTRY Wales
TERRITORY The Otherworld - Lake Tegid (Llyntegid) /
Morgannwg
AGE Post-Roman
DATES AD 6th c
BATTLES Camlan
RELATIVES Tegid Voel (father); Cerridwen (mother); Creirwy
(sister); Taliesin (half-brother)
SEE ALSO Arthur / Cerridwen / Gwion / Taliesin / Tegid
Voel
REMARKS Morfran was born covered in hair similar to that
of a stag. He fought for Arthur during the battle of
Camlan and their opposition were terrified of him because
they thought he was a demon.
Because Morfran was so ugly, his mother decided to
make a magical potion that would give him the inspiration
and prophecy of a sage. It took 1 year and 1 day for the
brew to be ready and just as the time approached, the
little boy Gwion who helped Cerridwen pushed Morfran aside.
Gwion was splattered by the drops of potion, leaving
Morfran uninspired.
NAME Morgan
EPITHET Tender Blossom (Minscothach)
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY The Otherworld - Land of Wonder (Tir na Iontas)
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3rd c
RELATIVES Coinchend (wife); Delbchaem (daughter); Ailill
(son)
ENEMIES Art
SEE ALSO Ailill Dubhdedach / Art Aenfer / Coinchend /
Delbchaem
REMARKS Morgan lived on an island in the sea. His
fortress was hidden on a mountain surrounded by a dense oak
forest. It was guarded by his son Ailill who could be
harmed by no weapon. Despite these precautions, Morgan was
attacked by Art Aenfer, who was pursuing his daughter
Delbchaem.
NAME Moriath
GENDER F
CATEGORY rigbean (noble woman)
TYPE wife to the Ard Righ Eirinn
CULTURE Armorican / Pictish - Fir Morc tribe
COUNTRY France / Ireland
TERRITORY Aremorica / Leinster
CENTERS Dinn Rig
AGE Iron
DATES BC 6th c
BATTLES Dind Rig
RELATIVES Scoriath (father); Labraid (husband)
SEE ALSO Craiphtine / Labraid Loingsech / Scoriath
REMARKS Moriath was the daughter of Scoriath, head
chieftain of the Fir Morc tribe. As a maiden she was kept
under the watchful eye of her parents, especially her
mother who always slept with one eye open.
Moriath fell madly in love with Moen (Labraid) and
they contrived a plan where they would have Craiphtine the
bard play his harp and put Moriath's mother to sleep. They
met, and when her mother awoke she knew that her daughter
was now a woman. Although the parents were furious at
first, when they found out it was Moen they were forgiving
and the couple were married.
One day while playing hurley, Moen was hit by a ball
and regained his voice. Later her father Scoriath supplied
Moen with an army to attack Dinn Rig in Leinster. During
the siege, Labraid's warriors could not penetrate the
defences until they hit upon a plan for Craiphtine to play
his harp and put them to sleep.
Labraid and his people were to cover their ears in
order not to hear the music but Moriath thought the gesture
undignified and refused. She slept for 3 days and when she
awoke Dinn Rig had been captured and Labraid had been made
the high chieftain of Ireland.
NAME Moritasgos
EPITHET Masses of Sea Water
ALTERNATIVE Moritasgus
GENDER M
SYMBOL snake
CATEGORY deity
TYPE god of healing
CULTURE Gallic - Lingones and Mandubii tribes
COUNTRY France
REGION Côte d'Or
TERRITORY Gaul
SITES curative spring
CENTERS Alesia (Alise Ste Reine)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 6th c / BC 1st c
BATTLES Alesia
RELATIVES Damona (consort)
REMARKS The territory surrounding Alesia was controlled
by the Lingones who were pushed out by the incoming
Mandubii tribe in BC 6th century and who were still settled
in the area when Caesar invaded in BC 1st century.
Moritasgos was a god of healing and was venerated at a
curative spring at Alesia. Votive objects including
sculptures of humans, limbs, breasts, internal organs, eyes
and genitals, as well as surgeons' tools, have been found
at the site.
NAME Moritasgos
EPITHET Masses of Sea Water
ALTERNATIVE Moritasgus
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Brenin
TYPE head chieftain
CULTURE Gallic - Senones tribe
COUNTRY France
TERRITORY Gaul
LANDMARKS Loire / Seine
CENTERS Vellaunodunum
AGE Iron
DATES BC 1st c / BC 60
RELATIVES Cavarinos (brother)
REMARKS Moritasgos came from a long line of chieftains
of the Senones tribe. Their territory was in Gaul between
the Loire and the Seine rivers. His brother Cavarinos was
made head chieftain by Caesar but the tribe put the run to
him and elected Moritasgos.
NAME Morna
GENDER F
CATEGORY rigbean (noble woman)
CULTURE Goidel / Fianna - Clanna Morna
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Connacht
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3rd c
RELATIVES Lia (husband); Aedh and Conan (sons); Eremon and
Tea (ancestors)
SEE ALSO Conan Maol / Eremon / Fionn mac Cumhaill / Goll
(Aedh mac Morna) / Lia / Oscar / Tea
REMARKS Morna gave her name to a clan of Fianna of which
her son Goll became the chieftain. Her other son Conan
became a champion of the Clanna Ui Tarsigh under Fionn.
When Morna was ancient and her teeth were gone, she
enjoyed eating the marrow from the bones left behind by the
warriors of the Fianna. One day her son Goll began to
fight with Oscar over an especially large bone that Oscar
wanted to keep for himself.
Fionn devised a game to see who should have the bone.
Goll won, but rather than give the bone to his mother he
threw it at Oscar in anger. Oscar ducked and the bone hit
Morna, killing her instantly.
NAME Morold
ALTERNATIVE Morold {Mawr'-uld} / Morholt
GENDER M
CATEGORY hero / warrior
TYPE champion of the Ard Righ Eirinn
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland / England
REGION Cornwall
AGE Post-Roman
DATES AD 6th c
ACCESSORIES poisonous weapons
RELATIVES Eseult (niece)
ENEMIES Tristan
SEE ALSO Eseult / March / Tristan
REMARKS Morold was a supporter and champion of the high
chieftain of Ireland. He conscripted warriors and
collected taxes for Ireland.
March, who was the head chieftain of Cornwall, refused
to pay taxes to a foreign power anymore. Morold fought in
a combat with Tristan, March's champion, and lost his life
but not before he wounded Tristan with a poisonous weapon.
NAME Mugain
ALTERNATIVE Mughain
GENDER F
CATEGORY rigbean (noble woman)
TYPE wife of the Ard Righ Eirinn
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath
TERRITORY Mide
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Iron (late)
DATES AD 6th c
RELATIVES Diarmuid (husband); Aed Slaine and Colman Mor
(sons); Flann mac Dima (consort)
SEE ALSO Banban / Diarmuid mac Cearbhaill
REMARKS When Mugain's husband found out that she was
having an affair with Flann mac Dima, he attacked his raith
and set it on fire. Flann tried to escape the flames by
climbing into a tub of water but he drowned.
Later when her husband Diarmuid went with Banban to
feast at his hostel, Mugain with prophetic insight warned
him not to go.
NAME Mughain
ALTERNATIVE Eithne Attenchaithrech / Mugain
GENDER F
CATEGORY rigbean (noble woman)
TYPE wife to The Ruirech Ulster
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Armagh
TERRITORY Ulster
SITES Tech Midchuarta
CENTERS Emain Macha (Navan)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
RELATIVES Ethne (mother); Eochaidh Feidhleach (step-
father); Conchobar (husband); Cormac, Fiachu,
Fiachna and Cuscraid (sons); Fedlimid
(daughter); Cu Chulainn (foster-son); Scannlach
(foster-daughter); Medbh, Ethne, Ele, Clothra,
Derbrui (half-sisters); Bress, Nar, Lothar and
Congal (half-brothers);
SEE ALSO Clothra / Conchobar mac Nessa / Cormac
Condloinges / Cu Chulainn / Cuscraid Menn /
Eochaidh Feidhleach / Ethne / Fedlimid
Nocruthach / Fiachna / Fiachu / Medbh /
Scannlach
REMARKS Mughain was the daughter of Ethne and her mother
married Eochaidh Feidhleach, the high chieftain of Ireland.
Mughain married Conchobar, the head chieftain of Ulster.
When Cu Chulainn was a young lad in his 7th year, he
was returning to Emain Macha in his first deadly warrior's
heat. Mughain led the maidens of Emain to meet him. When
he was upon them in his frenzy they all bared their breasts
and when he hid his face the warriors of Emain grabbed him
and dunked him into 3 different vates of water. Mughain
then arranged his hair and dressed him for his feast of
acceptance into the tribe.
NAME Muileartach
EPITHET Eastern Sea
ALTERNATIVE Muireartach
GENDER F
SYMBOL club
CATEGORY warrior / giant
TYPE sea raider / champion
CULTURE Pictish ?
COUNTRY Ireland / Scotland
REGION Dublin
TERRITORY The Otherworld - Lake of Pools (Lochlinners)
LANDMARKS Hill of Howth
SITES Dun Kincorry
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3rd c
ACCESSORIES Little Ridged Crutch (an iron loop)
RELATIVES Ocean Smith (husband); Manus (foster-son)
ENEMIES the Fianna
SEE ALSO Fionn mac Cumhaill / Manus / Oscar
REMARKS After her foster-son was defeated by the Fianna,
Muileartach decided to go herself to defeat Fionn. She
took only her weapon, the Little Ridged Crutch, and her
husband the Ocean Smith with her. When the Fianna saw her
coming to their fortress at DunKincorry near the Hill of
Howth, they put 9 wooden bars to the door, 9 feet of stone
and lime and then 9x9 warriors put their backs to the door.
The Muileartach grabbed a club and beat the door in,
sending everyone flying. She went to the Fianna's treasure
bag and took the "Cup of Victory" then retreated to her
boat where the Ocean Smith was waiting.
As Muileartach ran for her boat, Oscar caught her by
the foot and her white hair that was flowing behind her.
Muileartach grabbed Oscar and crushed his bones and sent
him home to Fionn. Then she and her husband sailed to
Lochlinners and gave Manus the Cup of Victory.
NAME Muinemon
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Ard Righ Eirinn
TYPE chariot warrior / high chieftain
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath
TERRITORY Connacht / Leinster / Mide / Munster / Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 12th c / BC 1164-1159 (Ard Righ - Kings List)
RELATIVES Cas Clothach (father); Faildergdoit (son); Eber
(ancestor)
ENEMIES Setna Airt / Fiachu Finscothach
SEE ALSO Conmael / Eber / Golamh / Fodhla / Setna Airt
REMARKS Muinemon, son of Cas Clothach and ancestor to
Conmael, son of Eber, son of Golamh, became the high
chieftain of Ireland when he slew Fiachu Finscothach. Only
5 years earlier he had helped Fiachu defeat his father,
Setna Airt, and take over as high chieftain.
Muinemon ruled as the high chieftain of Ireland for 5
years and in that time he introduced the wearing of gold
neck torcs. He died of plague at Aidne in Connacht. His
son Faildergdoit followed him as high chieftain and he
ruled Ireland for 10 years before he was killed by Fodhla
the son of Fiachu Finscothach. During Faildergdoit's rule
he introduced the wearing of golden rings around the wrist.
NAME Muirchertach
ALTERNATIVE Muirceartach mac Erca / Murtag / Murtagh mac
Earca
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY warrior / Ard Righ Eirinn
TYPE high chieftain
CULTURE Goidel - Ui Nèill / Danann / Pictish
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath
TERRITORY Connacht / Leinster / Mide / Munster / Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Ui Néill
DATES AD 5th-6th c / AD 479-503 (Ard Righ - Kings List)
BATTLES Detna
ACCESSORIES Boramha Tribute (cattle counting)
RELATIVES Earc (mother); Muiredach (father); Baetan Brigi
and Domnall (sons); Fergus, Loarn and Angus
(brothers); Domangart (nephew); Winter
(consort); Eremon, Tea and Cairbre Riada
(ancestors)
SEE ALSO Angus macEirc / Cairbre Riada / Domangart /
Eremon / Muiredach / Niall Noighiallach / Fergus
macEirc / Loarn macEirc / Tea
REMARKS Muirchertach, son of Muiredach, son of Eogan,
son of Niall Noighiallach was a descendant of Eremon and
Tea of the Milesian (Goidel) invaders to Ireland.
Muirchertach became the 118th high chieftain of
Ireland when Loiguiri mac Neil died. He continued to
collect the cattle tax (Boramha Tribute) from Leinster
after the battle of Detna.
Muirchertach sent the Stone of Destiny to his brother
Fergus in Albainn so that he could be appointed head
chieftain of the Dal Riada of Albainn on it. His brother
then refused to send it back.
One day while Muirchertach was sitting on his hunting
mound, a Danann woman dressed in a green mantle of the
sidhe appeared. She was so beautiful that Muirchertach
became obsessed with her. She agreed to let him have power
over her if he would grant her 3 wishes. Muirchertach
agreed to this and she gave them as follows: he must never
call her by one of her names (Sigh, Moan, Storm, Rough
Wind, Winter Night, Cry, Wail, Groan); the mother of his
children should never be within her vision; she must never
have to be under the same roof as the clergy of the new
religion.
When Muirchertach agreed to this, she sat down on his
right side. Muirchertach then asked her to perform some
feats. She turned some water from the Boyne into wine and
some ferns into enchanted boars. This she fed to her hosts
and sapped their strength. She then conjured up a battle
between the blue army and the headless army who were of
equal strength. On the 7th night of Samhain, a storm blew
up and Muirchertach remarked that it was the sigh of a
winter night. This happened to be 2 of her names that he
was not supposed to mention.
As Muirchertach mentioned the storm again, Winter
proclaimed that he was doomed because he had mentioned her
name 3 times. It had been foretold that Muirchertach would
die a triple death by fire, water and air. Tuathal Mael-
garb son of Cormac the one-eyed and his phantom armies
attacked Muirchertach and he hid in a barrel of beer to
escape the fire, but drowned, thus fulfilling the prophecy.
After 24 years as the high chieftain Muirchertach was
replaced by Mael-garb son of Cormac Caech who ruled for 11
years until he was slain by Mael Morda.
NAME Muiredach
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Ri Ruirech
TYPE head chieftain of the Dal Riada of Antrim
CULTURE Goidel - Dal Riada tribe / Danann / Pictish
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Ulster
AGE Ui Néill
DATES AD 5th c
RELATIVES Eogan (father); Earc (wife); Fergus, Angus,
Loarn and Muirchertach (sons); Olchu (brother);
Eremon, Tea and Cairbre Riada (ancestors)
SEE ALSO Angus macEirc / Cairbre Riada / Eremon / Fergus
macEirc / Loarn macEirc / Muirchertach macEirc /
Tea
REMARKS During the time when Muiredach was the head
chieftain of the Dal Riada of Antrim, three of his sons
sailed to Argyll and founded a sea colony on Crinan Isthmus
with Dunadd as their center. Another son, Muirchertach,
became the high chieftain of Ireland.
NAME Muiredach Tirech
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Ard Righ Eirinn
TYPE champion / high chieftain
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath
TERRITORY Connacht / Leinster / Mide / Munster / Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg
SITES Daball Ridge (died)
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Iron (late)
DATES AD 4th c / AD 304-334 (Ard Righ - Kings List)
BATTLES Dubchommar {Dubh-Cumair} / Conquest of Airgilla
RELATIVES Fiacha (father); Sin and Eochu Muigmedon (son);
Sgeimh Solais (aunt); Art and Eochu Domplen
(uncles); Colla Uais, Colla da Crich and Colla
Menn (cousins)
ENEMIES Ulster / Caelbad
SEE ALSO Colla Uais / Eochu Muigmedon / Fiacha
Sreabhtuinne / Sgeimh Solais
REMARKS While Muiredach was in Munster fighting, his
cousins the 3 Collas murdered his father and Colla Uais
took the position of high chieftain. It was 4 years before
Muiredach was strong enough to drive his cousins out of
Ireland. They fled to Albainn but after 3 years Muiredach,
high chieftain of Ireland, invited them home again. The
weight of their guilt was heavy and they had returned ready
to receive their punishment from Muiredach for killing his
father.
Muiredach was a wise ruler and decided that the
punishment for the 3 Collas would be to live with their
guilt. He then accepted them into the household and in
time they became good friends again. Because the 3 Collas
were good warriors, Muiredach put them in charge of
defeating Fergus Foga, the head chieftain of Ulster, who
refused to recognize him as the high chieftain of all
Ireland. The 3 Collas secured the help of Connacht and
marched to Ulster where they destroyed the power of Ulster
in 7 separate battles.
After ruling Ireland for 30 years, Muiredach was
killed by Caelbad of Ulster at Daball Ridge. Caelbad took
the position of high chieftain for 1 year until he was
killed by Muiredach's son Eochu Muigmedon.
NAME Mullo
GENDER M
CATEGORY deity
TYPE healing of the eyes
CULTURE Armorican - Redones tribe
COUNTRY France
REGION Brittany / Normandy
TERRITORY Gaul / Aremorica
LANDMARKS Vilain / Ille / Loire
SITES curative water at Rennes, Allonnes and Craon
AGE Iron
DATES BC 1st c
REMARKS Mullo was a god who was venerated at Rennes,
Allonnes and Craon for healing the eyes. Many sculptures
have been found that give emphasis to the eyes. This was
in the territory of the Redones tribe who had a center at
Rennes.
NAME Munremar mac Gerrcend
EPITHET Thickneck
ALTERNATIVE Muremur / Muinremor / Muinremuir / Moonremor /
Munremar mac Gerrcend / Muremar mac Gerginn
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY hero / warrior / chieftain
TYPE chariot warrior / Red Branch champion
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Dublin
TERRITORY Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh Clochair (The Stony Plain) / Magh Liffey
SITES Tech Midchuarta / Ard Roch (Height of Rocks) /
Hostel (Bruidhean)
CENTERS Moduirn
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Ath Cliath / Mac Da Tho's / Cualnge Cattle Raid
/ Gairech & Irgairech
RELATIVES Gerrgend (father)
ENEMIES Cet / Ingcel / sons of Donn Desa / Host of
Connacht
SEE ALSO Birderg / Bricriu / Cet mac Magach / Conaire Mor
/ Cu Chulainn / CuRoi macDaire / Da Derga
/ Donn
Desa / Ingcel / Mac Da Tho / Mir
REMARKS Munremar son of Gerrgend (Shorthead) had his
home at Moduirn in the north of Ulster. During the feast
at Bricriu's, Munremar was the first to take the challenge
from the churl (CuRoi). The churl invited anyone to cut
off his head if he could come back the next night and
return the deed. Munremar cut off the churl's head but
when the churl picked it up and left, Munremar failed to
return the next night.
Munremar and his two friends Mir and Birderg were all
sons of chieftains and shared a room at the hostel of Da
Derga's where they fought for the high chieftain Conaire.
Munremar was described as a brown man with a head of curly
brown hair, thick ankles and limbs and wearing a red cloak
with speckles. He carried a black and gold shield, an
ivory-hilted sword, and a 5-barbed javelin. Munremar and
his two friends performed a trick of throwing their swords
into the air and then the scabbards and by the time they
hit the ground the sword would be inside the scabbard. Many
of the raiders would fall before this trio and the 3 would
escape the destruction at Da Derga's Hostel.
During the feast at Mac Da Tho's Hostel when the
warriors were bragging of their deeds, Munremar was told by
Cet that a whole day had not gone by since he killed 3 of
his warriors including his eldest son.
During the Cualnge Cattle Raid Munremar was described
as a thick-necked burly warrior with a head of bushy black
hair and deep blue-gray eyes that blazed behind a heavily-
scarred crimson face. He carried a spear which had eyes of
glass inserted in it and a black shield with a silvered
bronze rim. Next to his skin he wore a 3-striped tunic
embroidered with red. Over this he wore a dun-colored
cloak of curly wool held with a brooch of pale gold. He
wore an ivory-hilted sword with ornamentation of gold
thread on the outside.
At Magh Clochair (The Stony Plain), Munremar took up a
position at Ard Roch (Height of Rocks) and began to sling
rocks at the Host of Connacht. CuRoi arrived and
positioned himself at Cotal Inis Fer Falga and began to
pelt rocks at Munremar. The two champions slung stones at
one another for 24 hours and because they mostly landed on
the warriors fighting for Connacht who had to sit under
their shields all that time, the others finally convinced
the two to make peace and withdraw.
NAME Murna
EPITHET Of the White Neck
ALTERNATIVE Mairna
GENDER F
CATEGORY rigbean (noble woman)
CULTURE Goidel - Eoganachta / Fomorii / Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Kerry
TERRITORY Ulster / Munster
AGE Iron
DATES AD 2nd-3rd c
RELATIVES Tadhg (father); Cumhal (consort); Fionn (son);
Tuireann (daughter); Tuireann (sister); Crimmal
(brother); Eber, Ethniu and Nuadha (ancestors)
SEE ALSO Crimmal / Cumhal / Ethniu / Fionn mac Cumhaill /
Los Lurgann / Nuadha / Tadhg mac Nuadat /
Tuireann
REMARKS Murna claimed descent from Eber of the Milesian
(Goidel), Nuadha of the Danann and Ethlinn of the Fomorii,
giving her very ancient bloodlines. Because of a prophecy
that said her son would kill her father, she was forbidden
to marry.
During the battle of Cruncha, Cumhal, leader of the
Clanna Baoisgne {Bascna}, asked at the house of the Ulster
Smith if he could have a drink of water. The smith's
daughter Murna handed Cumhal a vessel which had 7 (9)
openings. Without knowing the secret of drinking from this
vessel, the water would run out the openings and be lost.
Cumhal did not manage to get any of the life-granting water
but he did manage to impregnate Murna before returning to
battle, where he was killed by warriors of the Clanna Morna
who were loyal to Murna's father Tadhg.
Because of another prophecy that a son of Cumhal would
revenge his death, her father had his warriors sacrifice
any males born over the next 9 months. When Murna gave
birth to twins, the male was thrown into the loch, but the
boy reappeared holding a salmon in his hand and was rescued
by Los Lurgann, Cumhal's sister.
Murna gave the male-child the birth-name Demna, then
Los Lurgann took him into hiding to be raised as a warrior
of the forest. Murna remarried a chieftain from Kerry and
raised her daughter Tuireann. She did not see her son
again until she was almost dead from old age and he was
known as Fionn mac Cumhaill.
NAME Mynyddawn Mwynfawr
GENDER M
CATEGORY hero / warrior / Brenin
TYPE horse warrior / head chieftain
CULTURE Cymry (tribes that fight side by side)
COUNTRY Scotland
CENTERS Edinburgh (Dineiddyn - Odin's Fort)
AGE Post-Roman
DATES AD 6th c
ACCESSORIES 300 warriors
ENEMIES Germani
REMARKS Mynyddawn left his capital with 300 warriors and
attempted to take back Catterick (Catraeth) from the
invading Germani. Y Gododdin, a poem written by the poet
Aneirin in AD 6th century, describes the battle.
NAME Myrddin Wyllt
EPITHET Wild Man of the Woods (Myrddin Wyllt) / Dweller
of the Sea / Master of the Fair Brow
ALTERNATIVE Emry / Merdain / Merdin / Merlin {Mur'-lin} /
Myrddin {Mer-thin} / Myrddinn (Myrddinn) /
Myrdin
GENDER M
SYMBOL evening star
CATEGORY druid
TYPE architect / sorcerer / shape changer / diviner
CULTURE Cymry (tribes that fight side by side)
COUNTRY Wales / England / Ireland
REGION Gwynedd {Gwin-eth} / Clwyd {clud}
TERRITORY Gwynedd
LANDMARKS Snowdon
SITES Gwaith Emries (Stonehenge)
CENTERS Clas Myrddin at Mount Eirth / Gable Springs
AGE Post-Roman
DATES AD 5th-6th c
ACCESSORIES second sight
RELATIVES Gwenddydd "Morning Star" (twin sister)
SEE ALSO Arthur / Aurelius / Gwenddoleu ab Ceidio / Olwen
Taliesin / Uther / Vortigern
REMARKS Myrddin was discovered when Vortigern's filidh
told Vortigern that they needed the blood of a fatherless
boy to sprinkle on the raith to overcome the shaking of the
foundations. They found a boy of a virgin mother who had
been sired by a god and his name was Emery.
When the boy was brought to Mount Eirth in Wales he
told Vortigern to have his people dig beneath the
foundations and they would find a pool and under the pool
would be 2 stone caskets holding 1 red and 1 white dragon.
The red dragon represented the tribes of the Cymry and the
white dragon represented the tribes of invading Germani.
The boy then prophesied Vortigern's death by fire at
the hands of Aurelius and Uther. The boy grew to become a
famous druid and his name became Myrddin. He also served
Aurelius, suggesting that he bring the Giant's Ring from
Ireland and set it up on Salisbury Plain. The Stonehenge
was called Gwaith Emries (Emries Composition of Time or
Structure of the Revolutions) and was known as the mighty
labour of Britain.
After Aurelius's death, Myrddin served Uther and
explained the meaning of the meteor and the image of the
dragon in its tail. He used his knowledge so that Uther
could father Arthur.
Clas Myrddin (Merlin's Garden or Enclosure) at Mount
Eirth in Snowdon had seven apple trees that were given to
him by Gwenddoleu and guarded by Olwen whose teeth were
lights in the sky. Myrddin also had a pet boar to whom he
he wrote a poem. Myrddin was thought of as the Evening
Star and his twin sister Gwenddydd was the Morning Star.
Myrddin and Taliesin were most likely the same person.