NAME Sabinus
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE revolutionary
CULTURE Gallic - Lingones tribe
COUNTRY France
TERRITORY Gaul
AGE Iron
DATES AD 1st c / AD 68
RELATIVES Eponina (wife)
ENEMIES Rome
SEE ALSO Civilis / Classicus / Tutor
REMARKS When Nero died in AD 68, chaos swept throughout
the Roman Empire. The surviving druids of Gaul called for
their people to rise up in a holy war. Civilis, Classicus,
Sabinus and Tutor were Gauls who held positions as officers
in the Roman occupational army. Sabinus declared that he
was a descendant of Caesar's and wanted to head an
independent Gaul.
Leaders of the Remi called together an assembly of the
tribes of Gaul to vote on whether they should form their
own independent Gaul or remain submissive to Rome. The
Remi leaders convinced the others to stay submissive.
Sabinus and his wife Eponina took refuge in an underground
hiding place but were eventually found and executed.
This was the end of Celtic Gaul; the new leaders
adopted the dress, language, religion and way of life of
the Roman colonists. The Celtic gods, heroes and warriors
were dead and were replaced with an inferior breed who were
happy to enjoy the luxuries offered in exchange for wearing
the collar of Rome.
NAME Sabrina
GENDER F
CATEGORY deity
TYPE river goddess
CULTURE Battle Axe - Ordovices tribe
COUNTRY Wales
REGION Powys
LANDMARKS Cambrian mountains
SITES headwaters of the Severn river
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 2000
REMARKS Sabrina was the eponymous goddess of the river
Severn (Sabrina). The headwaters were in the territory of
the Ordovices, an ancient people that settled the area as
early as BC 2000.
NAME Sadb
ALTERNATIVE Sadb {shahv} / Sava / Saar
GENDER F
CATEGORY rigbean (noble woman)
TYPE daughter of the Ard Righ Eirinn
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath
TERRITORY Mide
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3rd c
RELATIVES Conn (father); Conaire Coem (husband); Connla
and Art (brothers); Eremon and Tea (ancestors)
SEE ALSO Art Aenfer / Conn Cetcathach / Eber / Eremon /
Tea
REMARKS Sadb was a daughter of Conn Cetcathach and a
descendant of Eremon and Tea of the Milesian (Goidel)
invaders. She married Conaire Coem of the bloodline of
Eber Finn of the Milesian (Goidel).
NAME Sadb
EPITHET Little Fawn (Fia Og)
ALTERNATIVE Sadb {shahv} / Sava / Saar
GENDER F
SYMBOL deer
CATEGORY deity
TYPE nature goddess
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Tipperary
TERRITORY Munster / Leinster
CENTERS Sidhe ar Femuin / Raith Almu (Fort of Almain)
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3rd c
RELATIVES Fionn (husband); Oisin (son); Daireann (sister);
Bodb Dearg (ancestor)
SEE ALSO Bodb Dearg / Daireann / Fer Doirich / Fionn mac
Cumhaill / Oisin
REMARKS Sadb was of the Danann and descendant of Bodb
Dearg. She was changed into a fawn by the filidh Fer
Doirich because she would not marry him. Sadb found out
that if she could reach the protection of Raith Almu, the
spell would dissipate and she would regain her human form
again.
Sadb allowed herself to be captured by Fionn and his
dogs and as they entered the raith she changed back into a
human again. Sadb and Fionn married and for months they
were happy and he never left her for hunting or fighting.
Then Fionn had to go away on business of the high
chieftain of Ireland and the sorcerer Fer Doirich took on
the shape of Fionn. When Sadb saw Fionn coming home safe
from battle she rushed out of the fort and was hit with a
hazel wand and changed back into a deer.
Sadb was kept prisoner in a lush valley and there she
gave birth to a human boy which she raised for 7 years
until Fer Doirich led her away.
NAME Sainreth mac Imbaith
EPITHET Nature of the Sea
ALTERNATIVE Sainraith / Sainnth
GENDER M
CATEGORY deity
TYPE sea god
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
RELATIVES son of Imbaith; Macha (daughter)
SEE ALSO Macha
REMARKS Sainreth, son of Imbaith, was a god of the sea.
NAME Samaliliath
EPITHET The Grey
ALTERNATIVE Samaile / Samailiath
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Beltainn (Brilliant Fires)
CATEGORY hero / druid
TYPE master brewer / science (chemistry)
CULTURE Partholean tribe
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Munster
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 19th c
BATTLES Magh Ibha
ACCESSORIES ale house / brewery
ENEMIES Fomorii
SEE ALSO Partholon
REMARKS When Partholon and his followers landed in
Munster, Samaliliath built the first coirmthech (drinking
house) and introduced the brewing of ale into Ireland.
NAME Samhain
ALTERNATIVE Sawan
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 16th-15th c
RELATIVES Esaire (mother); Diancecht, Creidhne, Luchtine
and Goibhniu (half-brothers); Cian (nephew); Net
(grandfather); Magog and Iarbonel (ancestors)
ENEMIES Fomorii
SEE ALSO Balor / Cian / Creidhne / Diancecht / Esaire /
Goibhniu / Iarbonel / Luchtine / Magog / Net
REMARKS One day, Samhain was looking after Cian's
supernatural cow (Glas Gaibhnenn) while Cian went inside
the smithy of Goibhniu. Along came a young red-haired lad
and told him that he had heard that Cian and Goibhniu were
planning to use the best metal for Cian's sword and leave
the more impure bronze for Samhain's.
Samhain gave the cow to the boy to hold and ran to the
smithy, only to find out that the young lad was Balor in
disguise and that he had been tricked into giving up sacred
Cian's cow.
NAME Samhair
GENDER F
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE battle-line
CULTURE Danann / Goidel / Pictish / Fomorii / Fianna
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Limerick
TERRITORY Munster
SITES Dun Tri Liag (Duntryleague)
CENTERS Raith Cashel (Caisel)
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3rd c
RELATIVES Fionn (father); Cormac Cas (husband); Cebha
(half-sister); Aedh, Ailbhinn, Cairell, Daire,
Fergus, Oisin and Raighne (half-brothers)
SEE ALSO Ailbhinn / Cairell / Cebha / Cormac Cas / Daire
/ Fergus Finnbheoil / Fionn mac Cumhaill / Oisin
/ Samhair
REMARKS When Samhair married Cormac, they had a new home
built for themselves. One outstanding feature was a bed on
three pillar stones (dolmen). Their new raith became known
as the Fort of the Three Pillar Stones (Dun Tri Liag), now
called Duntryleague in county Limerick.
EPITHET Insult
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 MacCorb (brothers);
Maga (sister); Ailill (nephew)
ENEMIES Cualnge / Pictland / Ulster
SEE ALSO Ailill macMata / Anluan / Bascell / Cet mac
Magach / Doche macMagach / En / MacCorb / Maga
Muresc / Magach of Connacht / Medbh
REMARKS Scandal raised an army of battle-line warriors
to fight for Medbh and Ailill during their raid for the Dun
Bull of Cualnge.
NAME Scannlach
EPITHET The Wanton
GENDER F
CATEGORY rigbean (noble woman)
TYPE leader of the maidens of Emain Macha
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Armagh
TERRITORY Ulster
CENTERS Emain Macha (Navan)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
RELATIVES Mughain (foster-mother); Conchobar (foster-
father)
SEE ALSO Mughain / Niam / Conchobar mac Nessa
REMARKS Scannlach was a foster-daughter to Mughain and
Conchobar and was the leader of the maidens of Emain Macha.
The 8 goddesses were Deigtini Finnchas, Feidlim, Fidniam,
Finngheal, Niam, Sgamalus, Sgannlach and Sgiathan.
When Cu Chulainn returned home in a warrior's heat
from his first combats, it was Scannlach who led 3x50 naked
maidens outside of the raith in order to calm him down.
Being surrounded by 150 beautiful and naked women led to
some confusion on the part of the 7-year-old boy. He was
then grabbed by warriors who plunged him into a cauldron of
cold water to cool him down.
NAME Scathach
EPITHET Shadowy Victory (Scathach Buanand) / Goddess of
Darkness (Scathach nUanaind) / The Modest / The
Warrior Priestess
ALTERNATIVE Scathlach {scaw-ha, skah-thakh} / Skatha
GENDER F
CATEGORY hero / warrior / filidh
TYPE chariot warrior / champion / combat instructor /
sorcerer
CULTURE Pictish
COUNTRY Scotland
REGION Isle of Skye
TERRITORY The Otherworld - Land of Shadows (Tir na Scath)
/ Albainn
LANDMARKS Loch Eishort
CENTERS Dun Scathach (fortress of Scathach)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
ACCESSORIES Gae Bolga / 30 warrior feats
RELATIVES Airdgeme (father); Uathach (daughter); Aife
(sister)
ENEMIES Aife
SEE ALSO Aife / Airdgeme / Cu Chulainn / Ferdiad /
Uathach
REMARKS Scathach was a filidh whose fortress, Dun
Scathach (Dunsgiath castle), was near present-day
Tarskavaig on the southern end of the Isle of Skye
(Scythia). Her fortress was said to have been situated so
that a person trying to enter it had to cross a gorge on a
thin tight rope over water that boiled and roared with
phantoms and monsters. Cu Chulainn was her only pupil who
figured out how to cross the gorge on his own.
As well as being a powerful sorcerer, Scathach was a
champion combat instructor. Some of the techniques she
taught were given such names as the Apple Feat, the Body
Feat, the Wheel Turn, the Cat Leap, the Javelin and Rope
Feat, the Heroic Salmon Feat, the Sloped Shield, the Feat
of the Sword Edge and more, to a total of 30 feats. The
Heroic Salmon Feat was executed by running and then hurling
oneself into the air as a salmon does when scaling a falls.
The Above Breaths Feat was used to fight above the breaths
of other warriors.
One feat she taught to no other person except Cu
Chulainn was the feat of the Gae Bolga (belly spear). The
Gae Bolga was a small lance thrown from underwater by use
of the toes. What made this instrument so feared was its
technical ability to open up after entering the body,
causing multiple wounds (possibly a multiple-barbed dart).
Scathach taught many of Ireland's champions; the two
most famous were Cu Chulainn and Ferdiad. The Isle of Skye
was named after her.
ALTERNATIVE Scena {skena} / Scéne Dullsaine
GENDER F
FESTIVAL Beltainn (Brilliant Fires)
CATEGORY rigbean (noble woman)
CULTURE Goidel (Milesian) - Artabri tribe
COUNTRY Spain / Ireland
REGION Galacia / Kerry
TERRITORY West Munster
LANDMARKS Shannon Estuary
SITES Inberscena (burial site)
CENTERS Brigantia (A Corunna)
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 15th c
RELATIVES Amhairghin (husband)
ENEMIES Danann
SEE ALSO Amhairghin
REMARKS Scena, the wife of Amhairghin, died before the
Goidel warriors landed in Ireland. She was buried on the
bank of the Shannon Estuary (Inber Scena) which was named
after her.
NAME Scenmed
GENDER F
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Fomorii
COUNTRY Ireland
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
RELATIVES Forgall (brother); Emer (niece)
ENEMIES Cu Chulainn
SEE ALSO Cu Chulainn / Forgall Manach
REMARKS On the death of her brother Forgall, Scenmed led
warriors after Cu Chulainn to extract vengeance but was
killed by him in combat.
NAME Scoriath
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / Brenin
TYPE chariot warrior / head chieftain
CULTURE Armorican / Pictish - Fir Morc tribe (of the
Boar)
COUNTRY France
TERRITORY Gaul / Armorica
AGE Iron
DATES BC 6th c
RELATIVES Moriath (daughter); Labraid (son-in-law)
SEE ALSO Craiphtine / Labraid Loingsech / Moriath
REMARKS Scoriath had a beautiful daughter who fell in
love with Labraid when he came to stay. Scoriath and his
wife guarded her very carefully but one night their
daughter Moriath convinced the harpist Craiphtine to play
enchanting music that would put her parents to sleep.
When Scoraith's wife finally awoke she exclaimed that
her daughter had the breath of a woman. Scoriath asked who
had done it and when no one confessed he said he would cut
off the heads of the poets and druids.
Labraid indicated that Craiphtine should tell the
story and when he finished, Scoriath and his wife thought
Labraid would be the best man for her. Scoriath agreed to
help Labraid regain his territory and supplied an army and
ships.
GENDER F
CATEGORY rigbean (noble woman) / warrior / chieftain
TYPE chariot warrior ?
CULTURE Egyptian
COUNTRY Egypt / Spain / Ireland
REGION Galicia / Kerry
TERRITORY West Munster
LANDMARKS Corco Duibne / Slieve Mish
SITES Teltown (Tailltenn) / Drumleene / Scota's Glen
(burial site)
CENTERS Brigantia (A Corunna)
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 16th-15th c
BATTLES Sliabh Mish (died)
RELATIVES Golamh (husband); Eber, Amhairghin, Ir, Colptha
and Arannan (sons); Eremon (son/husband);
Airioch Feabhruadh and Donn (step-sons); Bile
(father-in-law)
ENEMIES Danann
SEE ALSO Amhairghin / Arannan / Bile / Colptha / Donn /
Eber / Eremon / Golamh / Ir / Ith
REMARKS Scota, the daughter of an Egyptain pharaoh,
married Golamh, the head chieftain of the Goidel
mercenaries who had been hired by her father.
Eventually Scota and Golamh sailed to A Corunna in
Galicia, Spain which had been conquered by the Goidel.
Scota bore Golamh 6 sons before he died of plague. She
then married her son Eremon. This was a political marriage
to protect the bloodline and keep out interlopers.
Scota was a part of the Goidel invasion force that
landed in Ireland to take revenge for the death of Ith.
Scota died in combat at Sliabh Mish, a battle that raged on
for 3 nights and days.
Scota, mother of the Gaels of Ireland, was buried just
south of Tralee in county Kerry. A pillar stone with her
name inscribed in ogham was raised in the Slieve Mish
(Sliabh Mish) at a place now called Scota's Glen - Glen
Scuhene (Glanaskagheen) to commemorate the noble warrior
who was born in Egypt and died in Ireland.
ALTERNATIVE Seng
GENDER F
CATEGORY rigbean (noble woman)
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Russia / Ukraine
TERRITORY Scythia
LANDMARKS Caucasus / Caspian Sea / Volga / Black Sea /
Crimean Peninsula
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 16th c
RELATIVES Reafloir (father); Golamh (husband); Airioch
Feabhruadh and Donn (sons); Rifath Scot
(ancestor)
SEE ALSO Donn / Golamh / Reafloir / Rifath Scot
REMARKS Seang was the daughter of Reafloir, the head
chieftain of the Goidel of Scythia (an area north of the
Caucasus streaching east around the Caspian Sea to the
Volga river and west around the Black Sea to the Crimean
Peninsula). She was married to a chieftain named Golamh
and gave birth to two sons before she died.
NAME Searbhan
EPITHET The Surly
ALTERNATIVE Sharvan
GENDER M
SYMBOL one eye
CATEGORY warrior / giant
TYPE guardian of a sacred tree
CULTURE Fomorii
COUNTRY Ireland / Scotland
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3rd c
ACCESSORIES magical rowan tree
ENEMIES Diarmaid / Grainne
SEE ALSO Diarmaid ua Duibhne / Grainne
REMARKS Searbhan was a giant warrior who had the honour
of guarding a magical rowan tree. He used to sleep in the
tree during the night and stay by its base during the day.
He had only one eye but was so fierce that even the Fianna
avoided him.
Searbhan made the mistake of sheltering Diarmuid and
Grainne from the Fianna and was killed by Diarmaid when he
refused to let Grainne eat the magical berries from the
tree.
NAME Sedlang
GENDER M
CATEGORY charioteer
TYPE driver for Loeghaire
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Ulster
LANDMARKS Dun Rudrige
SITES Tech Midchuarta
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
RELATIVES Riangabar (father); Id, Ibar and Laeg (brothers)
SEE ALSO Conall Cernacht / Cu Chulainn / Ibar / Id / Laeg
/ Loeghaire Buadhach / Medbh / Sencha macAilella
REMARKS At Bricriu's feast, Sedlang told the servers to
bring the hero's portion over to his master Loeghaire. Id
and Laeg did the same for their masters and the fight
between masters started.
Because Loeghaire and Conall sided against Cu
Chulainn, Sencha was the only person there with the power
to part them. The champion's portion was to be divided
among everyone and the dispute was to be settled by Medbh.
NAME Sedulios
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE freedom fighter
CULTURE Gallic - Lemovices tribe
COUNTRY France
TERRITORY Gual
SITES Alesia (Alise Ste Reine) (died)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 1st c / BC 52
BATTLES Alesia
ENEMIES Rome
SEE ALSO Vercingetorix
REMARKS Sedulios was killed during the battle of Alesia
when he led his warriors against the rear of Caesar's army
in an attempt to free Vercingetorix.
NAME Segomo
GENDER M
CATEGORY deity
TYPE war god / god of victory
CULTURE Ligurian - Segobrigii tribe / Goidel -
Eoganachta tribe
COUNTRY France / Ireland
REGION Alpes-Maritimes / Côte d'Or
TERRITORY Gaul / Munster
SITES Nice / Dijon / Waterford
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 7th c / AD 200
SEE ALSO Eoghan Mor
REMARKS Segomo was revered by the Segobrigii, a Ligurian
tribe of France. The Hallstatt Celts invaded the area
around BC 7th century and his popularity spread from Nice
in the southern Ligurian territory to Dijon in the Côte
d'Or where the Seine has its headwaters.
The veneration of Segomo was spread to Munster,
Ireland when the chieftain Eoghan Mor brought his wife back
from Spain in AD 200.
NAME Segovesus
EPITHET He Who Can Conquer
ALTERNATIVE Sigovesus
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Gallic - Bituriges tribe
COUNTRY France / Germany / Austria / Yugoslavia /
Hungary
TERRITORY Gaul / Noricum / Pannonia
LANDMARKS Hercynian Forest / Pannonian Plain
AGE Iron
DATES BC 4th c / BC 391
RELATIVES Ambicatus (uncle); Bellovesus (brother)
SEE ALSO Ambicatus / Bellovesus / Elitovius
REMARKS In BC 391 Ambicatus, high chieftain of the
Bituriges confederation, sent his sister's sons Segovesus
and Bellovesus with the best male and female warriors from
the confederation to conquer new lands and relieve the
stress that overpopulation was causing on Gaul.
The filidh of the tribe divined that Segovesus should
take his people in a direction that led them into the
Hercynian forest of Germany. They settled in Austria
(Noricum) and on the Pannonian plain of Hungary and former
Yugoslavia.
NAME Semeon
EPITHET Father of the Firbolg
ALTERNATIVE Semon
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY hero / warrior / chieftain
CULTURE Nemedian tribe
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Donegal / Cork
TERRITORY Ulster
LANDMARKS Uisneach / Tory Island (island of towers) /
Boyne / Belach
Conglais
SITES Tuir Chonaind (Conann's Tower)
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 19th-18th c
BATTLES Magh Ceitne
RELATIVES Starn (father); Macha (mother); Fortech (son);
Beoan (brother); Nemhedh (grandfather); Magog
(ancestor)
SEE ALSO Beoan / Conann mac Faeboir / Macha / Magog /
Morc mac Deiled / Nemhedh / Starn
REMARKS Semeon son of Starn, son of Nemhedh was a
survivor of the attack against Tuir Chonaind (Conann's
Tower) on Tor Innis (Tory Island) and the devastating
battle against the force of Morc mac Deiled.
When the surviving Nemedian returned to Ireland,
Fergus divided the island into 3 provinces. Semeon was
appointed chieftain of the territory defined by Uisneach at
the hub of the island and the mouth of the Boyne and Belach
Conglais (Pass of The Greyhound), a pass in the vicinity of
Cork on the rim of the island.
After the Nemedians became weary from the constant
battling with the Fomorii, Semeon led his people from
Ireland to Thrace. Here they flourished to the point where
the locals became afraid of them and forced them into
slavery, making them carry bags of topsoil for enriching
barren areas. They used their bags as the skins for boats
and escaped. The descendants of Semeon became known as the
Firbolg and returned to Ireland.
NAME Semul
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Samhain (Night of the Dead)
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE champion
CULTURE Nemedian tribe
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Donegal
LANDMARKS Tory Island (island of towers)
SITES Tuir Chonaind (Conann's Tower)
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 19th-18th c
BATTLES Magh Ceitne (died)
RELATIVES Iarbonel (father); Meda (mother); Beothach
(brother); Nemhedh (grandfather); Magog
(ancestor)
ENEMIES Fomorii
SEE ALSO Beothach / Conann mac Faeboir / Iarbonel / Magog
/ Morc mac Deiled / Nemhedh
REMARKS Semul son of Iarbonel, son of Nemhedh was a
champion warrior and one of the chieftains under Fergus
Lethderg when they attacked Tuir Chonaind (Conann's Tower)
on Tor Innis (Tory Island).
After they captured Tory Island Morc mac Deiled
arrived with 3x20 shiploads of warriors. Semul was not one
of the 30 warriors to survive the devastating battle that
followed.
NAME Senboth
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Beltainn (Brilliant Fires)
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE advisor
CULTURE Partholean tribe
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Munster
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 19th c
BATTLES Magh Ibha
RELATIVES Partholon (father); Dealgnaid (mother); Brea
(son); Laighlinne, Slainge, Rudraidhe, Eber, Er,
Orba, Ferann and Fergna (brothers); Aidne, Aife,
Aine, Fochain, Muchos, Melepard, Glas, Grennach,
Ablach and Gribendach (sisters); Magog
(ancestor)
ENEMIES Fomorii
SEE ALSO Eber / Brea / Dealgnaid / Laighlinne / Magog /
Partholon / Rudraidhe / Slainge
REMARKS Senboth was Partholon's son as well as his most
senior and experienced chieftain and also his most valued
advisor during the battle of Magh Ibha.
NAME Sencha macAilella
EPITHET The Wise Counsellor / The Learned / Ollamh
(Master Bard)
ALTERNATIVE Senchae Mar (Pacifier) / Senchad / Senchan
(harmony)
GENDER M
SYMBOL bronze staff / peacemaking branch
FESTIVAL Samhain (Festival of the Dead)
CATEGORY warrior / filidh / ollamh
TYPE champion / judge / counsellor / arbitrator /
wiseman / peacemaker / personal advisor to the
Ri Ruirech
CULTURE Goidel - Dal nAraide
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Ulster
LANDMARKS Carnmag Ulad (Stony Plain of Ulster) / Magh
Liffey
SITES Emain Macha / Temair Luachra
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Temuir Luachra / Da Derga's Hostel /
Cualnge
Cattle Raid / Gairech & Irgairech
ACCESSORIES shield (Sciatharglan)
RELATIVES Ailell (father); Rudraige (grandfather);
Maelchod (grandmother); Sech and Cain (sons); Cu
Chulainn (foster-son)
ENEMIES Connacht
SEE ALSO Ailell macMailchlo / Bricriu / Cain / Conall
Cernacht / Conchobar / Cromm Deroil / Da
Derga /
Dubthach Doel / Maelchod / Rudraige
REMARKS Sencha, the wise consellor of Ulster, made his
home at Carnmag Ulad. Sencha was considered the most
eloquent man in Ulster and was the personal advisor to
Conchobar. He used his enchanting tongue to stop the
Ulster warriors from fighting amongst themselves and he was
the only person who could keep Bricriu in line.
Sencha advised Conchobar that Cu Chulainn should be
taught to speak eloquently. He described himself as a wise
ollamh with a grand memory, noble, strong, skilful in
combat and the best of the arbitrators and judges of
Ulster. He was then given the right to be one of the four
males of Ulster to foster Cu Chulainn.
During a Samhain at the court of Emain Macha, Sencha
settled the argument as to where the Samhain festival would
continue. The first half was to be at the raith of Fintan
and the second at the raith of Cu Chulainn. Sencha was
with Cu Chulainn and the warriors when they became lost and
ended up at Temair Luachra.
Cromm Deroil described him as an ancient, sleek,
white-haired man wearing a white tunic covered by a bright
cloak with a silver fringe. He carried a white sword and a
bronze branch the height of his shoulder. He spoke with a
slow, loud voice that was as sweet as music and he could
make peace with just 3 words.
During the destruction at the hostel of Da Derga,
Sencha was described as a champion warrior and he, Conall
Cernacht and Dubthach Doel refused to leave the side of
Conaire, the high chieftain of Ireland.
Before the battle of Gairech & Irgairech, MacRoth
described him as a wild and wilful man with handsome fair
features, a broad head, dark blue eyes, a forked curly
beard and brown curly hair worn in tresses. He wore a
white hooded shirt which was girded and reached to his
knees. Over this he wore a fringed dark-gray cloak held
together with a leaf-shaped brooch. He carried a bright
shield with the forms of beasts raised on it and carried a
battle scabbard sheathing a silver-hilted sword. The
morning of the battle, Sencha fired up the warriors of
Ulster with a rousing speech.
NAME Sengann
EPITHET Of The Spears
ALTERNATIVE Sengand
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Bron Tro Gain (Lughnasadh)
CATEGORY warrior / 5th Ri Ruirech
TYPE head chieftain
CULTURE Firbolg
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Cork
TERRITORY West Munster
LANDMARKS Black Rock / Passage / Belach Conglais /
Limerick (Luimneach)
SITE Inber Dubglaisi
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 17th c BC 18th c / BC 1723-1718 (Kings List)
RELATIVES Dela (father); Anust (wife); Fodbgen and Sreng
(sons); Gann, Genann, Rudraige and Slainge
(brothers); Loth (grandfather); Magog and Semeon
(ancestors)
ENEMIES Fomorii
SEE ALSO Dela / Fiacha Cendfindan / Fodbgen / Gann /
Genann / Magog / Rudraige / Semeon / Slainge /
Sreng
REMARKS Sengann, son of Dela, son of Loth, was one of
the 5 Firbolg chieftains who took Ireland. The warriors
divided into 3 groups with Segann and Gann landing their
2000 warriors at Inber Dubglaisi, the mouth of the Douglas
river which lies between Black Rock and Passage, Co. Cork.
They landed three days after Slainge's army of warriors.
When the Firbolg divided Ireland into 5 provinces they
used Uisneach as the hub of the island. Sengann's
territory was marked on the rim of the island by Belach
Conglais (Pass of The Greyhound), a pass in the vicinity of
Cork and the area of Luimneach (Limerick) situated by the
mouth of the Shannon river. Sengann's 1/5 of Ireland
became known as the province of West Muma (West Munster).
Sengann was the 5th head chieftain of the Firbolg and
he ruled for 5 years. He was the last Firbolg ruler who
was a son of Dela. He was killed by Fiacha Cendfindan, the
grandson of his brother Rudraige.
NAME Senlaech Arad
ALTERNATIVE Senlaech of the Araid
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Connacht
SITES Hostel (Bruidhean)
CENTERS Conalad Luachra
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Mac Da Tho's
RELATIVES Cruachniu (brother)
ENEMIES Ulster
SEE ALSO Conchobar mac Nessa / Cruachniu mac Ruadluim /
Mac Da Tho
REMARKS Senlaech was the first to throw a taunt to the
warriors of Ulster by mentioning that Ulster had left a few
dead warriors behind while raiding for cattle. Conchobar
rebutted by saying that Connacht warriors had left behind
his brother Cruachniu mac Ruadluim on a raid into Ulster.
NAME Sequanna
ALTERNATIVE Sequana / Souconna
GENDER F
CATEGORY deity
TYPE healer goddess
CULTURE Gallic - Sequani tribe / Mandubii tribe
COUNTRY France
TERRITORY Gaul
LANDMARKS Seine (Sequana) / Plateau Châtillon
SITES curative spring of Fontes Sequanae (springs of
Sequanna)
AGE Bronze / Iron
DATES BC 12th c / BC 6th c
REMARKS Sequanna was venerated at the curative spring of
Fontes Sequanae which was in an oak-shaded sanctuary in the
Seine river valley on the Plateau Châtillon northwest of
Dijon.
The site was in the territory of the Sequani from BC
12th century, but in BC 6th century they were pushed
eastward by incoming La Tène tribes and the Mandubii
settled there. The Seine and the Saône were major routes
for overland trade in tin and also provided a connector to
the Danube.
The site of Fontes Sequanae was a place of healing,
and people sacrificed wooden and stone images of legs,
internal organs and eyes. Respiratory and eye problems
seemed to have been the major complaints.
NAME Sertorius
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE war leader
CULTURE Celtiberian - Arevaci tribe
COUNTRY Spain
REGION Castilla-y-Leon
LANDMARKS Duero
AGE Iron
DATES BC 1st c / BC 81-73
ENEMIES Rome
REMARKS Sertorius of the Arevaci rallied the
Celtiberians around him to fight against the Romans.
NAME Setna Airt
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 1189-1184 (Ard Righ - Kings List)
RELATIVES Art (father); Fiachu Finnscothach (son); Fodhla
(grandson); Ir (great-grandfather)
ENEMIES Rothechtaid / Fiachu / Muinemon
SEE ALSO Fodhla / Golamh / Ir / Muinemon / Scota
REMARKS Setna Airt, son of Art, was a descendant of Ir
of the Milesian (Goidel). Setna killed Rothechtaid in
combat at Raith Cruachan in Connacht to protect his son
Fiachu. He ruled as high chieftain of Ireland for 5 years
before he was killed by his son Fiachu and Muinemon, son of
Cas Clothach.
Fiachu Finnscothach ruled as high chieftain of Ireland
for 20 years. He introduced the making of flower wine in
glass vats. He was eventually killed by Muinemon.
NAME Setna Innarraid
ALTERNATIVE Setna Art Innarriad
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 9th c / BC 845-825 (Ard Righ - Kings List)
RELATIVES Bres Ri (father); Dui Finn (son); Eber
(ancestor)
ENEMIES Find Formail / Siomon Brecc
SEE ALSO Eber
REMARKS Setna Innarraid, son of Bres Ri, was a
descendant of Eber Finn of the Milesian (Goidel). He
became the 34th high chieftain of Ireland when he killed
Find Formail of the bloodline of Ir.
Setna is remembered for initiating the idea of paying
wages (Innarraid) to the hirelings. He ruled Ireland for
20 years until he was slain by Siomon Brecc who ruled 6
years until he was killed by Dui Finn.
NAME Sgeimh Solais
EPITHET The Light of Beauty
ALTERNATIVE Sgbimh Solais {skayv sulish}
GENDER F
CATEGORY rigbean (noble woman)
TYPE daughter of the Ard Righ Eirinn
CULTURE Danann / Goidel / Pictish
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Meath
TERRITORY Mide
LANDMARKS Magh mBreg
CENTERS Raith Rig - Tara
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3rd c / AD 268 (she was to be married)
RELATIVES Cairbre (father); Cormac macAirt (grandfather);
Art, Eochu Domplen and Fiacha (brothers)
ENEMIES Fianna
SEE ALSO Cairbre Lifechair / Cormac macAirt / Fiacha
Sreabhtuinne
REMARKS Sgeimh was the daughter of Cairbre, the high
chieftain of Ireland. She was used by her father to begin
a war against the Fianna. He offered her in marriage to a
member of the vassal Desi tribe before he offered her in
marriage to the Fianna. Then he refused to pay the Fianna
their traditional weight in gold. This marriage led to the
battle of Gabhra (Gowra) in which her father was killed and
the Fianna was destroyed.
NAME Sheila na Gig
EPITHET The Idle Hole (Chilo Na Gi) / Sheila of the Paps
(Sighle na Gcioch) / Mother Goddess (Sith Lach
Na Gog)
ALTERNATIVE Shee na Gui / Sheela ni Ghig / Sheela Ny
Gigg /
Sheela-na-gig / Sheila na Gig
(She ) / Shila na
Gigh / Sile na gCioch / Sile ni Ghig
GENDER F
CATEGORY deity
TYPE goddess of fertility and regeneration / temple
priestess / holy drummer
COUNTRY Ireland / Scotland / Wales / England / Spain /
Portugal / France / USA
REGION Dyfed / Clare / Fermanagh / Herefordshire /
Oklahoma
TERRITORY Dyfed / Lloegr
SITES Nevern / Killinaboy / White Island / Kilpeck /
Anubis Caves
AGE Iron (late)
DATES BC 6th mill / BC 4000 / BC 1st mill / AD 3rd c
REMARKS The goddess Sheila was mostly represented as a
squatting female using her hands, sometimes behind her
legs, to expose her vagina. The image could also be
interpreted as a birthing position, the hand placed to
receive the offspring. The Sheila has been depicted at
different ages from young girls to old hags (holy/sacred)
mostly in stone, in the round or relief. No two images of
a Sheila are the same.
Many of the images on churches are over the doorways.
The doors may represent the openings of the sacred caves
used by the ancients. The vulva was the entrance of the
most sacred cave of the fertility goddess. Others protect
holy wells, another symbol of female fertility.
Some scholars believe that the position suggests an
invitation to participate in a sexual act and enforces the
idea that they were temple priestesses. This could explain
why they were associated with the churches of the
conquering Roman relgion.
Another explanation is that the sculptures represented
shamankas who belonged to a special group of female
drummers who used their vaginas as resonating chambers for
drumming.
During AD 18th century, many of the Sheilas na Gig
were destroyed in Britain by overzealous Protestants. In
Ireland and Britain, around 100 Sheilas na Gig still remain
and Jack Roberts has published an illustrated booklet with
maps.
The habit of building early churches from the cut
stones of ancient temples was presumeably as common in
Britain and Ireland as it was in Spain and Portugal. Most
of the carving of the Sheilas na Gig could therefore easily
predate that of the churches.
Only 4 Sheilas na Gig have managed to survive the
fanatics in Scotland. The Sheila na Gig at Kirkwall
cathedral in Orkney sits in the usual squatting position
and has one hand holding her vagina open while the other
hand covers her left eye.
One survivor in Wales is in the Nevern churchyard in
Dyfed. This is in the territory of the Demetae and the
Desi, who came from Ireland in AD 3rd century. In England
there is the famous Sheila at the church at Kilpeck,
Herefordshire in the region once occupied by the Dobunni
tribe.
Ireland has the most survivors and there is a Sheila
na Gig carved on a standing stone at the most ancient site
of Tara. An old water mill south of Slane has a Sheila
carved in the wall and nearly hidden by numerous coats of
plaster. In Shanrahan there is an unusual relief carving
in red sandstone with quartz for her eyes. It was placed
over the main entrance in the west wall of the old church
tower. Examples can also be found above the doorway to the
round tower of a medieval church in the village of
Killinaboy in county Clare, and on the wall of an abbey on
White Island, Lower Lough Erne in county Fermanagh,
Northern Ireland.
There is a Sheila na Gig sculpture in the museum at
Coimbra, Portugal. Among the many drawings in the Anubis
Caves in Oklahoma, USA is a drawing of a Sheila na Gig.
Similar figures from the Phoenician area of the
Mediterranean date from BC 1st millenium. Other related
images in Europe date as far back as BC 4000. One
sculpture from Lepenski Vir in old Yugoslavia dates from BC
6th millenium and shows an idol with large nipples using
her hands to hold her vagina open. The sculpture is oddly
referred to as the "fish-man idol".
All carving of the Sheila na Gig since Neolithic times
until the present have been of simple form, easy for the
amateur to carve.
NAME Sinainn
ALTERNATIVE Sionan / Sinend
GENDER F
CATEGORY deity
TYPE river goddess
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Cavan
TERRITORY Ulster
LANDMARKS Shannon river
SITES The Shannonpot (Well of Knowledge)
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 16th-15th c
RELATIVES Lodan (father); Lir (grandfather)
SEE ALSO Lir
REMARKS Sinainn became the goddess of the Shannon river
when she caused the sacred spring (Well of Knowledge) at
The Shannonpot to overflow and chase her across Ireland,
forming the Shannon river. Sinainn was drowned in the
river and it was named after her.
NAME Sirna Soegalach
ALTERNATIVE Sirgalach / Saegalach
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 10th c / BC 985-964 (Ard Righ - Kings List)
BATTLES Aircheltra / Sliabh Airbrig / Cend Duin / Moin
Foichnig
RELATIVES Dian (father); Ailill Olchain (son); Eremon and
Tea (ancestors)
ENEMIES Ailill
SEE ALSO Eremon / Fiachu Labrainne / Ir / Righairled /
Slanoll / Tea
REMARKS Sirna Soegalach, son of Dian, descendant of
Eremon and Tea, was the 25th ruler of Ireland after he
killed Ailill son of Slanoll. After 7 high chieftains of
the bloodline of Ir, the rule again shifted to the that of
Eremon.
During 21 years as the high chieftain, Sirna initiated
hosting in Ireland and avenged the death of his great-
grandfather Rothechtaid who was killed by Setna Airt. Sirna
instigated a 100-year war against Ulster and defeated them
during the battle of Aircheltra. He won the battle of
Sliabh Airbrig, Cend Duin and Moin Foichnig against the
Mairtine and the Erna. During a major battle at Moin
Trogaide against the Fomorii who were led by Lugair, son of
Lugidoth, and Ciasrall, son of Dorcha, a plague broke out
killing both leaders and many warriors on both sides.
The next high chieftain was Righairled son of Roan.
Another legend says that Sirna Soegalach died by his sword
in Alainn and not by plague. Nevertheless, with the death
of Sirna Soegalach, the domination for the position of high
chieftains by the descendants of Golamh was ended in
Ireland.
NAME Sirona
ALTERNATIVE Dirona / Sirona (Star) / Sarana / Tsirona
GENDER F
SYMBOL snake
CATEGORY deity
TYPE water goddess / healer goddess of fertility
CULTURE Belgae - Treveri tribe / Gallic - Lingones tribe
COUNTRY Belgium / Luxemburg / Germany / France / Hungary
REGION Brittany
TERRITORY Gaul / Belgica
LANDMARKS Ardennes / Vosges
SITES thermal springs at Luxeuil, Corseul, Hochscheid,
Bitburg, Neidaltdorf, Sainte-Fontaine,
Wiesbaden, Brigeto
AGE Bronze / Iron
DATES BC 9th c / BC 7th c / BC 4th c
ACCESSORIES snakes / 3 eggs / lap-dog
RELATIVES Grannus (consort)
SEE ALSO Grannus
REMARKS Sirona was a water goddess associated with
thermal springs at Hochscheid and Bitburg in the territory
of the Treveri who were Urnfield-Hallstatt settlers
arriving in BC 9th century. She was also venerated at the
thermal springs at Luxeuil in the territory of the early
Hallstatt Lingones tribe who settled the area around BC 7th
century.
In BC 4th century, the Bituriges confederation sent a
large swarm of young warriors through Germany to the
Pannonian plain of Austria, Yugoslavia and Hungary taking
the veneration of Sirona to Brigeto.
Sirona was also venerated for her fertility aspects
and sometimes she had Grannus as a consort. Votive
offerings included snakes, eggs and lapdogs.
NAME Sithchenn
GENDER M
CATEGORY druid
TYPE artificer / blacksmith / seer
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Ireland
AGE Iron (late)
DATES AD 4th c
SEE ALSO Eochu Muigmedon / Niall Noighiallach
REMARKS Sithchenn the smith was known as a great seer
who could divine the futures. Eochu Muigmedon sent his
five sons to him and while they were in his blacksmith
shop, he set it afire. The oldest boys rescued hammers,
beer, bellows, and shafts but Niall, the youngest, saved
the anvil which was the most important object in the shop.
Sithchenn divined that Niall would be the greatest high
chieftain of Ireland.
NAME Slainge
ALTERNATIVE Slaine / Slainge (Health) / Slanga
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Beltainn (Brilliant Fires)
CATEGORY hero / warrior / chieftain / druid
TYPE physician
CULTURE Partholean tribe
COUNTRY Turkey / Ireland
REGION Carlow
TERRITORY Leinster
LANDMARKS Barrow river
SITES Burgage Motte or Duma Slani (Slainge's grave)
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 19th c
BATTLES Magh Ibha
RELATIVES Partholon (father); Dealgnaid (mother); Ciocba
(wife); Senboth, Laighlinne, Rudraidhe, Eber,
Er, Orba, Ferann and Fergna (brothers); Aidne,
Aife, Aine, Fochain, Muchos, Melepard, Glas,
Grennach, Ablach and Gribendach (sisters); Magog
and Semeon (ancestors)
ENEMIES Fomorii
SEE ALSO Ciocba / Dealgnaid / Eber / Laighlinne / Magog /
Partholon / Rudraidhe / Semeon / Senboth /
Slainge / Tuan mac Starn
REMARKS Slainge, son of Partholon, was one of the four
chieftains who helped get their people from Turkey to
Ireland. In the 10th year of their arrival he led his
warriors against the Fomorians during the battle of Magh
Ibha.
Slainge was the first physician of Ireland. When he
died in the 13th year of the taking of Ireland he was
buried near the Barrow river. His gravemound, Duma Slani
(Slainge's grave), became the seat of government for
Leinster and was later named Dinn Rig. The earthwork is
now called Burgage Motte and is just south of Leighlin
Bridge.
NAME Slainge
EPITHET Health
ALTERNATIVE Slaine / Slainge / Slanga
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Bron Tro Gain (Lughnasadh)
CATEGORY hero / warrior / 1st Ri Ruirech
TYPE head chieftain
CULTURE Firbolg
COUNTRY Ireland
TERRITORY Leinster
LANDMARKS Uisneach / Boyne Estuary (Inber Colptha) / Comar
Tri nUisce (Suir/Nore/Barrow) / Barrow /
Leighlin Bridge
SITE Slaney Estuary (Inber Slaine) / Burgage Motte
or Duma Slani (Slainge's grave)
CENTERS Dinn Rig
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 17th c / BC 18th c / BC 1730-1729 (Kings List)
RELATIVES Dela (father); Faud (wife); Gann, Genann,
Rudraige and Sengann (brothers); Loth
(grandfather); Magog (ancestor)
ENEMIES Fomorii
SEE ALSO Dela / Gann / Genann / Rudraige / Sengann /
Slainge / Magog / Partholon
REMARKS Slainge, son of Dela, son of Loth, was one of
the 5 Firbolg chieftains who took Ireland. The invaders
divided into 3 groups and Slainge and his 1000 followers
landed at Inber Slaine (Slaney Estuary) at the time of the
festival of Bron Tro Gain.
After the Firbolg had secured Ireland for themselves,
they divided it into 5 provinces (coiceda) with Uisneach as
the hub of the island. Slainge's 1/5 was marked on the rim
of the island by Inber Colptha (Boyne Estuary) and the
confluence of the Suir, Nore and Barrow rivers (Comar Tri
nUisce). Slainge's province became known as Laigen
(Leinster).
Because Slainge was the oldest son of Dela, he was
chosen as the first high chieftain of Ireland. Slainge was
head chieftain for only a year and when he died he was
buried at Duma Slani (Dinn Rig), the seat of power in the
province of Leinster. The earthwork is now called Burgage
Motte and overlooks the Barrow river just south of Leighlin
Bridge. The site is also the burial place for Slainge, son
of Partholon.
NAME Slanoll
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 11th c / BC 1089-1059 (Ard Righ - Kings List)
RELATIVES Fodhla (father); Ailill (son); Finnachta, Geide
Ollgothach and Cairbre (brothers); Fiachu
Findoilches (grandson); Ir (ancestor)
ENEMIES Fiachu Findoilches
SEE ALSO Fiachu Findoilches / Fodhla / Ir
REMARKS Slanoll, son of Fodhla, was a descendant of Ir
of the Milesian (Goidel). He became the high chieftain of
Ireland on the death of his brother Finnachta.
Finnachta had reigned for 20 years before Fodhla and
during his time there was a "snow of wine". Finnachta died
on Magh nInis in Ulster of the plague.
During Slanoll's 30-year rule as high chieftain,
Ireland was free of disease. He died at Tech Miodhchuarta
(mead-circling house). When his body was found, it had not
decayed nor had it lost its color. His son Ailill exhumed
his body a year (40 years) later and it still had not
changed.
Slanoll's brother Geide Ollgothach took the position
of high chieftain next, and it is said that the voices of
the people were as sweet as the strings of a zither. Geide
Ollgothach ruled Ireland for 8 years before he was slain by
his grandson Fiachu Findoilches, son of Finnachta.
NAME Smertios
EPITHET The Provider
ALTERNATIVE Smertros / Smertrios / Smertrius
GENDER M
SYMBOL club
CATEGORY deity
TYPE god of plenty
CULTURE Gallic - Parisii / Treveri
COUNTRY France / Germany
TERRITORY Gaul / Belgica
LANDMARKS Seine / Moselle
SITES Paris / Mohn
AGE Bronze / Iron
DATES BC 13th c / BC 9th c / AD 1st c
RELATIVES Ancamna (consort)
SEE ALSO Ancamna / Taranis
REMARKS Smertios was venerated in the area of present-
Day Paris by the Parisii fishermen and sea traders. The
Parisii tribe settled in the area around BC 13th century.
Smertios was also venerated at Mohn near Trier in the
territory of the Treveri tribe who settled in the area by
BC 9th century.
A monument from the Roman time of AD 1st century
depicts Smertios as a muscular bearded man holding a club
or a torch and facing a snake. A duty performed by
Smertios was to keep away the dogs of Taranis who tried to
steal his sacrifices.
NAME Smirgat
GENDER F
CATEGORY filidh
TYPE seer
CULTURE Fianna - Clanna Ui Tarsigh
COUNTRY Ireland
AGE Iron
DATES AD 3rd c
RELATIVES Fionn mac Cumhaill (husband)
SEE ALSO Fionn mac Cumhaill
REMARKS Smirgat was a seer and she told her husband
Fionn never to drink from a horn because it would mean his
death was near.
NAME Souconna
GENDER F
CATEGORY deity
TYPE river goddess
CULTURE Gallic - Lingones / Raurici
COUNTRY France
REGION Haute-Saône
TERRITORY Gual
LANDMARKS Vosges
SITES headwaters of the river Saône
AGE Iron
DATES BC 6th c / BC 3rd c
REMARKS Souconna was the eponymous river goddess of the
Saône and was venerated at its headwaters. From BC 6th
century to BC 3rd century the territory was controlled by
the Lingones tribe until they were pushed out by the
Raurici tribe in BC 3rd century.
NAME Spartacos
GENDER M
CATEGORY hero / warrior / chieftain / herder
CULTURE Thracian
COUNTRY Italy
TERRITORY Naples
SITES Mount Vesuvius crater
AGE Iron
DATES BC 1st c / BC 71 (died)
ENEMIES Rome
REMARKS Spartacos was a Thracian herder who was captured
by the Romans and forced to train as a gladiator. He
escaped with 70 other slaves to the crater of Mount
Vesuvius where he organized a force of 100,000 escaped
slaves. Many of these were warriors of the Teutoni and
Cimbri who had been taken prisoner and forced to fight as
gladiators for the enjoyment of the Roman public.
Spartacos had two chieftains: Ceomaros and Crixos, a
Cimbrian. The 3 leaders wreaked havoc throughout Italy for
three years until Crixo was killed in BC 72 and Spartacus
in BC 71.
NAME Sreng
ALTERNATIVE Sreng mac Sengainn / Sregg mac Sengaidn
GENDER M
FESTIVAL summer solstice
CATEGORY hero / warrior / filidh
TYPE ambassador
CULTURE Firbolg
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Mayo
TERRITORY Connacht
LANDMARKS Plain of Towers (Magh Tuireadh)
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 17th c
BATTLES first battle of Magh Tuireadh (south Moytura)
RELATIVES Sengann (father); Anust (mother); Fodbgen
(brother); Dela (grandfather); Magog and Semeon
(ancestors)
ENEMIES Danann / Bress / Nuadha
SEE ALSO Bres / Dela / Fodbgen / Nuadha / Semeon /
Sengann
REMARKS Sreng was the ambassador for the Firbolg during
the negotiations with the Danann who invaded Ireland. The
Firbolg rejected the idea put forth by Bres, the negotiator
of the Danann, to split the island between the two people.
Bres was killed during negotiations and this led to
the first battle of Moytura which was fought on summer
solstice near Cong in Connacht, county Mayo. The swords of
the Danann were light and sharp-pointed while those of the
Firbolg were mostly heavy and blunt-tipped. Sreng fought
Nuada in single combat and used his heavy slashing sword to
cut through Nuadha's shield and lop off his hand.
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
TYPE chariot warrior
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY Egypt
TERRITORY Scythia
LANDMARKS Red Sea / Mediterranean / Taprobane / Rhipaean
Mountains / Black Sea
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 19th c
RELATIVES Esru (father); Eber Scott (son); Gaedhal Glas
(grandfather); Rifath Scot (ancestor)
SEE ALSO Eber Scott / Gaedhal Glas / Rifath Scot
REMARKS Sru, son of Esru, son of Gaedhal Glas, was a
descendant of Rifath Scot. Sru and his son Eber Scott led
their Goidel warriors out of Egypt in BC 19th century.
The small convoy consisted of 4 boats with 24 couples
and 3 servants in each. The Goidels left their home on the
Red Sea and travelled through the early canal system to the
Mediterranean. They then travelled to the island of
Taprobane of the harbours and from there they voyaged
around the Rhipaean Mountains and northward into the Black
sea.
When the small convoy reached the Goidel territory of
Feinius Farsaid, Sru died. His son Eber Scot became the
next chieftain.
NAME Starn
EPITHET Father of the Firbolg
GENDER M
FESTIVAL Beltainn (Brilliant Fires)
CATEGORY warrior / chieftain
CULTURE Nemedian tribe
COUNTRY Turkey / Ireland
REGION Asia Minor / Cork / Antrim
TERRITORY Phrygia / Munster / Connacht / Ulster
LANDMARKS Black Sea / Cork Harbour / Whitepark Bay
SITES Great Island
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 19th-18th c
BATTLES Ros Fraechain / Murbolg (died)
RELATIVES Nemhedh (father); Macha (wife); Semeon and Beoan
(sons); Erglan (grandson); Iarbonel, Anind and
Fergus (brothers); Magog (ancestor)
ENEMIES Fomorii / Conann
SEE ALSO Anind / Beoan / Conann mac Faeboir / Erglan /
Fergus Lethderg / Iarbonel / Macha / Magog
/
Nemhedh / Semeon
REMARKS Starn was one of the 5 Nemedian chieftains who
led their followers from the Goidel territory of Phrygia in
modern-day Turkey to Cork Harbour in Munster, Ireland.
Starn led his warriors succesfully in the battle of
Ros Fraechain in Connacht but died at the hands of Conann
during the battle of Murbolg in Ulster.
NAME Sualtaim macRoig
EPITHET Of the Fairy Mound (Sualtaim Sidech)
ALTERNATIVE Suldam {sool-dam} / Sualdaim / Sualtach /
Sualtam {soo'-al-tam} / Sultim
GENDER M
CATEGORY filidh
TYPE prophet
CULTURE Goidel - Dal nAraide / Danann / Pictish
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Louth
TERRITORY Ulster
LANDMARKS Magh Muirthemni
SITES Ard Cuillenn / Emain Macha
CENTERS Dairgthech (Oak House)
AGE Iron
DATES BC 2nd-1st c
BATTLES Cualnge Cattle Raid
RELATIVES Ross (father); Maga (mother); Dechtire
(wife/half-sister); Cu Chulainn (nephew/step-
son); Ferghus (brother); Fachtna, Bacc, Genonn
and Imrinn (half-brothers); Elbha and Findchaem
(half-sisters); Fiacha, Illann, Buinne, Naoise,
Ainle, Ardan and Conall Cernacht (nephews);
Rudraige (grandfather); Ir and Anghus
(ancestors)
SEE ALSO Anghus mac Og / Buinne / Conall Cernacht /
Conchobar / Cu Chulainn / Dechtire / Elbha /
Fachtna Fathach / Ferghus mac Roig / Fiacha /
Findchaem / Genonn Gruadsolus / Illann
Ilarchless / Imrinn / Maga / Ross the Red /
Rudraige
REMARKS Sualtaim was the son of Becfoltach (Of Little
Possessions) son of Morfoltach (Of Great Possessions) son
of Red Neil macRudhraidi. Sualtaim accepted Cu Chulainn as
his own son when he married Dechtire. They lived at
Dairgthech (Oak House) on Magh Muirthemni where Cu Chulainn
was raised until he went to Emain Macha to be fostered by
his natural father Conchobar.
Sualtaim was with Cu Chulainn at the pillar-stone on
Ard Cuillenn when they received word that the Host of
Connacht was on the way. Cu Chulainn suggested that
Sualtaim should take Liath, the Gray of Macha, and warn the
warriors of Ulster.
When Sualtaim reached Emain Macha, he was moving so
fast and yelling to warn the warriors of Ulster, that when
the horse turned quickly, his shield cut off his own head.
Conchobar had Sualtaim's head put on a pillar where it
continued to shout its warning until the warriors of Ulster
forced aside the curse of Macha and began to prepare for
battle.
NAME Suantrade
GENDER M
CATEGORY bard
TYPE harper
CULTURE Danann
COUNTRY Ireland
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 16th-15th c
ACCESSORIES harp
RELATIVES Boann (mother); Uaithne (father); Goltrade
and Gentrade (brothers); Anghus (half-brother);
Magog, Iarbonel, Ordan and Net (ancestors)
SEE ALSO Anghus mac Og / Boann / Iarbonel / Magog / Net /
Ordan / Uaithne
REMARKS Boann bore Uaithne 3 sons who all became
harpers. Goltrade was the first-born and could play the
harp so sadly that warriors were said to die weeping.
Gentrade, who was born second, could play such joyful music
that he could revive the sick. Suantrade, last to be born,
learned to play the harp in such a way that the listeners
became so restful that they would fall into a relaxing
sleep.
Their 3 harps were of gold, silver and white gold with
gold and silver inlays of the healing symbols of dogs,
snakes and birds. The 3 boys wrapped the strings in linen
with snow-white kidskins around the harps and carried them
in otterskin bags.
NAME Sucellos
EPITHET The Good Striker (Succellos) / That Which Beats
Strongly (Sucelos)
GENDER M
CATEGORY deity
TYPE triple god (fertility/nurture/protection) /
hammer god / war god / Patron of Brewers
CULTURE Belgae - Mediomatrici tribe
COUNTRY France / Luxembourg / Germany / England
REGION Moselle / Nottinghamshire / Gloucestershire /
Surrey
TERRITORY Gaul / Belgica / Lloegr
LANDMARKS Moselle
SITES Mithraeum near Metz / Thorpe (Newark) /
Chedworth / Farley Health Temple
AGE Iron
DATES BC 9th c / BC 1st c
ACCESSORIES long-handled mallet or barrel on a pole /
cauldron / dogs
RELATIVES Nantosvelta and Aericura (consorts)
SEE ALSO Aericura / Nantosvelta
REMARKS Sucellos was the patron of brewers and was
venerated at Mithraeum near Metz in the territory of the
Mediomatrices tribe. The Mediomatrices were a tribe of the
Early Hallstatt culture who settled the area around BC 9th
century and were still there in BC 1st century when the
Romans invaded.
Sucellos was depicted as a bearded mature male dressed
in a short tunic with a mallet or barrel on the end of a
long pole and a cauldron. Sometimes dogs were sacrificed
to him, and he was often associated with the goddesses
Aericura and Nantosvelta.
Sucellos was also venerated in England at Thorpe in
Nottinghamshire (Newark), Chedworth in Gloucestershire and
at Farley Health Temple in Surrey. His veneration may have
come to England with the incoming Belgae tribes or with the
Romans.
NAME Suibhne
ALTERNATIVE Shuibhne Geilt
GENDER M
CATEGORY warrior
TYPE horse warrior
CULTURE Goidel - Dal Riada tribe / Scotti
COUNTRY Ireland
REGION Kerry
TERRITORY Munster
LANDMARKS Magh Rath (Plain of Forts)
SITES Moira / Gleann na nGealt (Glen of the Lunatics)
/ Tobergalt (Lunatics' Well)
CENTERS Dun na nGedh
AGE Ui Néill
DATES AD 7th c / AD 637
BATTLES Moyraith (Cath Maige Rath)
SEE ALSO Domhnall Breac / Domnall mac Aedh
REMARKS During the Battle of Moyraith, when Domhnall
Breac attacked Domnall mac Aedh at his fortress Dun na
nGedh, Suibhne received so many injuries that he lost his
senses and fled the battlefield. Luckily he found his way
to Gleann na nGealt (Glen of the Lunatics) in present-day
county Kerry.
While he was in the glen he drank from the healing
spring of Tobergalt (Lunatics' Well) and ate the sacred
cresses which grew around the spring. It was not long
before his sanity returned.
NAME Sul
EPITHET The Burning / The Shining
ALTERNATIVE Sulis
GENDER F
CATEGORY deity
TYPE fire goddess / healer goddess / patron to the
arts of healing, crafts and war
CULTURE Goidel
COUNTRY England
REGION Avon
TERRITORY Lloegr
LANDMARKS Avon river
SITES thermal springs at Bath (Aquae Sulis)
AGE Bronze
DATES BC 9th c
ACCESSORIES perpetual coal fire burned at her sanctuary
SEE ALSO Bladud
REMARKS Sul was the healing goddess of the thermal
springs at Bath. Her perpetual fire that burned was a coal
fire and as the flames abated, the fire turned into shining
globes, each one looking like a little sun. The springs
were dedicated to Sul in BC 9th century by Bladud, a
descendant of the Trojans.