In Irish mythology, Ethniu (Old Irish pronunciation: [ˈeθʲnʲu]), or Eithne (Modern Irish pronunciation: [ˈɛhnʲə]) in modern spelling, is the daughter of the Fomorian leader Balor, and the mother of Lugh. She is also referred to as Ethliu (modern Eithle), Eithlionn (genitive; modern Eithleann), and Ethlinn (dative; modern Eithlinn).
Cían Finds Balor's Daughter, drawing by H. R. Millar, c. 1905.
Ethniu is a fine example of the difficulty of conducting research into Irish mythology. Her oldest version of her name is probably Ethliu or Ethniu, giving rise to the modern Irish name Eithne. However thanks to changes in the Irish language, the lack of standardised spelling for many centuries, and attempts to anglicise the name, variations have arisen. Linguistic ignorance has further confused the issue: the genitive form of Ethniu is Ethnenn (modern Eithneann) and the genitive of Ethliu is Ethlenn/Ethlinn (modern Eithleann/Eithlinn), as in mac Ethlenn ("Ethliu's son"). This genitive has often been taken for a nominative, or a mistaken nominative has been inferred.
In the "Wooing of Étaín", we are told that Eithne's other name is Boand[1] and in the Banshenchas Ethniu's "true name" is revealed to be Feada.[2]
Relationships
Eithne is the daughter of Balor and mother of Lugh. In some traditions Eithne is the daughter of Delbáeth, the mother of the Dagda and Ogma, and the wife of Nuada Airgetlám. In a variant version of the birth of Aengus, she is the wife of Elcmar who is seduced by the Dagda: as such she may be a double, and is explicitly named as such, of Boann, who plays that role in the best-known version of the tale.[3][4]
Although in most texts she is a female figure, there are some in which Ethniu is a male name. In the ancient text Baile in Scáil ("The Phantom's Ecstatic Vision"), Lugh is said to the son of "Ethliu son of Tigernmas", or the son of "Ethniu son of Smretha son of Tigernmas". James Bonwick[5] identifies Tigernmas, the king who introduced the worship of Crom Cruach, with Balor. R. A. Stewart Macalister also suggests that Cethlenn is originally a variant of Ethlenn arising from the frequent identification of Lugh as Lugh Mac Ethlenn (thus Mac Ethlenn → Mac Cethlenn).[6]
Mythology
Her union with Lugh's father, Cian (Cían) of the Tuatha Dé Danann, is presented in early texts as a simple dynastic marriage,[7] but later folklore preserves a more involved tale, similar to the birth of Perseus in Greek mythology. A folktale recorded John O'Donovan in 1835 tells how Balor, in an attempt to avoid a druid's prophecy that he will be killed by his own grandson, imprisons Ethniu in a tower on Tory Island away from all contact with men.
But Mac Cinnfhaelaidh (Cían), whose magical cow Balor stole, gains access to Ethniu's tower, with the magical help of the leanan sídheBiróg and seduces her. Ethniu gives birth to triplets, but Balor gathers them up in a sheet and sends a messenger to drown them in a whirlpool. The messenger drowns two of the babies, but unwittingly drops one in the harbour, where he is rescued by Biróg. She takes the child back to his father, who gives him to his brother, Gavida the smith, in fosterage. The boy grows up to kill Balor.[8]
By comparison with texts like Cath Maige Tuired and the Lebor Gabála Érenn, the unnamed boy is evidently Lugh, and his father, Mac Cinnfhaelaidh, is a stand-in for Cian.[9] The Banshenchas states that her real name was Feada- "Feada was the real name of noble Ethne who was wife of strong stout Cain, and mother of Lug the impetuous superman, and daughter of swift smiting Balor son of Dod son of mighty Net a greater man than pleasant Hector. From him is famed the cairn at Ath Feindead because he fought a duel."[10]
The Fosterage of the Houses of the Two Methers has St. Patrick saying of Eithne:
I shall leave these virtues for the story of Eithne from the fair Maigue. Success in children, success in foster-sister or brother, to those it may find sleeping with fair women.
If you tell of the fosterage before going in a ship or vessel, you will come safe and prosperous without danger from waves and billows.
If you tell of the fosterage (before going to a) judgment or a hunting, your case will be (prosperous), all will be submissive before you.
To tell the story of Eithne when bringing home a stately wife, good the step you have decided on, it will be a success of spouse and children.
Tell the story of noble Ethne before going into a new banqueting house, (you will be) without bitter fight or folly, without the drawing of valiant, pointed weapons.
Tell to a king of many followers the story of Ethne to a musical instrument, he gets no cause to repent it, provided he listen without conversation.
If you tell this story to the captives of Ireland, it will be the same as if were opened their locks and their bonds.[11]
^John O'Donovan (ed. & trans.), Annala Rioghachta Éireann: Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters Vol. 1, 1856, pp. 18–21, footnote S
^T. W. Rolleston, Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race, 1911, pp. 109–112; Augusta, Lady Gregory, Gods and Fighting Men, 1094, pp. 27–29
^. Archived from the original on 6 October 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2009.
^"Celtic heritage : Ancient tradition in Ireland and Wales". 1961.
February 05, 2023
ethniu, irish, mythology, irish, pronunciation, ˈeθʲnʲu, eithne, modern, irish, pronunciation, ˈɛhnʲə, modern, spelling, daughter, fomorian, leader, balor, mother, lugh, also, referred, ethliu, modern, eithle, eithlionn, genitive, modern, eithleann, ethlinn, d. In Irish mythology Ethniu Old Irish pronunciation ˈe8ʲnʲu or Eithne Modern Irish pronunciation ˈɛhnʲe in modern spelling is the daughter of the Fomorian leader Balor and the mother of Lugh She is also referred to as Ethliu modern Eithle Eithlionn genitive modern Eithleann and Ethlinn dative modern Eithlinn Cian Finds Balor s Daughter drawing by H R Millar c 1905 Contents 1 Name 2 Relationships 3 Mythology 4 Popular culture 5 ReferencesName EditEthniu is a fine example of the difficulty of conducting research into Irish mythology Her oldest version of her name is probably Ethliu or Ethniu giving rise to the modern Irish name Eithne However thanks to changes in the Irish language the lack of standardised spelling for many centuries and attempts to anglicise the name variations have arisen Linguistic ignorance has further confused the issue the genitive form of Ethniu is Ethnenn modern Eithneann and the genitive of Ethliu is Ethlenn Ethlinn modern Eithleann Eithlinn as in mac Ethlenn Ethliu s son This genitive has often been taken for a nominative or a mistaken nominative has been inferred Variations and anglicizations include Ethnea Eithliu Ethlend Ethnen Ethlenn Ethnenn Ethne Aithne Enya Lily Aine Ena Etney Eithnenn Eithlenn Eithna Ethni Edlend and Edlenn In the Wooing of Etain we are told that Eithne s other name is Boand 1 and in the Banshenchas Ethniu s true name is revealed to be Feada 2 Relationships EditEithne is the daughter of Balor and mother of Lugh In some traditions Eithne is the daughter of Delbaeth the mother of the Dagda and Ogma and the wife of Nuada Airgetlam In a variant version of the birth of Aengus she is the wife of Elcmar who is seduced by the Dagda as such she may be a double and is explicitly named as such of Boann who plays that role in the best known version of the tale 3 4 Although in most texts she is a female figure there are some in which Ethniu is a male name In the ancient text Baile in Scail The Phantom s Ecstatic Vision Lugh is said to the son of Ethliu son of Tigernmas or the son of Ethniu son of Smretha son of Tigernmas James Bonwick 5 identifies Tigernmas the king who introduced the worship of Crom Cruach with Balor R A Stewart Macalister also suggests that Cethlenn is originally a variant of Ethlenn arising from the frequent identification of Lugh as Lugh Mac Ethlenn thus Mac Ethlenn Mac Cethlenn 6 Mythology EditHer union with Lugh s father Cian Cian of the Tuatha De Danann is presented in early texts as a simple dynastic marriage 7 but later folklore preserves a more involved tale similar to the birth of Perseus in Greek mythology A folktale recorded John O Donovan in 1835 tells how Balor in an attempt to avoid a druid s prophecy that he will be killed by his own grandson imprisons Ethniu in a tower on Tory Island away from all contact with men But Mac Cinnfhaelaidh Cian whose magical cow Balor stole gains access to Ethniu s tower with the magical help of the leanan sidhe Birog and seduces her Ethniu gives birth to triplets but Balor gathers them up in a sheet and sends a messenger to drown them in a whirlpool The messenger drowns two of the babies but unwittingly drops one in the harbour where he is rescued by Birog She takes the child back to his father who gives him to his brother Gavida the smith in fosterage The boy grows up to kill Balor 8 By comparison with texts like Cath Maige Tuired and the Lebor Gabala Erenn the unnamed boy is evidently Lugh and his father Mac Cinnfhaelaidh is a stand in for Cian 9 The Banshenchas states that her real name was Feada Feada was the real name of noble Ethne who was wife of strong stout Cain and mother of Lug the impetuous superman and daughter of swift smiting Balor son of Dod son of mighty Net a greater man than pleasant Hector From him is famed the cairn at Ath Feindead because he fought a duel 10 The Fosterage of the Houses of the Two Methers has St Patrick saying of Eithne I shall leave these virtues for the story of Eithne from the fair Maigue Success in children success in foster sister or brother to those it may find sleeping with fair women If you tell of the fosterage before going in a ship or vessel you will come safe and prosperous without danger from waves and billows If you tell of the fosterage before going to a judgment or a hunting your case will be prosperous all will be submissive before you To tell the story of Eithne when bringing home a stately wife good the step you have decided on it will be a success of spouse and children Tell the story of noble Ethne before going into a new banqueting house you will be without bitter fight or folly without the drawing of valiant pointed weapons Tell to a king of many followers the story of Ethne to a musical instrument he gets no cause to repent it provided he listen without conversation If you tell this story to the captives of Ireland it will be the same as if were opened their locks and their bonds 11 Popular culture EditEthniu is the primary antagonist of Peace Talks and Battle Ground 2020 by Jim Butcher where she spearheads a Fomor invasion of Chicago References Edit The Wooing of Etain Banshenchus The Lore of Women Corpus of Electronic Texts Mary Jones Retrieved 2 December 2019 James MacKillop Dictionary of Celtic Mythology 1998 p 155 The Wooing of Etain celt ucc ie Accessed 5 December 2022 James Bonwick Irish Druids and Old Irish Religions 1894 R A Stewart Macalister ed amp trans Lebor Gabala Erenn Vol 4 Whitley Stokes ed amp trans The Second Battle of Moytura Revue Celtique 12 1891 p 59 John O Donovan ed amp trans Annala Rioghachta Eireann Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters Vol 1 1856 pp 18 21 footnote S T W Rolleston Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race 1911 pp 109 112 Augusta Lady Gregory Gods and Fighting Men 1094 pp 27 29 Banshenchus Archived from the original on 6 October 2016 Retrieved 20 September 2009 Celtic heritage Ancient tradition in Ireland and Wales 1961 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ethniu amp oldid 1125867341, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
