In the Mythological Cycle of early Irish literature, the four treasures of the Tuatha Dé Danann are four magical items which the mythologicalTuatha Dé Danann are supposed to have brought with them from the four island cities Murias, Falias, Gorias, and Findias when they arrived in Ireland.
The first recension of Lebor Gabála describes the Tuatha Dé Danann as having resided in "the northern islands of the world", where they were instructed in the magic arts, before finally moving in dark clouds to Connaught in Ireland. It mentions only the Lia Fáil as having been imported from across the sea.[3]
One of the recensions of Lebor Gabála, Cath Maige Tuired and a separate text elaborate on these events. CMT and LG tell that there were four cities located on the northern islands of the world (i n-insib tūascertachaib in domain), called Falias, Gorias, Findias and Murias.[4] "The Four Jewels" also refers to the cities, but appears to locate them at Lochlann and contends that the Tuatha Dé crossed the seas in their fleet rather than in a mist. The Tuatha Dé Danann—described as the offspring of Béothach son of Iarbonel—landed here to be instructed in the magic arts, embracing druidry (druidecht), knowledge (fis), prophecy (fáitsine) and skill in magic (amainsecht). Each island is said to have had its poet (fili) who was skilled in occult arts.[4]
When the Tuatha Dé migrated to Ireland, they are said to have brought four magical instruments from these cities:
No one ever escaped from it once it was drawn from its sheath, and no one could resist it. The sword is also described in the Tain legend as "Nuadu's Cainnel"—a glowing bright torch.[5]
No company ever went away from it unsatisfied (also known as the Coire ansic).
A. C. L. Brown and R. S. Loomis equate Lug's spear with the Lúin of Celtchar, which in Togail Bruidne Dá Derga is said to have been discovered in the Battle of Mag Tuired. There is however no sign of a literary tradition which connects the two weapons. A different spear belonging to Lug is the so-called spear of Assal in Oidheadh Chloinne Tuireann. It was brought back to Lug by the sons of Tuireann in atonement for their killing of Cian.
^Although the text may go back to the 9th century, this introductory section seems to have been inserted by a Middle Irish redactor on the basis of Lebor Gabála. See Gerard Murphy, "Notes on Cath Maige Tuired." Éigse 7 (1954). p. 195.
^Keating, Foras feasa ar Éirinn. Book 1, section 10.
^Lebor Gabála Érenn, ed. and tr. R. A. S. Macalister. Lebor Gabála Érenn: The Book of the Taking of Ireland. Part IV. Irish Texts Society 41. First Redaction. §§ 55–57.
^ abLebar Gabála Érenn Part IV § 203; Cath Maige Tuired §§ 1–2.
^The Táin: From the Irish epic Táin Bó Cuailnge. OUP Oxford. 26 September 2002. p. 5. ISBN978-0-19-150639-0.
Sourcesedit
Lebor Gabála Érenn, ed. and tr. R.A.S. Macalister. Lebor Gabála Érenn: The Book of the Taking of Ireland. Part IV. Irish Texts Society 41. London, 1941. Section VII, § 304–5. Portion of the text reproduced here.
Cath Maige Tuired, ed. and tr. Elizabeth A. Gray, Cath Maige Tuired: The Second Battle of Mag Tuired. Irish Texts Society 52. Kildare, 1982.
"The Four jewels", Middle Irish poem with prose introduction in the Yellow Book of Lecan, ed. and tr. Vernam Hull. "The four jewels of the Tuatha Dé Danann." Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie 18 (1930): 73–89. Edition available from CELT. Translation available here (Mary Jones) and here (proof-corrected). Hull's article includes commentary.
Geoffrey Keating, Foras feasa ar Éirinn. The History of Ireland by Geoffrey Keating, ed. and tr. D. Comyn and P.S. Dinneen, Foras Feasa ar Éirinn le Seathrún Céitinn. 4 vols: vols 1–3. Irish Texts Society 4, 8 and 9. London: David Nutt, 1902–1914.
Further readingedit
Gray, Elizabeth A. (1981). "Cath Maige Tuired: myth and structure (1-24)". Éigse. 18: 183–209.
Dumézil, Georges. Jupiter, Mars, Quirinus. Essai sur la conception indo-européenne de la société et sur les origines de Rome. Gallimard, Paris, 1941. Esp. p. 228.
December 20, 2023
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In the Mythological Cycle of early Irish literature the four treasures of the Tuatha De Danann are four magical items which the mythological Tuatha De Danann are supposed to have brought with them from the four island cities Murias Falias Gorias and Findias when they arrived in Ireland Contents 1 Sources 2 Summary 3 See also 4 Notes 5 Sources 6 Further readingSources editTogether the four treasures form the subject of at least three Middle Irish texts an anecdote in an interpolated recension of the legendary Lebor Gabala Erenn The Book of the Taking of Ireland here LG the introduction interpolated from Lebor Gabala of Cath Maige Tuired The Second Battle of Mag Tuired here CMT 1 and The Four Jewels a later short text in the Yellow Book of Lecan consisting of a prose introduction and a poem In the 17th century Geoffrey Keating drew on a version of the former for his Foras Feasa ar Eirinn 2 Summary editThe first recension of Lebor Gabala describes the Tuatha De Danann as having resided in the northern islands of the world where they were instructed in the magic arts before finally moving in dark clouds to Connaught in Ireland It mentions only the Lia Fail as having been imported from across the sea 3 One of the recensions of Lebor Gabala Cath Maige Tuired and a separate text elaborate on these events CMT and LG tell that there were four cities located on the northern islands of the world i n insib tuascertachaib in domain called Falias Gorias Findias and Murias 4 The Four Jewels also refers to the cities but appears to locate them at Lochlann and contends that the Tuatha De crossed the seas in their fleet rather than in a mist The Tuatha De Danann described as the offspring of Beothach son of Iarbonel landed here to be instructed in the magic arts embracing druidry druidecht knowledge fis prophecy faitsine and skill in magic amainsecht Each island is said to have had its poet fili who was skilled in occult arts 4 When the Tuatha De migrated to Ireland they are said to have brought four magical instruments from these cities Treasures of the Tuatha De City Poet Item PropertiesFalias Morfessa or Fessus Stone of Fal Lia Fail It would cry out beneath the king who took the sovereignty of Ireland It was supposedly located near the Hill of Tara in County Meath Goirias or Gorias Esras Spear sleg of Lugh No battle was ever sustained against it or against the man who held it Findias or Finias Uiscias or Uscias Sword claideb claiomh which belonged to Nuada No one ever escaped from it once it was drawn from its sheath and no one could resist it The sword is also described in the Tain legend as Nuadu s Cainnel a glowing bright torch 5 Muirias or Murias Semias Cauldron coire of the Dagda No company ever went away from it unsatisfied also known as the Coire ansic A C L Brown and R S Loomis equate Lug s spear with the Luin of Celtchar which in Togail Bruidne Da Derga is said to have been discovered in the Battle of Mag Tuired There is however no sign of a literary tradition which connects the two weapons A different spear belonging to Lug is the so called spear of Assal in Oidheadh Chloinne Tuireann It was brought back to Lug by the sons of Tuireann in atonement for their killing of Cian See also editThirteen Treasures of the Island of BritainNotes edit Although the text may go back to the 9th century this introductory section seems to have been inserted by a Middle Irish redactor on the basis of Lebor Gabala See Gerard Murphy Notes on Cath Maige Tuired Eigse 7 1954 p 195 Keating Foras feasa ar Eirinn Book 1 section 10 Lebor Gabala Erenn ed and tr R A S Macalister Lebor Gabala Erenn The Book of the Taking of Ireland Part IV Irish Texts Society 41 First Redaction 55 57 a b Lebar Gabala Erenn Part IV 203 Cath Maige Tuired 1 2 The Tain From the Irish epic Tain Bo Cuailnge OUP Oxford 26 September 2002 p 5 ISBN 978 0 19 150639 0 Sources editLebor Gabala Erenn ed and tr R A S Macalister Lebor Gabala Erenn The Book of the Taking of Ireland Part IV Irish Texts Society 41 London 1941 Section VII 304 5 Portion of the text reproduced here Cath Maige Tuired ed and tr Elizabeth A Gray Cath Maige Tuired The Second Battle of Mag Tuired Irish Texts Society 52 Kildare 1982 The Four jewels Middle Irish poem with prose introduction in the Yellow Book of Lecan ed and tr Vernam Hull The four jewels of the Tuatha De Danann Zeitschrift fur celtische Philologie 18 1930 73 89 Edition available from CELT Translation available here Mary Jones and here proof corrected Hull s article includes commentary Geoffrey Keating Foras feasa ar Eirinn The History of Ireland by Geoffrey Keating ed and tr D Comyn and P S Dinneen Foras Feasa ar Eirinn le Seathrun Ceitinn 4 vols vols 1 3 Irish Texts Society 4 8 and 9 London David Nutt 1902 1914 Further reading editGray Elizabeth A 1981 Cath Maige Tuired myth and structure 1 24 Eigse 18 183 209 Dumezil Georges Jupiter Mars Quirinus Essai sur la conception indo europeenne de la societe et sur les origines de Rome Gallimard Paris 1941 Esp p 228 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Four Treasures of the Tuatha De Danann amp oldid 1185223978, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
