The Mythological Cycle is one of the four major cycles of Irish mythology, and is so called because it represents the remains of the pagan mythology of pre-Christian Ireland, although the gods and supernatural beings have been euhemerised by their Christian redactors into historical kings and heroes. Occasionally though, the mask slips.
The cycle consists of numerous prose tales and poems found in medieval manuscripts, as well as pseudohistorical chronicles such as Lebor Gabála Érenn and the early parts of the Annals of the Four Masters and Seathrún Céitinn's History of Ireland.
The invasions tradition
The Mythological Cycle traces the supposed history of Ireland from its earlies inhabitants before the Biblical flood, through a series of invasions to the arrival of the Goidelic-speaking Milesians or Gaels. Some of these invaders probably represent genuine historical migrations; others, like the Tuatha Dé Danann with their magical powers, are unquestionably degraded gods.
Before the flood
The first inhabitants of Ireland were led by Cessair, a granddaughter of Noah for whom there was no room on the Ark. She and her followers arrived only 40 days before the deluge and were wiped out, all except Fintan, who transformed into a salmon. Through a series of transformations he survived into historical times and told the tale of his people.
Céitinn records a tradition from the lost 8th century Book of Druimm Snechta that Banba was the first inhabitant of Ireland before the flood, but she is more usually associated with the Tuatha Dé Danann.
Partholon
Three hundred years after the flood a new wave of invaders arrived, led by Partholon, a Scythian who had been exiled after killing his parents. In those days in Ireland there were only three lakes, nine rivers and one plain. During his time seven lakes burst from the ground, and he cleared four plains. He brought the first cattle to Ireland.
Three years after he arrived Partholon won a battle against the Fomorians, led by Cichol Gricenchos. The Fomorians, who appear to be the Irish gods of chaos, are unique among the peoples of the Mythological Cycle in that they have no origin - they're just there. However, Céitinn records a tradition that they arrived in Ireland two hundred years before and lived by fishing and fowling - could this be a memory of Mesolithic hunter-gatherers giving way to Neolithic farmers?
Partholon and his people were wiped out by a plague, all but Tuan mac Cairill, who like Finntan survived through a series of transformations and told their story to St Finnian .
Nemed
After thirty years another Scythian, Nemed, arrived. He fought four battles against the Fomorians, cleared twelve plains and saw four lakes burst, and dug two royal forts. After he died his people were oppressed by Conand and Morc of the Fomorians, having to pay a heavy tribute in produce and children. They rose up against them and destroyed Conand's Tower on Tory Island, off the coast of County Donegal, but as they fought a great battle against Morc the sea rose and drowned them all, except for one ship containing thirty warriors, who left Ireland and scattered to the four corners of the world.
Fir Bolg
The next invaders were the Fir Bolg, who first established kingship and a system of justice in Ireland. One of their kings, Rinnal, was the first to use iron spear-points. They appear to represent a genuine historical people, the Builg or Belgae.
Tuatha Dé Danann
The Fir Bolg were displaced by the Tuatha Dé Danann or "Peoples of the goddess Danu", descendants of Nemed, who either came to Ireland from the north on dark clouds or burnt their ships on the shore to ensure they wouldn't retreat. They defeated the Fir Bolg king, Eochaid mac Eirc, in the first Battle of Magh Tuiredh, but their own king, Nuada, lost an arm in the battle. As he was no longer physically perfect he lost the kingship, and his replacement, the half-Fomorian Bres, became the first Tuatha Dé High King of Ireland.
Bres turned out to be a tyrant and brought the Tuatha Dé under the oppression of the Fomorians. Eventually Nuada was restored to the kingship, having had his arm replaced by a working one of silver, and the Tuatha Dé rose against the Fomorians in the second Battle of Magh Tuiredh. Nuada was killed by the Fomorian king, Balor, but Balor met his prophesied end at the hands of his grandson, Lug, who became king of the Tuatha Dé.
The Tuatha Dé are undoubtedly degraded gods, and have many parallels across the Celtic world. Nuada is cognate with the British god Nodens; Lug is a reflex of the pan-Celtic deity Lugus; the name of Lug's successor, the Dagda, is explained by the Irish texts as "the good god"; Tuireann is related to the Gaulish Taranis; Ogma to Ogmios; the Badb to Catubodua. Even after they are displaced as the rulers of Ireland, characters such as Lug, the Mórrígan, Aengus and Manannan appear in stories set centuries later, showing all the signs of immortality.
The Tuatha Dé are said to have brought chariots and druidry to Ireland.
The Sons of Míl
The Tuatha Dé Danann were themselves displaced by the Milesians, descendants of Míl Espáine, a warrior who travelled the ancient world before settling in Spain. Míl died without ever seeing Ireland, but his uncle Íth saw the island from a tower and led an advance force to scout it out. The three kings of the Tuatha Dé, Mac Cuill, Mac Cecht and Mac Gréine, had Íth killed. After his body was returned to Spain, Míl's eight sons led a full-scale invasion.
After defeating the Tuatha Dé in battle at Slieve Mish , County Kerry, the Milesians met Ériu, Banba and Fodla, the wives of the three kings, each of whom asked them to name the island after her. Ériu is the origin of the modern name Éire, and Banba and Fodla are still used as poetic names for Ireland, much as Albion is for Great Britain.
Mac Cuill, Mac Cecht and Mac Gréine asked for a three-day truce in which the Milesians would stay at anchor nine waves' distance from shore, and the Milesians agreed, but the druids of the Tuatha Dé conjured up a storm to drive them away. However Amergin, son of Míl, calmed the sea with his poetry. The Milesians landed and defeated the Tuatha Dé at Tailtiu, but only three of Míl's sons, Eber Finn, Eremon and Amergin, survived. Amergin divided the land between his two brothers. The Tuatha Dé moved underground, into the sídhe mounds, to be ruled by Bodb Dearg.
See also
Last updated: 10-25-2005 14:36:17
