Today Celtic mythology remains one of the most mysterious areas of European folklore. Celtic legends, magical myths and creative fables certainly deserve our closest attention.
For example, the legend about one of the most important deities of Irish mythology, Dagda, can be very interesting for lovers of folklore and history. The legends about this character, among other things, are also very important material that allows you to draw parallels between several ancient European civilizations.
Who is Dagda
In ancient times in Ireland, Dagda was one of the most important gods of the Celtic pantheon. Its role in the ancient world was truly enormous. The ancient Irish believed that Dagda was one of the leaders of the magical tribe of the goddess Danu, who in time immemorial came to the country from the north. In Ireland, this god was also called the Great Father or the Mighty Great Sage. In any case, among the Celts, Dagda was considered a good deity. As for his role in mythology, it was generally believed that he was able to control the life and death of a person.
In ancient times in Ireland, this god thus personified the All-Father - a powerful force that provides security and inspiration. In this regard, Dgada is very reminiscent of Wotan's Germanic myths and Odin's Scandinavian ones.
Also, this character was considered the god of abundance among the Irish. They turned to him, including in difficult situations related to material wealth.
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Dagda artifacts
In ancient mythology, Dagda, among other things, is the owner of several magical artifacts. The Scandinavians, for example, have legends in which an undying boar is mentioned - a hunting object that resurrects after feasts. The Irish Dagda owns two magical pigs. One of them is constantly roasting, and the second is growing. Also in the garden of Dagda, two magic trees always bloom and bear fruit.
The main attribute of Dagda, according to ancient Irish legends, is a magic cauldron in which food is cooked and which can never be empty - a kind of analogue of a cornucopia. Also, this god has a magic mace, with one end of which he kills, and with the other, he resurrects.
The third main attribute of Dagda is the magic harp. With her help, he controls the change of seasons, and also decides the outcome of battles.
Dagda in Christianity
With the advent of Christianity, Dagda, like many other pagan gods, including the Celtic ones, was demonized. The ancient good god began to be presented as a kind of monstrous creature, fat and awkward. This character began to be identified with such unsightly human qualities, for example, gluttony and cunning.
Myths about Dagda
Dagda, as one of the most important gods, is mentioned in many ancient Irish traditions. For example, very often this god appears in the verses of Lebor Gabala Erenn - "The Book of the Taking of Ireland". Historians Dagda is most often regarded precisely as the island Irish god. The myths about him in ancient times, since the Irish were largely isolated from other Celts, developed almost completely independently.
Dagda's wife, according to Irish legends, was the famous witch queen Morrigan. He also had several child gods. Despite having a wife, Dagda also had a beloved - the goddess of the modern Boyne River in Leinster. According to legend, once this god kept the sun in the sky for 9 days so that Boyne could give birth to his son Angus.
This legend has something in common not only with other Celtic myths, but also with many Indo-European ones. The number 9 is known to have great magical significance in many legends of the world. For example, the Scandinavian god Odin hung for 9 whole days on a magic tree. The Slavs had distant lands, etc.
In Irish mythology, there are, among other things, creatures such as the Fomorians. The ancient inhabitants of the country, according to legends, often had to fight these dark forces of chaos. According to legend, the victory over the Fomorians by the Irish was won precisely thanks to Dagda.
The Legend of the Fomorians: Paganism and Christianity
According to legend, when Dagda came to the Fomorian camp, in an attempt to ridicule him, they offered him to eat a huge pot of porridge with pork fat, lard of goats and sheep, milk and flour. Only on this condition would God not have been killed by them. Fomorian porridge was poured into a large hole in the ground. According to legend, the demonic beings did not manage to laugh at Dagda. God not only ate all the porridge, but also scraped off its remnants from the bottom of the pit. After that, he entered into a romantic relationship with the daughter of one of the Fomorians and turned her against her father.
This legend was later, among other things, used by Christian preachers to demonize Dagdu. As the patron saint of gluttons, lustful sinners and cunning, this god began to be presented mainly on the basis of this legend.
Analogies with other European deities
According to most historians, other European peoples had similar gods to Dagda, for example:
- Wotan and Odin;
- Slavic Perun;
- Celtic Taranis;
- Zeus, Mars and Jupiter.
In fact, these characters are one and the same god, given different names among different peoples. All these gods are primarily great warriors. Also, many of them wield wands and maces, can control lightning. On the one hand, these gods are reliable protectors, and on the other, they can punish.
Mortal god
Despite his power, Dagda was still not an immortal god. As well as, for example, the Scandinavian One.
One of the myths describes the murder of this character. According to legend, as the leader of the tribe of the goddess Danu, Dagda ruled for about 70 years. His wife was killed by the cruel fomor Balor in the second battle of Moitir, in the mythical place of Bre. Modern historians believe that this happened, most likely, somewhere in the area of the tombs near the Boyna River.
Author: Lazko Natalya