Mythology

[Psitticine]

Originally posted by E. Albright:

quote:

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Originally posted by Sniper:
Its also true that celtic mythos invented high fantasy elves isnt it? The Sidhe??

IIRC, the Nordic/Teutonic/Gemanic/what-have-you Alfar also factor into what we view as generic "high fantasy" elves.

E. Albright

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Yep, that's what I recall as well.

Wanna hear about the Sidhe? Well, I'm glad you asked! <evil snicker>

According to Irish myth, the Tuatha de Danaan once ruled Ireland, having driven off the Fomorii (or Fomorach) to claim it. Mythologists vary in their opinions, but most stories portray the Tuatha de Danaan as humans that had achieved such wisdom and knowledge as to have transcended into something a bit more evolved - not really divine, just super-human.

After a time, a new group of people, the Milesians, came and had a great battle with the Tuatha de Danaan. They were able to land on the isle and achieve the success they did because their bard, Amairgen, invoked the land itself as well as the link living things (including humans) have with all other living things. In doing so, he bonded the Milesians and their Irish descendents to the land forever.

Knowing the land had chosen its own people, the Tuatha de Danaan left for the Otherworld after the first bloody battle. They were still hopeful that, someday, they might return and reclaim their land. Because of that, the early Irish were always on the lookout for their workings.

There were odd round hills (sidhe, which is pronounced "shee" or "sh-eye", depending on your regional accent) that acted as portals to the Otherworld when the moonlight was right. A tunnel would appear where none had been before. If you entered it and followed it through the hill, you'd come out the other side . . . but you would emerge into the Otherworld. You could reverse the process, but only if you were quick enough to get back before the moon changed. Time passes differently and unpredicably in the Otherworld!

Anyway, the Tuatha de Danaan became known first as the Fear Sidhe and Bean Sidhe (Men of the Hills and Women of the Hills) and eventually just as Sidhe. Some of the Sidhe still dealt with normal humans in one way or another (including Lugh, who fathered (well . . . that's a long story) the great hero, CuChulainn.) The feast of Lughnassa is held in his honor, partially to celebrated the skills that resulted in the year's harvest (he was the master of all skills) and partially as a sort of "bribe" to keep the powerful figure happy and less likely to cause trouble.

Once they entered their existence in the Otherworld, the Sidhe used their arts to become ageless. Unfortunately, their stories were not quite so permanent. As time went by, and especially after the arrival of Christianity made such "backwards" beliefs unpopular, or even dangerous, to carry on, new Versions of the Sidhe emerged.

Eventually, they became the Faeries (from the "fey" or "fair" folk) and figures such as the Morrigan became the "banshee". Even Lugh (a favorite figure of mine) became Lughcronin, or the Lephrecaun. Once a mighty hero and master of all human crafts, he became a goofy tourist icon. Is that progress?!? Sheesh . . .