Research drawback: Partholon and Nemed and sources of Irish historical past.
Contemplating these two figures so far as I do know are primarily featured within the Labor Gabala, and are to teachers a pseudo historical past created by christians to make the historical past of Eire extra Israelite-like I wish to know .. what are non-christian, correct’ sources to Irish mythologies and histories?
I’m at the moment finding out the cycles (of Irish delusion) however its chaotic due to the above butchering, and regardless of having a great deal of books at this level concerning the topic I can not see a transparent path by way of.. maybe somebody right here will help me? (Do not simply put up googled hyperlinks, I imply somebody who truly research this too and will help me out at the next stage than that.)
I wish to discover correct pre-christian sources of symbols such because the Dagda, Danu and Ogma and so forth, and peoples such because the fomorii and de Danann, and never of christian sources comparable to Nennius and the likes.
Hope somebody right here will help. At wits finish right here.
-Cal.
Comments ( 3 )
I like a challenge. Talk to me about your current sources.
AFAIK unfortunately the most reliable non-Christian sources in Ireland tend to be local traditions. Some of the more famous late Neolithic passage tombs have ancient names and semi-sensical mythological histories, possibly conveying useful historical info by direct local oral tradition.
If it’s any comfort, mesoamerican historians also feel your pain about evangelical mutilation of native histories.
It’s a mixed bag. Partholon is apparently based on an early tale of Bartholemew who appears in early Christian hagiography. Nemed is an Irish word for sacred, it’s related to the Celtic word for a sanctuary – Nemeton. Possibly related to the Irish word for saint which is naomh and according to the wiki article was used to refer to druids.
So Nemed could have been a pagan druid type (even a druid deity) and conflated later with a saint. Unless more information is discovered it’s unlikely much more will ever be learned.
If you want to find the possible pre-Christian sources for the Dagda etc then you’re left with comparative religion. Comparing similar deities for instance from Gallo-Roman religion where the Dagda may be related to a god like Sucellos but not necessarily in a 1:1 ratio. Sucellos for instance has an olla, a small bowl, rather than a huge cauldron.
It’s likely Hinduism has a lot to offer in regards how a pagan religion with indo-european roots can be expressed. There are similarities with Irish and Norse religion.
An example of a closer link, the Scottish tale of Beira, Queen of Winter which is likely related in some way to the Irish story of the Hag of Beara. In any case, one of Beira’s handmaidens was called Nessa who the river Ness and Loch Ness are named for and subsequently the town of Inverness. Nessa is likely the same water deity who is the mother of Irish king Connor Mac Nessa. Her role in the Scottish tale and the role of mother of the king are very different but she is associated with water in both.