The Dagda | |
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god of fertility, agriculture, manliness, strength, magic, druidry and wisdom | |
Member of the Tuatha Dé Danann | |
Abode | Brú na Bóinne |
Weapons | Club |
Battles | Magh Tuiredh |
Artefacts | |
Personal information | |
Consorts | |
Children | |
Parents | |
Siblings | Fiacha, Delbáeth, Ogma, Allód |
The Dagda (Irish: An Dagda) is an important god in Irish mythology. One of the Tuatha Dé Danann, the Dagda is portrayed as a father-figure, chieftain, and druid. He is associated with fertility, agriculture, manliness and strength, as well as magic, druidry and wisdom. He is said to have control over life and death, the weather and crops, as well as time and the seasons.
He is often described as a large man or giant wearing a hooded cloak. He owns a magic staff or club (the lorg mór or lorg anfaid) which can kill with one end and bring to life with the other, a cauldron (the coire ansic) which never runs empty, and a magic harp (uaithne) which can control men's emotions and change the seasons. He is said to dwell in Brú na Bóinne (Newgrange). Other places associated with or named after him include Uisneach, Grianan of Aileach, Assaroe Falls, Lough Neagh and Iveagh. The Dagda mates with several goddesses, including the Morrígan and Boann. His children include Aengus, Brigit, Bodb Derg, Cermait, Aed, and Midir.
The name Dagda is believed to come from Proto-Celtic: *Dagodeiwos, "the good god" or "the great god". He is also known by the epithets Eochu or Eochaid Ollathair ("horseman, great father" or "all-father"),Ruad Rofhessa ("mighty one/lord of great knowledge"),Samildánach ("many-skilled"),Aed ("fire"),Fer Benn ("horned man" or "man of the peak"), Cera (possibly "creator"),Cerrce (possibly "striker"),Easal,Eogabal and Crom-Eocha.Dáire also appears to have been another name for the Dagda. Furthermore, some scholars have linked him with the harvest god(s) Crom Cruach and Crom Dubh, as well as with the death and ancestral god Donn.