Aillén

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Aillén [ 'aLʼeːn ] is the name of a fire fiend from the Finn cycle of the Celtic mythology of Ireland . Aillén is also sometimes seen as one of the Túatha Dé Danann people , his sister is said to be Áine and his residence is Mag Mell .

mythology

In the story Macgnímartha Finn ("Fionn's youth deeds") every year at Samhain (the evening before the night of November 1st) all residents of Tara , the royal castle of Conn Cétchathach , are put to sleep by mysterious music and the castle is then set on fire. The young hero Fionn mac Cumhaill , who according to various reports was only 9-10 years old at the time, manages to stay awake with the help of the magic power of his magical spear. When Aillén comes closer to sleep-inducing harp music and blows his fiery breath into the castle, Fionn throws his coat over it and forces the glowing breath to the ground in front of the walls. Aillén flees to his home, a cairn (stone hill) on Mount Fionnachdh , where Fionn catches up with him and kills him with his spear.

In gratitude, the king hands over the supreme command of the Fianna to the young Fionn , the previous leader of this group of young warriors, Goll mac Morna , has to swear allegiance to him under threat of expulsion from the country, which he does.

This story is also contained in Acallam na Senórach (“The Conversation with the Ancients”).

Aillén's harp music is reminiscent of the Dagda magic harp , which could also influence people. Samhain is still traditionally considered to be the evening on which the Síde (elven hills) open and make contact with the upper world possible for the subterranean.

See also

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Bernhard Maier: Lexicon of the Celtic religion and culture . P. 11.
  2. ^ Ingeborg Clarus: Celtic myths. Man and his otherworld. P. 190 f.
  3. ↑ Robert Fischer: The Celtic religion in Ireland and its influence through Christianization. P. 41.