Firbolg
Firbolg , also Fir Bolg [ fʼirʼ volg ], is the name of a mythical people mentioned in the Lebor Gabála Érenn ("The Book of the Lands of Ireland") of Irish mythology . They are also called Érainn ("Irish"), and divided into the sub-tribes of Fir Domnann (also Domnand , from Domnu ) and Galioin .
Mythology and Etymology
The Firbolg are the third (or fourth) group of immigrants or conquerors of the island of Ireland . Before them came Cessair (not counted in some cases), Partholon and the Nemesians , after them the Túatha Dé Danann and the Milesians . The Firbolg are said to have arrived here after the flood . The division of the country into five provinces ( cóiced ) is attributed to them, as is the creation of a kingdom. Traditionally, the Firbolg are regarded as the descendants of those Nemesians who had temporarily left the island because of the oppression by the resident Fomori . After their return and rule over the country, they are finally defeated in the First Battle of Mag Tuired by the Túatha Dé Danann (also Nemesian descendants) using fíth-fáth magic. It is said that Ireland's first hurling game took place before the battle . They are said to have emigrated partly to Scotland (see Dùn island near St. Kilda ) and partly to the west of the island.
Many of the duns ("forts") in the western part of Ireland, especially on the Aran Islands , are traced back to them, such as Dún Eochla and Dún Aonghasa on Inishmore . There, the soil was made fertile by alternating layers of seaweed and sand between stone walls . This points to an explanation for the name Firbolg: it is explained as "men of the bags" ( builg ), because during their exile in Greece they had to drag fertile soil in leather sacks onto stony ground. Other Keltologen believe that this is merely a folk etymology is interpretation and bolg be more as "tower" would understand.
Important Firbolgs are the fertility goddess Tailtiu , the foster mother of the Irish god Lugh , her royal husband Eochaid mac Eirc , the warrior Sreng , who cuts off Nuada 's arm, Cian is counted among them in the saint's life of St. Grellan , later in mythology also the alleged Fir Domnann Fer Diad , a friend and comrade of Cú Chulainn .
See also
literature
- Helmut Birkhan : Celts. Attempt at a complete representation of their culture. Publishing house of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna 1997, ISBN 3-7001-2609-3 .
- Bernhard Maier : Lexicon of Celtic Religion and Culture (= Kröner's pocket edition . Volume 466). Kröner, Stuttgart 1994, ISBN 3-520-46601-5 .
- Ingeborg Clarus : Celtic Myths. Man and his otherworld. Walter Verlag 1991, ppb edition Patmos Verlag, Düsseldorf, 2000, 2nd edition, ISBN 3-491-69109-5 .