Leanan sídhe
In Celtic mythology , the Irish leanan sídhe ( lʲan̴̪-an ˈʃiːə . Other spellings in Scottish Gaelic are: liannan shìth , Lianhan Sidhe or Leanhaun Shee ) is a beautiful woman of the Aos Sí ( fairy people ) who has a human as a lover. The lovers of the leanan sídhe only live briefly, but lead a life full of inspiration and creativity.
mythology
The leanan sídhe is generally portrayed as a muse who gives an artist inspiration in exchange for fame and recognition. This swap often ends with the artist's mental illness and an early death. In the fairy tale collection of William Butler Yeats , the vampire character of the fairy is particularly emphasized. It is similar with the Lhiannan Shee , which is known on the Isle of Man .
These mythical creatures seek the love of mortals; if mortals reject the fairies' love, these fairies must henceforth serve the mortal; when mortals return love, they can only exchange one leanan sídhe for another. The fairies use up the lives of their lovers and do not let them escape even after death.
etymology
The name comes from the Gaelic leannan ("sweetheart, concubine, dearest") and from Síde (roughly "from the fairy hills" or "from the fairies").
See also
literature
- Katharine Mary Briggs: A Dictionary of Fairies . Penguin Middlesex, 1976, ISBN 0-14-00-4753-0 , p. 266