Nechtan

Nechtan [ 'Nʴextan ], also Elcmar [ ' elkvar ] ("The Terrible") is a legendary figure from the mythological cycle of the Celtic mythology of Ireland . Its name probably indicates an ancient water deity . He lives in Síd Nechtain on the Boyne River .

Entrance to Brú na Bóinne with the Boyne spring

mythology

In Lebor Gabala Eirenn, Nechtan is either the son of Labraid or Nama and the husband of the river nymph Boand . This was the secret source Nechtans in Síd by walking about against the sun's path ( tuaithbel desecrated), which she had drowned in it. This is how the Boand (Boyne) river came into being. The name Nechtan has its origin in the Proto-Indo- European Néptŏnos , island Celtic Neptŭnus .

Under the name Elcmar, he is also referred to as the Boand's husband. His residence is in the story Tochmarc Étaíne ("The advertisement for Étain") the elven hill Brú na Bóinne . Oengus , the son of Dagda , outwits Elcmar and his father and becomes the owner of this elven hill forever.

Also Nuada , the king of the Tuatha Dé Danann , carries the nickname necht , the two therefore often be equated. Nechtan is also a common name for Scottish and Pictish kings. The name of the moor Nechtansmere , Scottish Gaelic Dhùn Neachdain , Old Irish Dún Nechtain (today Dunnichen Mere near Dunnichen in the Scottish county of Angus ) also indicates this.

In Macgnímrada Con Culainn ("Cú Chulainn's deeds"), his name is associated with the Dun Mac Nechta castle on the Nechta River . The "three sons of Nechtan", Fiol ("the clever one"), Tuachall ("the cunning one") and Fandle ("the swallow") are killed by Cú Chulainn on his first heroic journey and their severed heads ( têtes coupées ) by him Brought to Emain Macha .

In the story Immram Brain ("Bran's Seafaring") Nechtan mac Collbran is the name of one of Bran mac Febail's companions, who dies on his return from the journey described there in Ireland.

See also

• List of Celtic gods and legendary figures
• Celtic religion
• Myths and legends from Ireland

literature

• Helmut Birkhan : Celts. Attempt at a complete representation of their culture. 2nd, corrected and enlarged edition. Publishing house of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna 1997, ISBN 3-7001-2609-3 .
• Ingeborg Clarus : Celtic Myths. Man and his otherworld. Walter, Düsseldorf et al. 1991, ISBN 3-530-70014-2 , pp. 290 ff. (2nd edition. Patmos, Düsseldorf 2003, ISBN 3-491-69109-5 ).
• Bernhard Maier : Lexicon of Celtic Religion and Culture (= Kröner's pocket edition . Volume 466). Kröner, Stuttgart 1994, ISBN 3-520-46601-5 .

Individual evidence

1. ^ Bernhard Maier: Lexicon of the Celtic religion and culture . P. 247.
2. ↑ ^{a b} Helmut Birkhan: Celts. Attempt at a complete representation of their culture. P. 690 f.
3. ^ Bernhard Maier: Lexicon of the Celtic religion and culture . P. 110.
4. ↑ Battle of Dunnichen Mere
5. ↑ Helmut Birkhan: Celts. Attempt at a complete representation of their culture. P. 807.
6. ^ Ingeborg Clarus: Celtic myths. Man and his otherworld. P. 125 f.