Tethra

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Tethra [ 'tʴeθra ] was in the Celtic mythology of Ireland a king of the Fomori , called "father of the Fomori" and after his death ruler of the mythical island kingdom of Mag Mell . He was the uncle of Forgall Manach , the father of Cú Chulainn's wife Emer .

Etymology and Mythology

The name Tethra probably comes from the Proto-Indo-European word * tet (e) ro ("croaking, babbling noise", a synonym for water, especially the sea). Because of this sea name, he is often equated with Manannan mac Lir . The fish of the sea were called "Tethras herds".

Tethra, together with Balor and Indech , leads the Fomori army in the Second Battle of Mag Tuired . He has the singing sword Orna, which Ogma can snatch from him. After he fell in this fight against the Túatha Dé Danann , he became the ruler of Mag Mell ("Plane of Pleasures"), a cover word for the Celtic Otherworld . Manannan mac Lir, who is also named in this capacity, was either his co-regent or his alter ego .

As another king of Mag Mell, Goll mac Duilb is mentioned in the story of Laeghaire Mac Crimhthainn .

See also

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 .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ See also main articles Thetis (mythology) and Tethys (ocean)
  2. ↑ 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 , p. 506.
  3. ↑ 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 , p. 560.