Lugh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lugh |
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| God of justice, war, kingship, craftsmen, skills, trade and harvests. | |
| Member of the Tuatha Dé Danann | |
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| Other names | Lug, Lugus. |
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| Equivalents | |
| Roman equivalent | Mercury |
Lugh (pronounced Loo) is a very important figure in Irish mythology. He is part of the Tuatha Dé Danann, a group of powerful, magical beings. Lugh is known as a brave warrior, a wise king, and a master of many skills. People also see him as a hero who saves others.
Lugh is connected to fairness, truth, and the law. This means he is also linked to rightful kingship. He is so important that the harvest festival of Lughnasadh is named after him. This festival celebrates the end of summer and the start of the harvest.
Lugh has two main nicknames. One is Lámfada, which means "long hand" or "long arm." This might be because he was skilled with a spear or a great ruler. His other nickname is Samildánach, meaning "equally skilled in many arts."
In the old stories, Lugh is the son of Cian and Ethniu. His grandfather was the giant Balor, a cruel leader of the Fomorians. Lugh famously defeats Balor in the Battle of Mag Tuired. Lugh also has a famous son, the hero Cú Chulainn. Many believe Cú Chulainn was a reborn version of Lugh himself.
Lugh owns several magical items. He has a powerful, fiery spear that cannot be stopped. He also uses a special sling stone. His loyal hound is named Failinis. Lugh is also said to have invented games like fidchell (an ancient board game), ball games, and horse racing.
He is similar to the god Lugus found in other Celtic cultures. His Welsh counterpart is Lleu Llaw Gyffes. Some people also compare him to the Roman god Mercury.
Contents
Who is Lugh?
What His Name Means
The exact meaning of Lugh's name is still discussed by experts. Some think it comes from an old word meaning "to bind by oath." This would suggest he was a god of promises and agreements. In the past, many thought his name meant "flashing light," and he was seen as a sun god. However, most modern experts now believe the "oath" meaning fits better.
Lugh's Nicknames
Lugh has several cool nicknames that tell us about him:
- Lámfada ("Long Hand"): This might refer to his skill with a spear or his power as a ruler.
- Ildánach ("skilled in many arts"): He was good at everything!
- Samildánach ("equally skilled in all the arts"): Another way to say he was a master of everything.
- Lonnbéimnech ("fierce striker"): Shows his power as a warrior.
- Macnia ("youthful warrior/hero"): He was a young, brave fighter.
How Lugh is Described
Lugh is usually shown as a young warrior. In one story, Baile in Scáil, he is described as very tall and handsome. He is also seen as a horseman who carries a spear.
Other descriptions say Lugh was a tall young man with bright red cheeks. He had white sides, a bronze-colored face, and blood-red hair.
In The Fate of the Children of Turenn, Lugh's appearance is even compared to the sun. This shows how bright and powerful he was seen.
Lugh's Stories
Lugh's Birth
Lugh's father was Cian from the Tuatha Dé Danann. His mother was Ethniu, daughter of the cruel giant Balor of the Fomorians. In one story, their marriage helped bring peace between the Tuatha Dé and the Fomorians.
An old folk tale tells how Balor heard a prophecy. It said his own grandson would kill him. To stop this, Balor locked his only daughter, Ethniu, in a tall tower. She was guarded by twelve women who made sure she never met a man.
However, Cian found a way to reach Ethniu. She later gave birth to triplets. Balor tried to drown the babies in a whirlpool. But one child, Lugh, fell into the harbor and was saved by a woman named Biróg. She took him to his father, Cian, who then gave Lugh to his brother, Gavida the smith, to raise.
Lugh Joins the Tuatha Dé Danann
When Lugh was a young man, he traveled to Tara. He wanted to join the court of King Nuada of the Tuatha Dé Danann. The doorkeeper would not let him in unless he had a special skill to offer.
Lugh offered to be a builder, a smith, a champion, a swordsman, a harpist, a poet, a historian, a sorcerer, and a craftsman. But each time, the doorkeeper said they already had someone with that skill. Finally, Lugh asked if they had anyone with ALL those skills at once. The doorkeeper had to say no.
So, Lugh joined the court and became their chief master of all arts. He even won a flagstone-throwing contest against their champion, Ogma. Lugh also entertained the court with his harp.
At this time, the Fomorians were oppressing the Tuatha Dé Danann. Lugh was surprised how quietly they accepted this. King Nuada wondered if Lugh could lead them to freedom. Lugh was given command and began to prepare for war.
The Sons of Tuireann
Tuireann and Cian, Lugh's father, were old enemies. One day, Tuireann's sons, Brian, Iuchar, and Iucharba, saw Cian. They decided to kill him. Cian tried to hide by turning into a pig. But he tricked the brothers into letting him turn back into a man before they killed him. This was important because it meant Lugh could demand a higher price for his father's death, not just a pig's.
When the brothers tried to bury Cian, the ground kept spitting his body back up. Eventually, the ground itself told Lugh where his father was buried. Lugh then held a feast and invited the brothers. During the feast, he asked them what they would want as payment if someone killed their father. They said only death would be fair. Lugh agreed.
He then accused them of killing Cian. Lugh gave them a series of very difficult quests. The brothers completed almost all of them. But the last quest was impossible and would surely kill them. Even though Tuireann begged, Lugh made them continue. When they were badly wounded, Lugh refused to let them use a magic pigskin they had found, which could heal all wounds. The brothers died, and Tuireann died of sadness over their bodies.
The Great Battle of Magh Tuireadh
Using the magic items collected by the sons of Tuireann, Lugh led the Tuatha Dé Danann in the Second Battle of Mag Tuireadh. They fought against the Fomorians. Before the battle, Lugh asked every person in his army what skill they would bring to the fight. He then gave a speech that made every warrior feel as brave as a king.
King Nuada was killed in the battle by Balor. Lugh then faced Balor. Balor had a terrible, poisonous eye that killed anyone it looked at. But Lugh shot a sling-stone that knocked Balor's eye out the back of his head. This killed Balor and caused chaos among the Fomorian army.
After the victory, Lugh found Bres, the former king of the Tuatha Dé Danann, who was half-Fomorian. Bres begged for his life. He promised that if he was spared, the cows of Ireland would always give milk. The Tuatha Dé Danann refused. He then promised four harvests a year, but they said one harvest was enough. Lugh finally spared Bres's life on one condition: Bres had to teach the Tuatha Dé Danann how and when to plough, sow, and harvest their crops.
Later Life and Death
Lugh started an event similar to the Olympic games. It was called the Assembly of Talti. It ended on Lughnasadh (August 1st) to honor his foster-mother, Tailtiu. This event took place at the town named after her, now called Teltown in County Meath.
He also started Lughnasadh fairs in other areas. These fairs honored goddesses named Carman and Nás. Horse races and displays of fighting skills were important at all these fairs. Lughnasadh itself celebrates Lugh's victory over spirits who tried to keep the harvest for themselves. It is still celebrated today in different ways. Lúnasa is now the Irish name for the month of August.
Lugh is also said to have invented the board game fidchell.
Lugh ruled for forty years. He was later killed by the sons of Cermait, who were seeking revenge. They speared him through the foot and drowned him in Loch Lugborta in County Westmeath.
Lugh's Family
Lugh is sometimes called mac Ethlenn ("son of Ethliu") after his mother. He is also called mac Cein ("son of Cian") after his father. As mentioned, he is the grandson of the Fomorian giant Balor, whom Lugh defeated. Lugh's son is the famous hero Cú Chulainn. Many believe Cú Chulainn was Lugh reborn.
Lugh had several wives. These included Buí and Nás, who were daughters of Ruadri Ruad, the king of Britain. Buí was buried at Knowth (Cnogba). Nás was buried at Naas, County Kildare, which is named after her. Lugh had a son named Ibic by Nás. Lugh also had a daughter or sister named Ebliu. With the mortal woman Deichtine, Lugh was the father of the hero Cú Chulainn.
Lugh's Magical Possessions
Lugh owned many magical items. Some were gathered for him by the sons of Tuireann. He also received gifts from the sea god Manannán. These included the sword Fragarach, the horse Enbarr, and a boat called "Wave-Sweeper." He also had special armor and a helmet.
Lugh's Spear
Lugh's spear was said to be impossible to defeat. It was brought to Ireland from a magical place called Gorias.
One of Lugh's spears was called the Spear of Assal (Gae Assail). It had special words you could say. Saying "Ibar" (Yew) made the spear always hit its target. Saying "Athibar" (Re-Yew) made the spear return to him.
Another name for his spear was Ar-éadbair. Its tip had to be kept in a pot of water to stop it from catching fire! This spear was also called "Slaughterer."
Lugh's spear was often seen as a symbol of lightning. It was said to be alive and thirsty for blood. It would roar and struggle before battle. When let loose, it would flash fire and tear through enemies without getting tired.
Sling-stone
Lugh used a special "sling-stone" to kill his grandfather, Balor. This stone was not just any rock. It was called a tathlum.
An old poem describes the tathlum as heavy, fiery, and strong. It was made from the blood of toads, bears, lions, and snakes. These bloods were mixed with sands from the Armorian Sea and the Red Sea. This powerful mix helped Lugh destroy Balor's evil eye.
Fragarach
Lugh also carried the sword Freagarthach, better known as Fragarach. This was the sword of the sea god Manannán.
Lugh's Horse and Magic Boat
Lugh had a horse named Aenbharr. This amazing horse could travel over both land and sea. Like many of his magical items, it was a gift from the sea god Manannán.
Lugh also had a boat called the "Wave-Sweeper." This boat was a currach, a type of small boat, but it was magical.
Lugh's Hound
Failinis was the name of Lugh's special hound. This hound was given to Lugh by the sons of Tuireann as part of their punishment. Failinis is described as an ancient grayhound.
Similar Gods in Other Cultures
Lugh is very similar to the pan-Celtic god Lugus. His Welsh counterpart is Lleu Llaw Gyffes. He is also often compared to the Roman god Mercury.
Sometimes, Lugh is seen as a storm god. In the past, he was often thought of as a sun god, though this idea is less common today. Some people also see a similarity between Lugh killing Balor and the Norse god Loki killing Baldr.
Lugh's skill in all arts reminds many of a Gaulish god described by Julius Caesar. Caesar said this god, whom he called Mercury, was the "inventor of all the arts." Caesar also said the Gaulish Mercury was the most respected god in Gaul, watching over journeys and business.
Places Named After Lugh
Many places in Ireland and beyond are named after Lugh.
- The county of Louth in Ireland is named after the village of Louth. This village is named after the god Lugh. The old spellings of the name include "Lugmad" and "Lughmhaigh."
- Other places named for Lugh include Seelewey (Lug's Seat), Dunlewey, and Rath-Lugaidh in Carney, Sligo.
- The modern city of Lyon in France was founded a long time ago. By the end of the first century AD, it was known as "Lugdunum." This Latin name came from an old Gaulish name meaning "Fortress of Lugh."
- One of the four regions in Galicia, Spain, is called Lugo. This region is also named in honor of Lugh.
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