One of the most important and enduring figures of Celtic religion and mythology is Lugh (pronounced “Loo”).

 One of the most important and enduring figures of Celtic religion and mythology is Lugh (pronounced “Loo”).


  Probably originally a god associated with the sun and storms, it seems that Lugh evolved to become a mythological warrior hero, best remembered and celebrated in ancient Ireland.


According to ancient tradition, Lugh appeared at the Great Hall of Tara and offered his services to the High King. The doorkeeper asked Lugh what skill he had that would make him useful to the King. Lugh rattled off his skills—swordsman, harpist, poet, historian, sorcerer, physician, blacksmith, and more—and in each case the doorkeeper replied, “Sorry. The King already has one of those.” After the final rejection, Lugh asked “Does the King have anyone who possesses ALL those skills.” The doorkeeper had to admit that he did not, and Lugh was admitted to the Hall.


Lugh was a mighty warrior, particularly deadly with a slingshot—a skill that enabled him to slay the evil giant Balor of the Evil Eye, whose large single eye was fatal to anyone it looked upon. Lugh’s most fearsome weapon was his magical spear, a weapon so fierce that it would sometimes attack and kill enemies on its own.


As is often the case with mythological heroes, in due course Lugh came to a violent end. When he learned that one of his wives had been seduced by a man named Cermait, Lugh killed him. In turn, Cermait’s sons MacCuill, MacCecht and MacGrené (who would become joint High Kings of Ireland) avenged their father by drowning Lugh at Loch Lugborta in County Westmeath.


Lugh is said to have established the harvest festival Lughnasadh (“Festival of Lugh”), which was later Christianized as “Lammas.” Many in Ireland continue to celebrate Lughnasadh and Lammas in early August.


Although the story of Lugh lives on primarily in Ireland, he was once revered throughout the Celtic world, as evidenced by the fact that the original names of Lyon, France, Carlisle, England and Lugo, Spain (among other places) were derived from his name.

Comments

Post a Comment

Pop

Popular posts from this blog

THE BREEDING FARMS OF HELL: AMERICA'S MOST DEPRAVED SLAVERY SECRETS THAT STILL HAUNT HUMANITY

Image
THE BREEDING FARMS OF HELL: AMERICA'S MOST DEPRAVED SLAVERY SECRETS THAT STILL HAUNT HUMANITY Most people learn about slavery in two short textbook pages: cotton fields, plantations, Abraham Lincoln, and freedom. But the real history was far darker and more horrifying than any classroom ever dared to reveal. Behind the elegant white columns of Southern plantations lay a calculated system of cruelty, profit, and the systematic destruction of human souls. Enslaved people were not merely workers—they were livestock. Across Virginia and other states, entire farms existed for one purpose only: breeding human beings like cattle. Men were forced to impregnate dozens of women, their bodies treated as breeding tools. Children born from these forced unions were recorded in ledgers as property, valued like horses or pigs, and sold off for maximum profit. Families were deliberately torn apart. Mothers watched in agony as their babies were ripped from their arms and auctioned to strangers. Newb...
Read more

😢 SLAVE BREEDING 😢

Image
😢 SLAVE  BREEDING 😢 Slave breeding was one of the most brutal and dehumanizing practices during the era of slavery, yet it remains one of the least talked about. After the trans-Atlantic slave trade was banned in 1808, enslavers in America began relying heavily on forced reproduction to increase their labor force. Enslaved men and women were paired against their will, treated like property, and valued only for their physical strength and ability to produce more enslaved children. Strong and healthy men were often targeted and forced into roles where their bodies were used purely for breeding. They had no choice, no freedom, and no control over their personal lives. Enslaved women suffered deeply as well, enduring repeated pregnancies, emotional trauma, and the constant fear of losing their children. Many mothers watched helplessly as their babies—and even older children—were taken away to be sold for profit, with no consideration for the bonds of family or humanity. This cruel sy...
Read more

1890S WOMAN CARRYING CHARCOAL

Image
 1890S WOMAN CARRYING CHARCOAL A very cheerful Japanese working woman, with one of her breasts exposed, is carrying three huge packs of charcoal on what appears to be a country road. During the summer, women in the countryside often had much of their body exposed when they worked. Many men wore only a loincloth. Even in the city. This was especially the case for laborers and poor farmers. Prudish Western visitors, used to Victorian morality, generally were greatly shocked by all this nudity and frequently wrote about it in their diaries and letters. Nineteenth-century English travel-writer Isabella Lucy Bird (1831-1904), who in 1887 (Meiji 20) travelled deep into Japan’s heartland, described in her book Unbeaten Tracks her surprise upon seeing the scarce clothing of the people: I write the truth as I see it, and if my accounts conflict with those of tourists who write of the Tokaido and Nakasendo, of Lake Biwa and Hakone, it does not follow that either is inaccurate. But truly this...
Read more