Hello. My name is Rachel Nic Aoidh and welcome to the third part of a five part series on Animals. Last week we spoke about bulls and their stories in Irish Mythology. This week we will be looking at horses.
Horses have always been held in regard and seen as prized possessions. They would be treated with great respect and were treasured and cared for. The respect held for horses is not surprising when you consider the impact these animals had, especially throughout battle.
One of the better known Horses to Irish Mythology is the beautiful horse Aonbarr of the Flowing Mane. This horse is greatly associated with the Sea God, Manannán Mac Lir. He is recounted in many stories as a god of the Tuatha Dé Danann. He is known to have been a fantastic magician and he was in possession of many magical items which held great magical powers. None of his items were a match for his greet steed, Aonbharr. The horse was said to have been able to travel over land and sea. The horse was said to be unkillable by man or god. Manannán was said to have passed down many of his magical items to his foster son, Lugh, who fought with them during battles with the Tuatha Dé Danann such as the Second Battle of Moy Tura.
It is also said in some tales that Niamh Chinn Óir is the daughter of Manannán Mac Lir. Some say that Manannán gifted her the mane. Niamh was the Queen of Tír na nÓg, who fell in love with Oisín mac Fionn. She lived for three hundred years on Tír na nÓg with Oisín before he began to long for home. So she gave him Aonbharr, and warned him not to step foot off the horse.
Tragedy struck and it was Aonbharr that Oisín fell off of attempting to help some men move a large stone. Oisín died tragically; the three hundred years catching up to him again. Niamh watched the sea everyday for his return, and when Aonbharr came back without him, she knew her love was gone.
There are many references to horses widely mentioned in the Ulster Cycle. One of these tales is the Táin Bó Cúailnge. This legend has many references to the warrior Cú Chulainn. Cú Chulainn was said to have two horses, the Liath Macha, known in English as the Grey of Macha, and Dubh Sainglend, in English as Black Sainglenn. These horses came out of lakes and were both tamed by Cú Chulainn to use in battle.
There are some creatures who live in the water, but can shape shift into the form of a horse. They are better known as the Water-Horse, which we’ve mentioned before. The Water-horse was said to swim in lakes and waterfalls. They were not the friendliest of creatures; in almost all variations of their stories, they haunted lakes to taunt humans and drag them to a watery grave.
Horses are a staple part of Celtic Mythology. They are a powerful symbol that stretches over many supernatural dimensions. Many legends continue to be told and the horse stays a powerful treasure in modern day.
This was our story on Horses. Join us next week for our next story.
Comments