The Four Treasures of the Tuatha Dé Danann
Hello and welcome to the first part of our six part series on Object and Relics. In this series we’ll take a look at the different objects of importance to Irish culture. We’ll take a look at a handful of them and the stories behind them. Today, we’re going to start with the Four Treasures of the Tuatha Dé Danann.
When the Tuatha Dé Danann landed in Ireland, it is said that they came from the clouds on ships of silver. They brought four artefacts with them from the four cities of their origin. These cities are said to be magical island-cities to the West of Ireland. Whether they reside in the same realm as us, or in the Otherworld is not known. These cities were: Fálias of the Sciences; Goirias of the Faith; Muirias the Fortress of Pinacles; and Fionnias the Bright.
There were four Druids who lived in these cities and had mastered all skills and arts. They taught the Tuatha Dé Danann how to study the occult, how to use magic, how to fight, and to sing, how to write poetry. They taught them about the beauty of the world and the magic in their words. When the Tuatha Dé Danann could no longer resist Éire’s call, the druids were unable to leave their homes. They bound their power, their knowledge, and their magic to four objects which the Tuatha Dé Danann brought with them to Éire.
The druid Mórfheasa (Mór Fios) lived in Fálias. He sent the Lia Fáil, which translates to the Stone of Destiny with the Tuatha Dé Danann. This stone would sing, or cry out like thunder, or roar like a river rushing underground. It would only make these sounds when the true High Queen or High King of Ireland would touch it. As he was binding his power to it, Mórfheasa carved symbols onto it, and within these symbols he hid the knowledge of the world. When the Tuatha Dé Danann settled in Ireland, they placed the Lia Fáil in Tara. Whether or not the stone in Tara is the same Lia Fáil is subject to debate.
In Goirias, where every word was a lyric of poetry and made of magic, Easras wrapped the Spear of Victory. This spear would later be used in Lugh Lámhfhada’s arsenal against the Fomorians, and against his grandfather Balor of the Evil Eye. Whomever held this spear could not be defeated in battle. This spear is not to be confused with the Spear of Assal, stolen by the Sons of Turenn from the King of Turkey, and later used by Lugh, which is a different story entirely. To this day, nobody knows where the Spear of Victory lies.
In Fionnias the Bright Place, Uiscias forged an Claíomh Solas, the Sword of Light. Before he became Nuada Airgeatlámh, Nuada carried this sword with him. It was a formidable weapon. Once unsheathed, it could not be covered until it had tasted blood, nor could any warrior resist using it. Because of where it was forged, this sword shone brighter than the sun, blinding its victims before maiming, and usually killing them. After the Second Battle of Maigh Tuiread, the Claíomh Solas was said to be lost. There are some who say that a certain Fairy Queen recovered it after the battle, and lends it to heroes, in return for three tasks.
The druid Séimhias created the Cauldron of Abundance in Muirias. This cauldron was called the Undry and was given to the Dagda Ollathair. There was no one who would walk away from the Undry unsatisfied. If anyone were to eat from it, it would provide as much food as they needed. If they were to drink from it, their thirst would be entirely quenched. In fact, the Undry is said to have no bottom, and could be used to create pathways to the Otherworld, or even back to the Cities the Tuatha Dé Danann came from.
These are the Four Treasures of the Tuatha Dé Danann. The Lia Fáil, the Spear of Destiny, the Claíomh Solas, and the Undry. These treasures reflect the power of the Tuatha Dé Danann. The Lia Fáil shows their knowledge and their skills, the respect they had for leadership. The Spear of Destiny shows their might in war, their strategic abilities. The Claíomh Solas shows their craftsmanship, and their fierce beauty. And the Undry represents their magic, their eternal life and youth.
That is the introduction to the Four Treasures of the Tuatha Dé Danann. Now, these objects will almost definitely make a return and will recur throughout our other series, so be sure to keep an eye out for them. Tune in with us next week for our next story! Bígí Linn!
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