Pirate giants with supernatural powers in ancient Irish and Celtic mythology.
Sell, Buy or Rent Mythology: Celtic Folklore and Ancient Myths Here you will find a description of each of the characters in Elven World Adventure Series. One interpretation, for example, is that mor means sea, and therefore these were a race of beings that came from under the sea. Celtic mythology is littered with mighty warriors, and Fionn Mac Cumhaill is among the most notable. The Irish believed in an otherworld, imagined sometimes as underground and sometimes as islands . What disorder did the Irish giant have? Tuatha d Dannan, mistress of illusion and goddess of positive magic of ancient Irish mythology, who can slip beneath the surface of things and help to restore balance to negative situations. The stronghold of the Fomorians was on Tory Island in County Donegal. Generally, trolls behaved much like bears - large, powerful, slow, and living away from big towns. Fomorians. The oldest body of myths stemming from the Heroic Age is found only from the early medieval period of Ireland. Karnak in Egypt is the largest known religious complex on Earth located on the east side of the River Nile at the ancient Egyptian city of Thebes. (1911) ( Public Domain ).
Celtic Mythology: A Compelling Path Retracing Celtic Mythology. From Archaeologists have been able to take a closer look at one of the United Kingdoms most famous shipwrecks. Many of these myths were suppressed by Roman conquerors, with their first widespread recordings dating from the early medieval period. The second part, however, is less clear, and it is this part of the name that has generated debate amongst scholars.
Celtic Mythology for Kids: Tales of Selkies, Giants, and the Sea By bringing together top experts and authors, this archaeology website explores lost civilizations, examines sacred writings, tours ancient places, investigates ancient discoveries and questions mysterious happenings. Geoffrey of Monmouth, in The Historia Regum Britanniae ('The History of the Kings of Britain') written about 1136, tells .
Celtic Mythology (The mythology lib, Cotterell, Arth Celtic Mythology by Philip Freeman - Audiobook - Audible.com The Fomorians were superstitious and tyrannical; people conquered by them were either enslaved or forced a crippling tribute of two-thirds of all children and cattle born. However, from what has survived of Celtic mythology, it is possible to discern commonalities which hint at a more unified pantheon than is often given credit. The other G in our entries, Gogmagog was a muscular humanoid giant from the island of Albion (the ancient name for Britain). According to the tradition, they conquered the first invaders of Ireland - the Partholn (or "Parthaln") people who invaded Ireland and settled there, introducing cattle, the building of houses, and made all four plains cleared and habitable. The mythologies of continental Celtic peoples, such as the Gauls and Celtiberians, did not survive their conquest by the Roman Empire, the loss of their Celtic languages and their subsequent conversion to Christianity. For more information on the gods and goddess in the mythology of Britain, Ireland and Europe, please visit: Legends of Love in Celtic Mythology: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H4S61VM, The gods of trees and forests are discussed in, Green Man: the Gods of Sacred Trees and Forests in the Religions of the Celts and Germanic Tribes: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08DDC77Z8, Gods, Heroes, and Kings: The Battle for Mythic Britain By Christopher R. Fee Assistant Professor of English Gettysburg College, David A. Leeming Professor of English & Comparative Literature University of Connecticut (Emeritus):https://books.google.ie/books?id=EVWSI5TriYkC&pg=PA70&dq=fomorians&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjU1sWx_LTxAhUqRxUIHcDKDksQ6AEwA3oECAMQAg#v=onepage&q=fomorians&f=false, Wikipedia Bres:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bres, Ancient Origins Fomorians Destructive Giants in Irish Legends:https://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends-europe/fomorians-destructive-giants-irish-legend-009349, Wikipedia Fomorians:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fomorians, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cath_Maige_Tuired#The_Second_Battle_of_Mag_Tuired, Sligo Heritage A FOMORIAN STRONGHOLD: DERNISH ISLAND IN SLIGO OR TORY ISLAND IN DONEGAL? The Firbolgs (from Fir Bholg the Men of Bags or Sacks), had a name given to them during their Greek exile. skillfully as review The Creatures Of Celtic Myth what you considering to read! If alternative scientific genesis bridge basalt explains, somewhat dry, the origin of Giant's Causeway is a purely volcanic, rich imaginary mythological Celtic has its own variations, more exciting, on the birth of bridge columns black seems to bind Ireland to Scotland . The Fir Bolg were the fourth wave of invaders and became the rulers of Ireland. In Gaul, it is speculated that the Dagda is associated with Sucellus, the good striker, equipped with a hammer and cup. The Celts also worshiped a number of deities of which little more is known than their names. Ancient site of Irish Kings and the Tuatha de Danann. Scholars regarded the Fomorians as personifying the destructive forces of nature. Their character, however, is very different from that of the gods - and, in fact, the giants and the gods correspond to opposing, but .
Celtic religion - Beliefs, practices, and institutions | Britannica [6] As Christianity began to take over, the gods and goddesses were slowly eliminated as such from the culture.
Scottish myths, folklore and legends | Scotland.org [11], Along with dedications giving us god names, there are also deity representations to which no name has yet been attached. Cuchulainn fought a group of Fomorians in the myths of Ireland.
Celtic Mythology - Gods, Symbols, Myths and Legends - The Mystica Product Information. The Dullahan - the terrifying tale of the headless horseman.
The Legend of Zelda is teeming with Celtic mythology The Fomorians are often described as monstrous, hideous-looking creatures. Celtic mythology is the body of myths belonging to the Celtic peoples. Throughout the history of civilization, the concept of the apocalypse has been ever present, in one way or another. They are the Tuatha d Danann, which means tribe of the Goddess Danu.
Mystery of Scotland's Ancient Callanish Standing Stones The envisioned revelation, the feared end of the world that will herald an age of purification through horrific and chaotic means Every culture has an explanation about how we got here.
Celtic Mythology for Kids : Tales of Selkies, Giants, and the Sea Celtic Myths on creation | Ancient Origins Celtic Mythology - Rosie Renaud 2022-06-16 . 10. A Fomorian witch and Celtic goddess of evil magic in ancient Irish and legend. Imagine a world where fearsome giants, mischievous fairies, charming witches, and ageless queens wander the land. Lugh replaced Nuada as the king of the Tuatha de Danann and spared the life of Bres after the conflict. Some figures in Insular Celtic myth have ancient continental parallels: Irish Lugh and Welsh Lleu are cognate with Lugus, Goibniu and Gofannon with Gobannos, Macn and Mabon with Maponos, and so on. Celtic myth influenced later Arthurian legend. Several of the digital paintings or renderings for each of the archetypes expressed by various artists. Bres was the son of Elatha, the king of the Fomorians, and his mother was Eriu. [Online]Available at: http://www.shee-eire.com/Magic&Mythology/Races/Formorians/Page1.htm, Sutherland, A., 2017. Balor (Irish Mythology), the name of a giant that was the leader of the Fomorians, a group of malicious supernatural beings. According to Geoffrey Keating, Fomorians, led by Cichol Gricenchos, settled at Ireland 200 years prior to . Tuatha d Danann Goddess of the sea and the protection of sea travelers in ancient Irish mythology. Belief in malevolent spirits inhabiting the human body has persisted across cultures for millennia. There were many complex laws and customs prevalent in the Celtic-speaking world of ancient times. [12] Some of these images can be found in Late Bronze Age peat bogs in Britain,[13] indicating the symbols were both pre-Roman and widely spread across Celtic culture.
Fomorians | Myths and Folklore Wiki | Fandom The Loch Ness Monster. Tuatha d Danann Goddess of Love in ancient Irish mythology and legend. As most Celtic myths were once only preserved orally, later Christian influences may have altered and distorted them. Eriu was a member of the Tuatha de Danann and the incarnation of Ireland. [3] Julius Caesar attests to the literacy of the Gauls, but also wrote that their priests, the druids, were forbidden to use writing to record certain verses of religious significance[4] (Caesar, Commentarii de Bello Gallico 6.14) while also noting that the Helvetii had a written census (Caesar, De Bello Gallico 1.29).
PDF The Creatures Of Celtic Myth (2023) - dev.pulitzercenter.org Were theonlyPop Archaeology site combining scientific research with out-of-the-box perspectives. Many people today consider these magical beings of ancient Irish mythology to be archetypes. In some sources, they are described as having dark skin and dark hair, thus leading to the speculation that the Fomorians sailed all the way to Ireland from Africa or Asia. The Fomorians either attacked the Fir Bolg or formed alliances with them. The king of the Fomorians was Balor, a giant with an eye in the middle of his forehead. Most surviving Celtic mythology belongs to the Insular Celtic peoples (the Gaels of Ireland and Scotland; the Celtic Britons of western Britain and Brittany). January 25, 2018 by zteve t evans. Bears are . Byrne's great height was the result of a then-undiscovered growth disorder . Statuettes Of Gods And Goddesses Unearthed At Ancient Site Of Kltepe, On This Day In History: Berlin Opened For One Day On Dec 20, 1963, Pharaoh Merneptah His Giant Sarcophagus And Unique Victory Stele, Ancient DNA Reveals: Iberian Males Were Almost Completely Replaced Between 4,500 And 4,000 Years Ago, Canaanite Wine Palace At Tel Kabri May Have Been Destroyed By Earthquake, On This Day In History: Solar Storm Known As The Carrington Event Took Place On August 28, 1859, Strange Tales Of Loughareema The Vanishing Lake Where People Are Lost, Incredible Ancient Metallurgical Wonders That Defy Explanation And Pose A Real Mystery Even Today, On This Day In History: Francis Baily First Observed Bailys Beads On May 15, 1836, Largest In Europe Underground Church Of Saint-Jean of Aubeterre Built By 12th Century Benedictine Monks, Unexplained Historical Mass Disappearances Lost Without Trace Part 1, Cave 53 In Qumran Region In Judean Desert Reveals More Secrets, Unique Knife That Belonged To Early Medieval Scribe Unearthed In Poland, 2nd Century Inscription Unearthed At Forum Of Ancient City Of Philippopolis, Bulgaria, Magnificent New Trove Of Ancient Egyptian Artifacts And 250 Mummies At The Saqqara Necropolis. Balar, Balor or Bolar, was an Irish god who belonged to the Fomorian race of giants. The champion of the Fir Bolg, Sreng, cut off the hand of Nuada, the king of the Tuatha de Danann. The giants of the pre-Christian mythology and religion of the Norse and other Germanic peoples are a tribe of spiritual beings whose power equals that of the two tribes of gods, the Aesir and the Vanir. The myths, legends, and religious beliefs and practices of the Celtic people. The two most revealing As Greek mythology goes, the universe was once a big soup of nothingness. This engaging book for kids (ages 8 to 12) will keep your . The Ulster Cycle (Irish: an Rraocht) is one of the four great cycles of Irish mythology and is a body of medieval Irish heroic legends and . And while some people may seem content with the story as it stands, our view is that there existcountless mysteries, scientific anomalies and surprising artifacts thathave yet to be discovered and explained. Giant animal (mythology) Giants (esotericism) Giant's Causeway; Jrmungandr, giant serpent in Norse mythology; April 10, 2017. No, it was heads of goats they hador maybe not. The most important of the gods, Lugh (see Lugus), is the offspring of the marriage of a god, Cian . Nuada could not retain the leadership of the Tuatha de Danann because he was disfigured by the loss of his hand. In some accounts, the Fomorians are described as one of the earliest races to have invaded and settled in Ireland. From an oak tree that grew in the land there sprouted a plant. I am sure you are familiar with his legend which states that he was born in a manger surrounded by shepherds, about Talks Begin on Repatriating Remains of Patrick Sarsfield, Irish War Hero, about Skeleton of Irish Giant, Charles Byrne, to be Removed from Public Display, about St. Patricks Bell: The Story of an Iconic Irish Artifact. An Ancient Irish Murder Mystery.
The Celtic Mythology parallels in Elden Ring. Anyone else - reddit 1. The Celtic Creation Myth: Creation According to the Celts. The Fomorians. Bres asked his father, Elatha, for help, but he refused. Watch Celtic Monsters Free Online.
Tuatha d Danann Goddess of fire in ancient Irish and Celtic mythology and legend. The Iliad can provide new insights on the role of motherhood among the ancient Greek gods, and by extension, amongst ancient mortal Greek women themselves. The ancient Greeks were no different. Balor seized the leadership of the Fomorians in Connacht and expelled the Nemed from Ireland. The shamrock - St. Patrick's teaching tool. Understanding the Mysterious Kingdom of Shambhala, The Green Children of Woolpit: Legendary Visitors from Another World, Medieval Sea Monster Was Likely a Whale, New Research Reveals, Adventist Adventurer Claimed to Have Found Ark of the Covenant Beneath Crucifixion Site, Iron Age Comb Made from Human Skull Discovered Near Cambridge, Caesars Savage Human Skewers Unearthed In German Fort, The Evidence is Cut in Stone: A Compelling Argument for Lost High Technology in Ancient Egypt, A Blazing Weapon: Unraveling the Mystery of Greek Fire. Irish Giants Of The 1700s Amongst them the skeletons were studied in detail of Cornelius MaGrath . It may be mentioned, however, that good-looking Fomorians may also be found in the ancient sources. Nefer Say Nefer - Was Nefertiti Buried in the Valley of the Queens? The Celts were the largest group in ancient Europe. The Tuatha de Danann won the First Battle of Moytura.
50+ Giant Names That Are Larger than Life | Kidadl Debunking the Mystery of the Abydos Carvings, A First of Its Kind - 8,500-Year-Old Wooden Ladder Found at atalhyk. TheTuatha De Danann defeated the Irish giants and attempted to forge a ceasefire with the Fomorians.
British Legends: Gogmagog and the Giants of Albion The Tuatha de Danann elected Bres as their new king. A glass that you drop but it doesnt break. Imagine a glass you can bend and then watch it return to its original form. Bloodthirsty, warrior giants which came from far across the sea? Ancient stones and tombs placed in a way that look to the stars and capture moments of astronomical importance. According to the Syrian rhetorician Lucian, Ogmios was supposed to lead a band of men chained by their ears to his tongue as a symbol of the strength of his eloquence. The magic of myths comes to life in this Celtic mythology book for kids 8 to 12. [Online]Available at: http://earthbeforeflood.com/fomorians.html, Lindemans, M. F., 1999. Nuada regained the kingship of the Tuatha de Danann. The supernatural race called the Tuatha D Danann are believed to be based on the main Celtic gods of Ireland, while many Welsh characters belong either to the Plant Dn ("Children of Dn") and the Plant Llr ("Children of Llr"). Balor agreed to raise an army of Fomorians to fight the Tuatha de Danann.
Celtic Mythology, Heroes & Heroines - Elven World Film Footage Provides Intimate View of HMS Gloucester Shipwreck, Top 8 Legendary Parties - Iconic Celebrations in Ancient History, The Spanish Inquisition: The Truth Behind the Black Legend (Part II), The Spanish Inquisition: The Truth behind the Dark Legend (Part I), Bloodthirsty Buddhists: The Sohei Warrior Monks of Feudal Japan, From Ancient Mystery School to Culture Capital: Eleusis Secret Past is Recognized, Iron Age Comb Made from Human Skull Discovered Near Cambridge, Dizzying Inca Rope Bridges Were Grass-Made Marvels of Engineering, Two Centuries Of Naval Espionage In Europe, What is Shambhala? Danu is the mother of all peoples who came to Earth to live peacefully and respectfully within our planets bounty and beauty. Some scholars believe that the Fomorians are a personification of these forces of nature. Required fields are marked *. The term Fomorian was analogous with - disease, plague, and disaster. Mystery Of Feodor Kuzmich Did Tsar Alexander I Fake His Death? Mercury was seen as the originator of all the arts (and is often taken to refer to Lugus for this reason), the supporter of adventurers and of traders, and the mightiest power concerning trade and profit. He is evidently a residual of the earlier, more widespread god Lugus, whose diffusion in Celtic religion is apparent from the number of place names in which his name appears, occurring across the Celtic world. The first part of the name, Fo, is generally said to mean below or beneath. WEB #Giants Researchers believe they originated from a branch of the great Celtic race, which passed through Europe, rounded the continent's shores, and finally, made Ireland their resting place. However I just think Celtic/Irish mythology setting would both be a lot of fun and have it intertwine the stories much easier. They were the gods and goddesses of death, darkness, chaos, rage, plagues, famines and droughts in the distant history of Ireland. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. AtAncient Origins, we believe that one of the most important fields of knowledge we can pursue as human beings is our beginnings. This happened, for instance, to the Nemeds, who attempted to invade Ireland after the Fomorians. The most famous of these are the cities of Lugdunum (the modern French city of Lyon), Lugdunum Batavorum (Brittenburg, 10 kilometers west of Leiden in the Netherlands) and Lucus Augusti (Greek: u u, the modern Galician city of Lugo). The magic of myths comes to life in this Celtic mythology book for kids 8 to 12 Imagine a world where fearsome giants, mischievous fairies, charming witches, and ageless queens wander the land. Thirty years later, came the Nemeds who like those who settled Ireland before him, had a genealogy going back to the biblical Noah. ISBN-13: 9781702855396. In Celtic Mythology for Kids, you'll be taken on a guided journey through the mystical realm of the Celts told through folklore and . The classic entry about the Celtic gods of Gaul is by Julius Caesar's history of his war in Gaul. Celtic mythology has many similarities between Christian stories in the bible and ancient Celtic tales.
8 Celtic Mythology Books for Readers of All Ages | Book Riot A Celtic creation myth - hoarfrost - In Pure Spirit 5.2 Gaelic mythology. For the 1991 video game, see, Julius Caesar on Celtic gods and their significance, Celtic Religion What Information do we really have, What We Don't Know About the Ancient Celts, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Celtic_mythology&oldid=1138052951, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Ancient Celtic religion (known primarily through archaeological sources rather than through written mythology), This page was last edited on 7 February 2023, at 19:53. He steals dogs belonging to Finn, a legendary Irish hero drawn from the same ancient Celtic sources as Arthur himself. Fomorians are a race of semi-divine beings from Irish mythology. Among these are images of a three-headed or three-faced god, a squatting god, a god with a snake, a god with a wheel, and a horseman with a kneeling giant. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Design a site like this with WordPress.com, The Fomorians Warlike Giants in Irish Mythology. Appearing to depict modern or extraterrestrial vehicles, some claim that the Turkeys atalhyk settlement, which developed between 7,500 BC and 6,400 BC, is often referred to as the worlds first, and oldest, metropolitan city, and for good reason. Celtic mythology is not found in a number of distinct, if related, subgroups, largely corresponding to the branches of the Celtic languages: As a result of the scarcity of surviving materials bearing written Gaulish, it is surmised that the most of the Celtic writings were destroyed by the Romans, though a written form of Gaulish using Greek, Latin and North Italic alphabets was used (as evidenced by votive items bearing inscriptions in Gaulish and the Coligny calendar). One of Scotland's most famous unsolved mysteries is that of the Loch Ness Monster (or 'Nessie' as it has affectionately come to be known). The particular character of the Dagda was as a figure of burlesque lampoonery in Irish mythology, and some authors even conclude that he was trusted to be benevolent enough to tolerate jokes at his own expense. AtAncient Origins, we believe that one of the most important fields of knowledge we can pursue as human beings is our beginnings. Who were the giants of Ireland? The druids, the early Celtic priesthood, taught the doctrine of transmigration of souls and discussed the nature and power of the gods. In Norse Mythology, Gaiman fashions primeval stories into a novelistic arc that begins with the genesis of the legendary nine worlds; delves into the exploits of the deities, dwarves, and giants; and culminates in Ragnarok, the twilight of the gods and the rebirth of a new time and people. Very much like the lyrics of the famous She may be ancient Egypts most famous face, but the quest to find the eternal resting place of Queen Nefertiti has never been hotter. The Fir Bolg led the Fomorians against the Tuatha de Danann at the First Battle of Moytura. The dramatic story of the origins of humanity in Greek mythology involves love, pain, and a hefty dose of What is the origin of the legend of the Christed Son who was born of a virgin on December 25th? Another interpretation, which is more popular, is that this word means phantom or spirit indicating that these were supernatural beings from the underworld. They allowed the Fir Bolg to live in peace in the province of Connacht. But there was the sea, and where the sea met the land, a mare was born, white and made of sea-foam. The Tuatha de Danann, meaning tribe of the goddess Danu, were the fifth group of people to arrive on the shores of Ireland. They were sometimes said to possess the power over certain natural phenomena, in particular destructive elements. Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. An enchanted dog, or rather, an enchanted man in ancient Irish and Celtic mythology and legend. Tuatha d Danann Goddess of healing and medicine in ancient Irish mythology. [1] Like other Iron Age Europeans, Celtic peoples followed a polytheistic religion, having many gods and goddesses. Christopher S. Pinard divides the 20 myths into 4 sections: Mischief Makers and Monstrous Fakers, For Love Lone, Landscapes in Celtic Folklore, and Into the Wide and Wild World. During their invasion of Ireland, for instance, the Fomorians encountered the Partholons, the first invaders of the island, and they are said to have fought many battles with them. Irish Arthur. In fact, trolls were often said to have had bears as pets with them. Prince of the Tuatha d Dannan, in ancient Irish mythology and legend, leader of the Warriors of Right, master of magic and all the arts. The Iliad can provide new insights on the role of motherhood among the ancient Greek gods, and by extension, amongst ancient mortal Greek women themselves. The ancient Greeks were no different. . The magic of myths comes to life in this Celtic mythology book for kids 8 to 12 Imagine a world where fearsome giants, mischievous fairies, charming witches, and ageless queens wander the land. These are some of the most widely . The gods and goddesses of the Tuatha de Danann were skilled in sorcery and enchantment. Why Fostering Kids Was So Popular in Ancient Ireland, Who Killed the King? Then, two things happened: either Chaos or Gaia created the universe as we know it, or Ouranos and Tethys gave birth to the first beings.
10 Mythical Giants From Around the World | Mental Floss 6. Inscriptions of more than three hundred deities, often equated with their Roman counterparts, have survived, but of these most appear to have been genii locorum, local or tribal gods, and few were widely worshiped. [Online]Available at: http://curiousireland.ie/the-fomorians/, Joe, J., 1999. These giants were associated with the powers of nature such as fog, storm, winter, and disease.
Celtic Mythology for Kids: Tales of Selkies, Giants, and the Sea The Fomorians are often described as monstrous, hideous-looking creatures.
Celtic Mythology - An Overview of a Unique Mythology Next the Gauls revered Apollo, Mars, Jupiter, and Minerva. Perhaps they were more like monsters with a single leg, arm, and eye?
Elden Ring's Possible Mythological Inspirations for the Giant Bear Enemy Notable is Epona, the horse goddess, celebrated with horse races at the summer festival.
Celtic Mythology - Celtic Myths, Stories, Symbols and Culture In some sources the Fomorians are painted as grotesque abominations.
The 10 most famous MYTHS and LEGENDS from Irish folklore They were only accustomed to seeing their own mutated bodies and a child who was born normal with all fingers and toes, was doomed to be killed as a monster. One common figure is the sovereignty goddess, who represents the land and bestows sovereignty on a king by marrying him. Today, the archeological site of Tara is under development endangering the sacred land.
The 10 Best Celtic Mythology Books The horseman with the kneeling giant is centered on either side of the Rhine. King of all things and father of all Tuatha d Danann in ancient Irish mythology and Celtic legend. The women of her tribe had asked the male elders to bring them to a place where they could provide for their families and offered to swear allegiance to . It tells the story of the formidable deeds of C Chulainn, a son of the god Lugh and perhaps the foremost of all of the Celtic heroes. From Old Irish Ailbe, possibly derived from the old Celtic root * albiyo- "world, light, white" or Old Irish ail "rock". The magic of myths comes to life in this Celtic mythology book for kids 8 to 12 Imagine a world where fearsome giants, mischievous fairies, charming witches, and ageless queens wander the land. Our next creature, the Dullahan, is a faerie that you'd struggle to describe as 'happy', as it takes the form of a headless rider on a black horse. The Tuatha D represent the functions of human society such as kingship, crafts and war, while the Fomorians represent chaos and wild nature.
Celtic Mythology Names - Behind the Name And are they *really* giants, or wizards in disguise? This attempt failed due to treachery from one side that resulted in a terrible war between the two races that ended in the Fomorians downfall. They preserved some of their myths in oral lore, which were eventually written down by Christian scribes in the Middle Ages. They were said to have come from the sea or under its surface and they were some of the earliest inhabitants of the British Isles, who occupied occupying both Scotland and Ireland.