Anthropology

Judi Lynn

(162,290 posts) Tue Apr 18, 2023, 01:14 AM Apr 2023

Myths And Legends

Myths and legends from all across the world tell stories of incredible gods and goddesses who possessed remarkable abilities and divine weapons. Who were these beings and in what way were they important to our ancestors?

There are also accounts of mythological creatures and mysterious ancient places. Historians, archaeologists and scientists have been able to confirm the validity of some of these myths, but many mythological personalities, creatures and places are still shrouded in mystery. There is no doubt many mythological beings and places are still of great cultural and historical significance to people.

In this section we take a closer look at some of the most intriguing stories and enter the magical and fascinating world of myths and legends.

Myths & Legends Archive

Aillén Mac Midgna: Evil Goblin Who Terrorized Sacred Hill Of Tara
AncientPages.com | March 28, 2023 | Celtic Mythology

A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - Aillén Mac Midgna, known as 'the burner,' was a fire-breathing goblin. He represented the other world and was a member of the magical tribe known as Tuatha Dé Danann. He targeted his victims by playing fairy music from his magical harp, causing them to fall into a deep sleep.

Utopien 04. Image credit: Makis E. Warlamis - CC BY-SA 3.0

Every year during the Great Assembly, the Irish King (in English: Conn of the Hundred Battles') enlarged the number of men guarding the royal city, but in vain.

Still, the goblin managed to enter the area within the outer gates, and nobody recognized him. Moving promptly towards the palace, Aillén Mac Midgna could devastate the royal building with its flaming breath. He terrorized Ireland's most sacred location, the hill of Tara, the seat of Ireland's High King. It was an ancient ceremonial and burial site in County Meath, Ireland.

This happened every Samhain Eve for twenty-three years until Fionn of the Fianna conquered Aillén and killed him. Aillén appeared in Tara and played the Irish harp enthusiastically, causing everyone in the immediate area to fall asleep under his spell. He was aware that no one could resist the devastating influence of his music.

More:
https://www.ancientpages.com/category/myths-legends/

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Myths And Legends (Original Post) Judi Lynn Apr 2023 OP

Too much of the Irish stuff bored me as a kid Warpy Apr 2023 #1

Warpy

(113,093 posts)

1. Too much of the Irish stuff bored me as a kid

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Tue Apr 18, 2023, 11:08 AM

Apr 2023

because it was so tied to geographical features I'd never seen. I did love the Salmon of Wisdom and the tricks lLerechauns pulled on greedy people.

Some seeming myths contain an oral history. Now that archaeologists aren't digging up and removing their ancestors, a few local tribes have started to talk a little, their stories covering things like an effusive volcanic eruption near Zuni (8,000 years ago) and what caused Chaco to be abandoned. In eastern Australia, they've uncovered stories that accurately describe the sea rise at the end of the Ice Age and this one, https://www.science.org/content/article/aboriginal-tale-ancient-volcano-oldest-story-ever-told Taken at face value, these stories just seem ridiculous to modern ears. Looking a little deeper into them found truth there.

For a long time, oral histories have been discounted as being too flowery or fantastical to be true, but once you cut through the stuff people added to cadge more free drinks at an ale house or wine bar, some of them can be tied to actual events.

Fionn MacCumhaill (prounounced Finn McCool) and the Salmon of Wisdom? I can think of no more perfect time to experience the inductive leap than staring into a deep pool of water and waiting for dinner to arrive in it.

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