History
Origins[]
The Dagda was the son of Iarbonel and Danu, and was born and raised in Tír na nÓg, in the dimension of Otherworld.
He came to rule Murias, one of the four cities inhabited by the Tuatha de Danaan (the Celtic gods) and became one of the most skilled users of druid magic of his people.[1] He also sired the war god Bodb Derg with the war goddess Morrigan.[7]
Hyborian Age (10,000 BC)[]
Dagda was a deity worshiped by Cimmerians during the Age of Conan.[2]
Earth (1896 BC to 350 AD)[]
In 1896 BC, the Tuatha led by the Dagda's older brother Nuada, with the Dagda himself serving as Nuada's second-in-command, went to the Earth realm.
After losing his hand, Nuada was unable to rule and was succeeded by half-Fomorian Bres. After a seven-years reign, he was deposed by the Tuatha who chose the Dagda as their new king. His eldest son, the war god Bodb Derg, believing himself a better leader than his father, secretly plotted to control the Tuatha de Danaan by force.[1]
Return to Otherworld (350 AD)[]
Circa 350 AD, the Milsians (ancestors of the Celts). arrived to Ireland. The Dagda decided that the Tuatha de Danaan should relinquish their holdings in the Earthrealm and return to Otherworld. Bodb Derg enraged and attempted to control the Tuatha by force but was defeated and banished to the netherworld of Annwn.[1]
Modern Age[]
In modern times, when Leir felt honor bound to aid the Asgardians against the Heliopolitan god of evil Seth as repayment for Thor previously helping Leir vanquish one of Seth's beasts from Otherworld, the Dagda supported the decision (even though the Tuatha de Danaan and Asgardians had until that time been hereditary enemies). The Dagda deployed Tír na nÓg's greatest warriors, led by Leir and Caber, to defend Asgard against Seth's invading forces, but remained in Otherworld to conduct the battle strategy from afar.[8] However, when the impulsive Leir and the strategic Asgardian war god Tyr began to clash over a disagreement in battle tactics, the Dagda decided that it would be best to also travel to Asgard in order to assist the Asgardian light god Balder in keeping peace among Asgard's allies.[9] As Seth's invading army continued its unrelenting assault on Asgard, Tyr and the Asgardian warrior Sif contemplated a strategic retreat to regroup, an idea that Leir considered cowardly until the Dagda convinced him it was the best option. Asgardian reinforcements eventually arrived, Seth was defeated, and the Tuatha de Danaan returned to Otherworld.[10]
Soon after, a giant troll attacked a village of the Tuatha de Danaan in Tír na nÓg. The Dagda congratulated Leir, who fended off the troll's attack, and informed him that the troll was sent by their enemies the Fomorians. Driven by vengeance, Leir led Caber and a troop of Celtic warriors into the Dark Realm of the Fomorians to kill their enemies in retaliation. But before Leir was able to draw Fomorian blood, the Dagda conjured a swarm of hornets which caused the would-be combatants to scatter. When Leir later asked the Dagda why he stopped the battle, the Dagda explained that the initial Fomorian attack did not result in any death and therefore Leir was foolhardy to respond disproportionately with lethal force.[4]
Months later, the Dagda channeled his magic through an ancient druidic temple to locate the Asgardian realm after it drifted into the Negative Zone because its anchor to Earth, the Bifrost, had been severed. At Leir's request, the Dagda opened a mystic gateway from Otherworld to Asgard; but once Leir boastfully announced his plans to venture to Asgard in order to claim Sif as his bride, the Dagda was unable to close the gateway in time to prevent Leir's departure. As the Dagda closed the gateway, Caber followed Leir to Asgard in order to ensure his impetuous actions did not spark a war with the Asgardians.[11]
When the industrial entities known as the Manchester Gods materialized in Otherworld and began assimilating the landscape, an informal summit was held between Master Wilson of the Manchester Gods and the various rulers of Otherworld: the Dagda, the Lady of the Lake, King Arthur, Merlyn, and Captain Britain. However, no compromise was reached, as Master Wilson demanded that gods should no longer rule Otherworld, and the two sides went to war. Later, the Dagda, the Lady of the Lake, Merlyn, Captain Britain, and other denizens of Otherworld were assembled in Camelot by King Arthur to rally the alliance of factions for battle against the Manchester Gods.[12] As the war raged on, the Dagda, the Lady of the Lake, Merlyn, Captain Britain, and King Arthur conducted battle strategy from within Camelot. But when the Asgardian god Loki sympathized with the message of the Manchester Gods and detonated several symbolic locations which empowered the traditional gods and lords of Otherworld, the battle shifted in favor of the Manchester Gods, at which time they pressured their enemies into signing a treaty under terms favorable to them. The Dagda, the Lady of the Lake, Merlyn, Captain Britain, and King Arthur were present at the signing of the armistice with Master Wilson that brought an end to the war with the Manchester Gods and established Otherworld as a parliamentary democracy rather than a monarchy.[13]Attributes
Powers
- Superhuman Strength: The Dagda is far stronger than the average member of his species and can lift 90 tons without making use of his other powers.[14]
- Superhuman Speed
- Superhuman Stamina: The advanced musculature of the Danaan Thuatha produces considerably less fatigue toxins during physical activity than the musculature of a human.
- Superhuman Durability: The Dagda possesses vast levels of physical resistance to damage.[14]
- Superhumanly Dense Tissue
- Superhuman Agility
- Superhuman Reflexes
- Regenerative Healing Factor: Despite your body's great resistance to injury, it is possible for Celtic gods to be injured. All Celtic gods possess accelerated metabolism and the mystical energies of his divine life force allow him to rapidly heal damaged bodily tissue much faster and more extensively than a human is capable of. They cannot, however, regrow lost limbs or organs, at least not without the help of powerful, outside mystical forces.
- Immortality: The Tuatha de Danaan stop aging after reaching adulthood. In addition, his body is immune to all known terrestrial diseases and infections.[14]
- Energy Manipulation: All Celtic gods and prominent goddess deities are able to control magical forces to a considerable degree in scale. The Dagda has vast magical energy powers that surpass the energy-wielding of most of his fellow Tuatha de Danaan.[1]
- Power Bestowal: The Dagda can enchant people and objects.[14]
- Dimensional Travel: The Dagda can create dimensional apertures.[14]
- Shapeshifting: The Dagda can alter his shape.[14]
- Precognition: The Dagda possesses limited precognitive abilities.[14]
Paraphernalia
Equipment
The magical caldron Undry could feed entire nations without emptying, as it contains a perpetual supply of physical and spiritual nourishment.[1]
His harp could produce music to bend the seasons to his will, extending autumn or hastening spring for summer at will,[citation needed] by controlling atmospheric conditions.[1]Weapons
Trivia
- In Celtic mythology, Eochaid Ollathair was another name for the Dagda.
See Also
- 7 appearance(s) of Eochaid Ollathair (Earth-616)
- 2 appearance(s) in handbook(s) of Eochaid Ollathair (Earth-616)
- 3 mention(s) in handbook(s) of Eochaid Ollathair (Earth-616)
- 2 invocation(s) of Eochaid Ollathair (Earth-616)
- 5 image(s) of Eochaid Ollathair (Earth-616)
Links and References
- Eochaid Ollathair on Wikipedia.org
- The Dagda at the Guide to the Mythological Universe
- The Dagda at the Appendix to the Marvel Universe
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica #1 ; The Dagda's profile
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Savage Tales #4 ; Night of the Dark God
- ↑ Marvel Atlas #1 ; Ireland's profile
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Marvel Comics Presents #30
- ↑ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #14 ; Dagda's profile
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #3 ; Council of Godheads' profile
- ↑ Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica #1 ; The Bodb Derg's profile
- ↑ Thor #398
- ↑ Thor #399
- ↑ Thor #400
- ↑ Mighty Thor #417
- ↑ Journey Into Mystery #639
- ↑ Journey Into Mystery #641
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #14
- ↑ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Vol 1 14