Lugh (Earth-616)

Lugh
Name	Lugh
Aliases	Lug, Hu
Affiliation and Relationships
Relatives	Grandparents: Iarbonel (paternal grandfather via the Dagda) Gaea/Danu (paternal grandmother via the Dagda) Balor (maternal grandfather) Parents: The Dagda or Cian (father, see notes) Ethniu (mother) Siblings: Bodb Derg (older brother/half-brother via the Dagda, see notes) Rhiannon (sister/half-sister via the Dagda, see notes) Spouses: Cerridwen (see notes) Children: Cúchulain (son with Deichtine)
Physical Characteristics
Gender	Male
Eyes	Irises: No Visible
Hair	Blond
Origin and Living Status
Origin	Tuatha de Danaan with Fomorian lineage
Living Status	Alive
Reality	Earth-616
Personal Information
Citizenship	Tír na nÓg
Occupation	Sun god, warrior
Base of Operations	Tír na nÓg
Creators and Appearances
Creators	J.M. DeMatteis, Mark Badger
First	Gargoyle #2 (March, 1985) (Mentioned) Gargoyle #3 (April, 1985) (As Hu) Black Knight (Vol. 2) #4 (July, 1990) (As Lug)
First	Gargoyle #2 (March, 1985) (Mentioned) Gargoyle #3 (April, 1985) (As Hu) Black Knight (Vol. 2) #4 (July, 1990) (As Lug)

Lugh was a prominent deity in the Celtic pantheon, revered as a sun god and a skilled warrior. A member of the Tuatha de Danaan, he was of mixed heritage, with ties to both the Tuatha and the Fomorians. Despite his Fomorian ancestry, his loyalties lied with the Tuatha. Renowned for wielding the mystical Spear of Lugh, Lugh was widely venerated by the Druids.

History

Origins

Lugh was a prominent deity in the Celtic pantheon, revered as both a sun god and a warrior of the Tuatha de Danaan. His parentage is a subject of varying accounts; some traditions identify him as the son of Cian, a Tuatha god, while others claim he was the offspring of the Dagda, another deity within the same pantheon. His mother, Ethniu, was a Fomorian, a race often depicted as adversaries of the Tuatha. Lugh was one of triplets born to Ethniu. According to legend, Ethniu's father, Balor, the Fomorian ruler, was forewarned by his wife, Cethlann, that a grandson would bring about his demise. In an attempt to prevent this prophecy, Balor sought to drown the infants, but Lugh alone survived.

Myth

Lugh and wife Cerridwen

Lugh was said to have been married to Cerridwen, a goddess associated with wisdom, witchcraft, fertility, and magic. If the Dagda is considered his father, Lugh would have been the younger half-brother of Bodb Derg, the god of war, and Rhiannon, the horse goddess, through the Dagda's union with the Morrigan. Lugh was often depicted wielding the Spear of Lugh, a mystical weapon that required immersion in a cauldron of blood when not in use to quell its insatiable thirst for destruction.

Battle with the Fomorians

Around 1896 BCE, the Tuatha de Danaan migrated from the Otherworld to Earth, where they waged war on the Fir Bolg. The Tuatha emerged victorious in the First Battle of Mag Tuired, though their king, Nuada, sustained severe injuries that rendered him unfit to rule. He was succeeded by Bres, a half-Tuatha, half-Fomorian ruler whose tyrannical reign lasted seven years before he was deposed. Enraged, Bres rallied the Fomorians to wage war against the Tuatha.

Despite his Fomorian lineage, Lugh's loyalties lied with his Tuatha kin. In the ensuing conflict, during the Second Battle of Mag Tuired, Lugh fulfilled the prophecy of Balor's demise by grievously wounding and blinding his grandfather, leading to the Tuatha's triumph. Lugh also captured Bres but spared his life on the condition that Bres teach the Celts the art of agriculture. Following their defeat, the Fomorians were driven back to the Dark Realm of the Otherworld.

Progeny

Lugh fathered a son, Sétanta, with the mortal druidess Deichtine, sister of Conchobar mac Nessa, the King of Ulster. The demigod, later known as Cúchulainn, the Hound of Culann, was born in Mag Muirthemne, located in present-day County Louth, Ireland. Upon his death, Cúchulainn was deified and inherited his father's Spear of Lugh, which he renamed "Slaughter." However, the spear did not remain in his possession indefinitely; in 150 BCE, an Irish warrior maiden retrieved it to slay the Morrigan's host at the time, subsequently becoming the goddess's new vessel.

Celt Worship

Worship of the sun god

Lugh was venerated across the western Celtic world, with numerous sacred sites dedicated to his honor. The Druids, the spiritual leaders of ancient Britain and Gaul, held him in high regard, often worshipping the sun god Hu, a likely corruption of his name, as their father figure and Cerridwen as their mother. Rituals in his honor frequently involved the sacrifice of cattle, and it was believed that Lugh granted magical abilities to the Druids who worshipped him, empowering them to perform potent spells and rituals. He was also feared for his ability to summon storms as retribution against those who defied sacred laws or offended him.

Christianization

The Roman conquest of Britain marked the beginning of the decline in the worship of Lugh and other Celtic deities. As Christianity spread, many pagan sites were either repurposed or destroyed. Churches were often erected over locations once considered sacred to Lugh and Cerridwen. In one notable instance, a church built on a site of ancient mystical power was said to house stone gargoyles that gained sentience, a testament to the lingering influence of the old gods.

Modern Era

In modern times, Morgan Le Fay summoned corrupted versions of Lugh, Morrigan, Cernunnos, and Taranis from the Netherworld to attack Arizona. Doctor Strange identified these entities as ancient demons and Fomorians and banished them back to the Dark Realm.

Gargoyle Incident

In recent times, a figure known as Derwyddon, a Druid preserved beneath the ocean for centuries, re-emerged into the modern world. Rescued by sea sprites, he awoke to find that the Druidic faith had largely faded into obscurity. Disillusioned and embittered, particularly toward Christianity, Derwyddon encountered a church constructed on a site of ancient mystic power. Noticing the stone gargoyles, he used his magic to animate them, transforming their stone forms into living beings. However, the gargoyles, driven by vengeance, turned against him. In a final act of defiance, Derwyddon sought refuge within the church and used his remaining strength to encircle the building with sacred oaks. As he collapsed, he lamented the apparent death of his gods. Yet, in a moment of clarity, he sensed a divine light within himself, realizing that Lugh and Cerridwen had not vanished but had instead evolved to meet the changing needs of their followers.

Paraphernalia

Weapons

Formerly wielded the powerful Spear of Lugh, which was given to his son.

Notes

• Lugh was stated to be the brother of Bodb Derg, who is son to the Dagda and Morrigan. However, Lugh's son Cúchulain is stated to have the Dagda and Ethniu as his paternal grandparents, with Iarbonel and Balor as paternal grandparents. Lugh is consequently half-brother to Bodb Derg.
• Rhiannon was identified as the daughter of the Dagda and Morrigan, making her either a full or half-sister to Lugh, depending on the account of his parentage.
• It is also stated that Lugh was the son of Cian instead of the Dagda, and had two brothers (though they were slain in their youths) in the Fomor's profile in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #14, but was also listed as the Dagda son in the same issue, in the Dagda's profile.
• Hu was identified as the Celtic sun god, as was Lugh. Hu is likely a corruption of Lugh’s name, suggesting they represent the same entity.

See Also

• 2 appearance(s) of Lugh (Earth-616)
• 2 mention(s) of Lugh (Earth-616)
• 1 mention(s) in handbook(s) of Lugh (Earth-616)
• 3 image(s) of Lugh (Earth-616)
• 1 victim(s) killed by Lugh (Earth-616)
• 1 item(s) used/owned by Lugh (Earth-616)

Links and References

• Lugh on Wikipedia.org