The Tuatha de Danaan are a humanoid race of extradimensional beings from Tír na nÓg, a realm within the Otherworld, a pocket dimension adjacent to Earth. Worshipped as early as the Hyborian Age, they were most prominently venerated by the ancient Celts of the British Isles.
Adopted as the Celtic gods, the Tuatha resided on Earth for a period spanning over two millennia, engaging with their worshippers and becoming embroiled in numerous conflicts, particularly against their fated rivals, the Fomorians.
While their worship declined with the rise of Christianity, they remain revered by neo-druidic practitioners today and have continued to make their presence known, occasionally intervening in mortal affairs.[10]
History
Origins[]
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Gaea, the Tuatha's progenitor
Gaea, one of the Elder Gods, emerged billions of years ago[11] and created the mystical realm of Avalon in the extradimensional Otherworld, making it one of the first Inner Planes and her home.[12][13] Over time, she adopted various names and became a maternal figure for many pantheons worshipped by humanity.[14]
Tír na nÓg
As Danu, she united with Iarbonel, a high chieftain, to sire the Tuatha de Danaan, meaning "Children of Danu." Among their first generation were sons Nuada, the Dagda, Leir, and Ogma,[15] along with daughters Badb, Macha, Morrigan, and Ériu.[16][14] These deities were born in Tír na nÓg,[17] a divine realm connected to Avalon, allowing them to remain close to their worshippers while keeping their distance.[18] The Tuatha ruled from their cities: Falias, Gorias, Finias, and Murias,[19][20][21] but some chose to dwell in their underworld, Annwn.[17]
Immortality and Power[]
The Tuatha de Danaan are immortal, ceasing to age once they reach adulthood. Many possess superhuman abilities and excel in magic, while some demigods ascend to full godhood after their mortal end. Their power is closely tied to Tír na nÓg, causing lesser Tuatha to grow weaker after prolonged stays on Earth. They can manifest through hosts in the physical world, but the bond places immense strain on the mortals, often leading to an early death.[17]
Fomorian Enmity[]
Tuatha's rivals, the Fomorians
The Tuatha de Danaan became eternal foes of the Fomorians,[14] a dark race Gaea conceived with warrior king Conand.[22] Though both groups inhabited the Otherworld, the Fomorians dwelled in the Dark Realm, which intensified their rivalry and conflict.[14] Despite this animosity, unions between the two pantheons were not unusual. The Tuatha god Cian, or in some accounts, the Dagda,[23] sired a son, Lugh, with the Fomorian princess Ethniu.[24]
Pre-Cataclysmic Age[]
The Pre-Cataclysmic Age, which concluded around 18,000 BC,[25] saw the worship of several Tuatha deities. Around 21,000 BC, Crom, the god of storms, death, and eternity, gained prominence after guiding a shaman to three Iron-Bound Books of magic and imprisoning the ancient demon Shuma-Gorath beneath what would later be known as Mount Crom in Cimmeria.[26][27] During this era, the ancient Atlanteans revered Leir and his son Manannan as sea gods,[28] often invoking them together as Father Lir and Manannan Mac Lir.[29][30]
Age of Acheron[]
The Age of Acheron began centuries after the Great Cataclysm and lasted until approximately 13,000 BC.[31] During this period, Crom and Badb, the goddess of war, were invoked by King Bafomai's Elite Guard in Python, a city-state of the ancient kingdom of Acheron, shortly before its downfall.[32]
Hyborian Age[]
During the Hyborian Age, around 10,000 BC in the Age of Conan,[33] several Tuatha de Danaan deities were venerated across different cultures.[34] The Cimmerians worshipped Crom, Lord of the Great Mountain, as their chief deity, with all other gods considered his subordinates,[35] including Leir and his son Manannan, whose worship was inherited from the Atlanteans.[28] The war goddess Morrigan, often accompanied by Macha and Badb, formed a triad of war deities,[36] though Nemain the Venomous sometimes replaced Badb in this role.[37][38]
Other Tuatha gods, such as the Dagda, god of magic, and Diancecht, god of medicine, were also invoked during this time.[39] Among the Ligurean Picts, Cernunnos, Epona, and Nuadens Argatlam of the Silver Hand—possibly another name for Nuada[40]—were called upon[41] alongside Danu.[41]
Scathach's Warrior[]
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Scathach empowering Red Sonja
In Hyrkania, the war goddess Scathach was revered by the Favored, a clan of red-haired, bronze-skinned individuals she had created.[42] In league with the Tenger god Erlik, who acted through the Tarim, his living avatar, Scathach orchestrated Red Sonja’s transformation into a mighty warrior.[43] She prophesied the Favored’s downfall at Sonja’s hands and subjected her to unspeakable horrors and suffering, forging her into the ultimate warrior.[42]
Arawn's Wrath[]
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Arawn and Conan Collide
Arawn, the dark god of the underworld, roamed the Twilight Forest of the Border Kingdom, hunting souls for Annwn with his spectral Cŵn Annwn. When a woman named Merya prayed for rescue from the Picts, Arawn answered and chose her as his bride. When she rejected him, he imprisoned her for seven years. Upon her release, she sought the aid of Conan the Barbarian. Arawn was repelled by Conan, but Merya perished in the end.[44]
Tuatha on Earth[]
The Tuatha's arrival on Earth
After the death of Iarbonel, Nuada assumed leadership of the Tuatha de Danaan,[1] with the Dagda serving as his second-in-command.[20] Under Nuada’s guidance, the Tuatha departed their cities in Tir na nÓg, traveling through an interdimensional nexus in boats[45] to reach Earth around 1896 BC. This move mirrored the earlier arrival of their sworn enemies, the Fomorians.[1] Upon landing on the Irish mainland, the Tuatha found themselves on the lush fields of Mag Tuired, where their fate would unfold.[45]
The First Battle of Mag Tuired[]
The First Battle of Mag Tuired
The Tuatha were met with resistance from the Fir Bolg, a fierce race inhabiting the land who had come to worship the Fomorians as their gods. The ensuing conflict, known as the First Battle of Mag Tuired,[1] was brutal and bloody.[45] During the battle, the Fir Bolg champion Sreng severed Nuada’s right hand, leaving him grievously wounded.[40] Despite this, Nuada led the Tuatha to victory, securing their dominance over the island. The Fomorians were allowed to retain the province of Connacht, while the Tuatha established their stronghold at Tara, constructing a grand castle to solidify their rule.[45]
The Fall of Nuada[]
The Lords of the Tuatha opposing Nuada
Following the battle, Nuada was fitted with a prosthetic hand made of sterling silver, crafted by the god of medicine, Dian Cecht.[45] Later, Dian Cecht’s son, Miach, created a flesh-and-blood replacement for Nuada’s hand. However, Miach’s skill incited jealousy in his father, who ultimately killed him.[40] Despite this miraculous restoration, Nuada’s rule was challenged by the Lords of the Tuatha, who decreed that only an unblemished leader could reign. Forced to step down, Nuada relinquished his kingship.[45]
The Reign of Bres[]
During this time, Ériu, a Tuatha goddess, secretly bore a son named Bres after coupling with Elathan, a Fomorian prince. Bres’s Fomorian heritage was concealed, and he matured rapidly, eventually being chosen as Nuada’s successor.[46] For seven years, an uneasy alliance existed between the Tuatha and the Fomorians, though both sides prepared for another conflict.[45] Bres’s reign, however, was marked by tyranny and corruption.[1] His oppressive rule sparked widespread discontent, particularly due to the vocal opposition of Caber, the god of speed, whose ridicule of Bres united the Tuatha against him.[4] Upon his deposition, Ériu revealed Bres’s true parentage, prompting him to flee and join his Fomorian kin.[46]
The Second Battle of Mag Tuired[]
The Second Battle of Mag Tuired
Enraged by his exile, Bres convinced the Fomorians to launch an assault on the Tuatha.[46] Recognizing Lugh, a half-Tuatha, half-Fomorian god whose loyalty lay with the Tuatha,[17] as a superior leader, Nuada abdicated his military command to him.[40] The Second Battle of Mag Tuired erupted, with Nuada leading the charge[45] until he was slain by the Fomorian giant Balor.[40] Lugh, however, rose to the occasion, grievously wounding and blinding Balor, his own grandfather, fulfilling the prophecy that a descendant of Balor would bring about his downfall.[47][40] The Tuatha emerged victorious, and Lugh captured Bres but spared his life on the condition that he teach the Celts the secrets of agriculture.[17] The defeated Fomorians were driven back to the Dark Realm in the Otherworld,[47] and the Dagda was installed as the new ruler of the Tuatha.[1]
The Aftermath[]
The Dagda’s rule faced internal challenges, particularly from his eldest son, Bodb Derg, the war god, who believed himself more capable of leadership.[20] This sparked a rivalry between Bodb Derg and Leir, who also sought to succeed the Dagda, believing his own strength and accomplishments made him the rightful heir.[48][49]
Celt Worship[]
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Worship of Lugh, the sun god
The ancient Celts, along with earlier Goidelic-speaking peoples of the British Isles, practiced the worship of the Tuatha de Danaan from around 2000 BC to 500 AD.[1] The Tuatha interacted with the Celts of the British Isles and France for centuries, mentoring many of the Walkers, men of power who forged new paths between Earth and the Otherworld.[50] Cernunnos, a widely worshipped deity associated with animals, may have served as a patron to the Walker Herne the Hunter.[17] Moreover, Scathach took up residence on the Scottish Isle of Skye, where she was worshipped by the Picts.[17]
Among the deities the Celts venerated were Crom, later known as Crom Cruach, who became associated with agriculture.[17] Leir and Manannan, meanwhile, were honored as gods of poetry and horses.[35] Celtic rituals were conducted through druidic circles, where a triad of war goddesses known as the Morrígu was venerated.[51] This triad typically included Morrigan, Badb, and Macha,[17] though in some traditions, Nemain replaced one of them.[52] Additionally, Lugh, a solar deity, and Cerridwen, a goddess of witchcraft, were deeply revered by the druids as paternal and maternal figures.[53]
Attempted Invasion[]
In 600 BC,[9] another threat emerged when the sorceress Carman and her three sons arrived from Athens to invade Ireland. Their advance was thwarted by four mages who claimed to be of the Tuatha de Danaan. Carman’s sons were exiled to North America, where one of them, Dian, murdered his brothers to seize their power for himself.[54]
The First Hosts[]
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Morrigan, chief mother of the Tuatha
Around 250 BC, Morrigan claimed her first host.[55] By 150 BC, her then-host killed a young woman’s father in Ireland, manipulating the woman into killing her and becoming Morrigan’s new host instead, a role she maintained for over two millennia.[56]
Roman Persecution[]
In the 1st century AD, two Celtic druids were mortally wounded in a Roman attack. As they died, they sacrificed themselves to Morrigan, Cernunnos, and Taranis, the god of thunder, praying for a warrior to rise and avenge their deaths. In response, the gods imbued their Oak Staff with power, binding themselves to an oath.[57]
Rhiannon’s Stonghold[]
Also in the 1st century AD, Rhiannon, the goddess of enchantments and horses, or her mortal host, established and ruled Ashandriar, a magical stronghold on the coast of ancient England.[58] During this time, Rhiannon sheltered and aided Marada, a silver-haired warrior enslaved in Rome,[59] in her battle against the demonic N’Garai.[60]
Return to Otherworld[]
The fierce Tuatha warriors
Around 350 AD, with the arrival of the Milesians, the ancestors of the Celts, in Ireland, the Tuatha de Danaan relinquished their earthly holdings. They sealed an agreement with the Milesian druid Amergin Glúingel: the Milesians would worship the Tuatha in exchange for their protection. After this pact, the Tuatha retreated to the Otherworld.[1]
This decision enraged Bodb Derg, who saw it as a defeat and attempted to seize control of the Tuatha by force. Defeated by his brethren, Bodb Derg was banished to Annwn.[20][49] Over time, his greed corrupted his essence, allowing him to merge with the Red Lord, the embodiment of decay and destruction.[49]
Kings and Demigods[]
Nuada chose to inhabit a mortal host, ruling Britain as King Lud and fathering the demigods Gwynn and Gwythr, deities of springtime and winter, respectively. When his host died, a fragment of Nuada’s divine essence lingered, driving the host to madness and consigning him to Oblivion, where he believed himself to be the true Nuada.[40]
Upon their mortal deaths, some demigods ascended to godhood, such as Bran, the demigod-giant and king of Britain, son of Leir,[61] and the formidable Cúchulain, son of Lugh, who was trained in combat by the goddess Scathach.[62] Despite their mortal origins, Conchobar Mac Nessa, the legendary King of Ulster, and his father, Cathbad, both ascended to godhood.[17]
The Rise of Christianity[]
By the 5th century AD, the spread of Catholicism, led by St. Patrick, largely replaced the worship of the Tuatha de Danaan.[1] St. Patrick famously ended human sacrifices to Crom Cruach, marking the decline of Crom’s worship.[17] As people turned away from the old ways, creatures from the Otherworld were increasingly scorned.[63] Pagan sites were repurposed or destroyed, though some retained traces of the old gods’ power.[64]
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Gwynn's prophecy
In the 6th century, within Camelot, some druid priests secretly continued to worship the Tuatha. Gwynn prophesied that Percival, the young son of Lady Evaine of Scandia, one of his priestesses, was destined to bring about the end of the Age of Camelot, allowing a new society to be born.[65]
Despite the decline of the old ways, Niamh Chinn Óir, the goddess of lakes, remained a loyal ally to King Arthur. She bestowed upon him the legendary sword Excalibur and, after the fall of Camelot, carried his remains to Avalon.[66]
Cold War with Asgard[]
The Tuatha clash with Asgard's Doom Maidens
Beginning in the 8th century AD, when the Vikings, worshippers of the Asgardians, started raiding villages across the British Isles, a cold war erupted between the Tuatha and the Asgardians. When the cruel and merciless Doom Maidens of Asgard swept across the realms like Ragnarok incarnate, the Tuatha de Danaan rose as steadfast bulwarks against the tide of destruction the Maidens unleashed.[67] This enmity persisted for centuries,[1] and for nearly a millennium, the Asgardians and Tuatha de Danaan seemed to have no interaction, until the modern age.[2]
Council of Godheads[]
In the 10th century AD, the Third Host of the Celestials confronted Earth's pantheons. Though Nuada had abdicated as ruler, he remained the Tuatha’s representative on the Council of Godheads alongside Crom. To avoid direct conflict, the gods agreed to the Celestials’ 1,000-year evaluation of humanity.[68][38]
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Council of Godheads
Seeking a peaceful resolution, Gaea convened the chief mother goddesses of each pantheon to search and offer humans who embodied humanity’s highest ideals to the Celestials. Morrigan represented the Celtic gods in this effort.[69][70]
Fomorian Assault[]
In the 12th century AD, the Fomorians freed the resurrected Balor and attacked Avalon in the Otherworld.[71] High Druid Amergin Glúingel summoned the modern-day Avengers for aid.[72] During the ensuing battle, Balor perished, and the Fomorians were defeated, but Bres seized the opportunity to escape into the modern era through a portal.[71]
Modern Age[]
In the modern era, the Tuatha de Danaan are still revered by practitioners of neo-druidism and other nature-based religions.[1] Despite lacking the vast numbers of ancient worshippers, the Tuatha have continued to make their presence known on Earth on many occasions.[57]
Niamh's Vigilance[]
The ever-watchful Lady of the Lake
Niamh’s role as a guardian extended into the modern era. When the Nethergods threatened Otherworld, she granted Excalibur to the Black Knight,[73] later arming him with powerful weapons.[74] She also enlisted the Avengers to thwart Doctor Doom’s ambitions.[75] Throughout, Niamh remained a protector of Otherworld against all invaders.[76][5]
Bres's Rampage[]
Upon arriving in the modern world, Bres infiltrated Avengers Mansion but was ultimately defeated after a battle with Thor and She-Hulk, who exploited his weakness to iron.[71] Imprisoned at Project: P.E.G.A.S.U.S., Bres manipulated his captors from within, only to be overpowered by Iron Fist and detained once more.[77]
Alliance with Asgard[]
Tuatha warriors face Thor
When the Egyptian death god Seth exploited the Tuatha-Asgard rivalry by unleashing a monstrous shedu to wreak havoc in both Asgard and Avalon, Thor, the Asgardian god of thunder, was drawn into Tuatha territory. Initially, Leir attacked Thor, wrongly blaming him for the deaths of a Danaan family, but began to doubt his guilt after observing his honorable conduct. When the shedu reappeared to assault a village, Leir realized his error and joined forces with Thor to drive the creature back through a portal.[78]
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Thor vs. Leir
Leir, feeling indebted to Thor after learning of Seth’s invasion of Asgard, led Tuatha forces, including the Dagda and Caber, to aid the Asgardians, finally ending the long-standing feud between their realms.[79] During the battle, Leir fought alongside Sif, Thor’s beloved, and found himself captivated by her. As the conflict escalated, other Celtic gods joined, recognizing they too would be targets of Seth’s aggression.[80] Seth’s invasion was thwarted, cementing an alliance between the Celtic and Norse pantheons.[81]
Fomorian Revenge[]
The Dagda leads the Tuatha
Shortly after, the Fomorians provoked the Tuatha by sending a troll to attack one of their villages. After defeating the troll, an enraged Leir ignored the Dagda’s counsel and launched a solo assault on the Fomorians’ camp. The Dagda sent their nephew, Caber, to aid Leir while rallying additional Tuatha warriors. Though Leir and Caber clashed with the Fomorians, the Dagda intervened, summoning a swarm of stinging insects to disperse the combatants and end the conflict, avoiding unnecessary bloodshed.[3]
Siege of Asgard[]
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Caber helps Leir and Hercules in Asgard
Convinced Thor was unworthy of Sif, Leir manipulated the Dagda into opening a portal to Asgard to propose to her. Concerned, Caber followed.[82] With Thor absent and Asgard cut off from Earth, Sif agreed to Leir’s proposal on the condition he help her find Thor first.[83] After misadventures in Manhattan[84] and the Black Galaxy, Leir, Caber, and Sif located Thor with the Greek god Hercules. Returning to Asgard, they found it under siege by Surtur and Ymir. Leir and Hercules held off the invaders while Thor defeated them.[85] Leir then challenged Thor for Sif’s hand, but she insisted on defending herself. After swiftly defeating Leir, Sif rejected him.[86]
The Sky-Fathers’ Stand[]
When Thanos used the Infinity Gauntlet to eliminate half of Earth’s population, Odin convened the Council of Godheads to address the threat. Nuada once again represented the Celtic pantheon. The Sky-Fathers resolved to stand united and confront their enemy as one.[87]
The Red Lord's Uprising[]
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The Red Lord's war
Over the centuries, Bodb Derg, now fully merged with the Red Lord, established his Spiral Tower in Annwn, directing his loyal Bane to augment his power.[88][89] Waging war against his antithesis, the Green Knight, the Red Lord ravaged Earth’s ecosystems through the industrial conglomerate Mys-Tech.[49] Freed from Annwn by his followers,[90] he marched toward the Green Chapel but was defeated by the Knights of Pendragon.[91] Subsequent attempts to free him ultimately failed.[92][93]
The Morrígu's Invocation[]
Doctor Druid, a psychic and mystic, frequently invoked the triple war goddesses Morrigan, Badb, and Macha,[94] occasionally joined by Nemain.[52] The triad restored some of his youth and vigor,[94] imbuing him with power.[51] However, when Druid sought greater power, the goddesses granted him new abilities, which drove him mad[52] and ultimately led to his demise.[95]
Pretenders[]
In a plot to restore her castle to Earth,[96] Morgan Le Fay summoned corrupted versions of Morrigan, Cernunnos, Taranis,[97] Lugh, and Belanos from the Netherworld.[98] Doctor Strange identified these entities as Fomorians and, with the aid of the Black Knight and Valkyrie, banished them back to the Dark Realm.[98]
After millennia trapped in Oblivion, Nuada’s former host, now calling himself Nauda, gathered a cult and forged black stones, accumulating enough energy to escape.[45] His plans were foiled by the Young Gods, who vanquished him by forming a Uni-Mind.[99] Presumably, Nuada’s lost divine essence finally returned to its original source.[40]
The Oath of the Gods[]
Morrigan, Taranis and Cernunnos torment Kyllian Boddicker
Morrigan, Cernunnos, and Taranis, fulfilling an ancient oath, possessed Kyllian Boddicker, granting him mystical tattoos and magical abilities. However, their influence pushed him to the brink of insanity. Doctor Strange attempted to sever their control but failed. Realizing resistance was futile, Boddicker agreed to serve as their champion, Wildpride, on the condition that they respect his free will. With their pact sealed, Wildpride took up the Oak Staff of the Druids and embraced his role as their chosen warrior.[57]
Cúchulain's Ruse[]
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Cúchulain impales Thor
When the Asgardian Warriors Three accidentally killed the giant Holth, they were sentenced to retrieve rare items, including the Spear of Lugh.[100] Traveling to the Otherworld with Thor, they encountered the leprechaun Froud,[2] who had allied with Cúchulain to steal Mjolnir.[101] With Cúchulain disguised as a child, Froud tricked the Asgardians into telling a story in exchange for the spear. When they attempted to steal it, Cúchulain revealed his true form, beheading Volstagg[2] and mortally wounding Thor before Hogun defeated him.[101]
Bran's Havoc[]
The demigod Bran, one of the few Tuatha to remain active in the modern era, took the mortal Bran Murphy as his host.[61] Hired by Fourth Wall Enterprises, he provoked She-Hulk[102] and orchestrated her arrest.[103] His reckless behavior also led to an altercation with Hercules. As Bran Murphy neared death, She-Hulk and Hercules teamed up to sever the connection between god and host and behead Bran, temporarily incapacitating him. Later, Bran took a new host, a woman named Monique.[104]
Chaos War[]
Nuada once again represented the Tuatha de Danaan at a Council of Godheads meeting, where Mikaboshi, the Shinto god of evil, infiltrated the gathering. Leading an army of enslaved deities, Mikaboshi launched an assault across the divine realms, including Celtic Otherworld. Nuada and his fellow gods fought to repel the invasion.[105]
Industrial Revolution[]
The Dagda and Niamh joins the Otherworld's council
The Tuatha de Danaan clashed with the Manchester Gods, industrial entities seeking to transform Otherworld into a parliamentary democracy.[5] The Manchester Gods had abducted the Red Lord, whose anger fueled their Citadel.[106] An informal summit was held between their representative and Otherworld’s rulers, including the Dagda, Caber, and Niamh, allied with King Arthur, Merlyn, and Captain Britain. When negotiations failed, war erupted.[5] The Tuatha contributed to strategic planning and battles, but the conflict concluded with a treaty establishing Otherworld as a parliamentary democracy.[107]
The Morrigan's Curse[]
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Morrigan vs. Theresa Cassidy
Morrigan, bound to the same host since 150 BC, was accidentally summoned by a young witch, killing the girl's entire family. She later abducted Theresa Cassidy, offering her a place at her side, but when Cassidy refused, Morrigan threw her from a lighthouse tower.[108] After Havok destroyed her stronghold,[108] she was summoned again by Cassidy to heal Polaris and proposed a pact: Cassidy would become her new host. Cassidy accepted, killing Morrigan’s previous host and curing Polaris.[56] Now the new Morrigan, she left X-Factor, appearing only when summoned.[109]
Realms of Power[]
Dian, now the Emerald Warlock, sought revenge by killing tens of thousands of descendants of the four Tuatha de Danaan mages who had exiled him.[9] His quest brought him into conflict with the Scarlet Witch. Their battle began on the Witches' Road, a mystical pathway linking realms of magical power. Initially fought in Cernunnos’s realm, tied to male magic, the Scarlet Witch lured the Warlock into the realm of Cerridwen, whose domain amplified female magic. Recognizing his disadvantage, the Emerald Warlock retreated.[54]
Caber's Dark Turn[]
Caber captured the alien Wink, breaking their wings and forcing them into slavery as a cook on the planet Duyna. When Earo and Mahia of the Space Knights were captured by Caber’s loyal Duynans, they were handed to Wink as ingredients. However, Earo and Mahia convinced Wink to rebel. In the ensuing conflict, Wink threw Caber off a cliff, declaring freedom and ending Caber’s tyranny.[110]
Dawn of the Morrigan[]
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Morrigan's demise
Powers and Abilities
Powers
Superhuman Strength: All Celtic gods possess superhuman strength. An average male god can lift about 35 tons; an average goddess can lift about 25 tons.[113]
Superhuman Speed: Danaan's Thuatha can run and move at speeds that are beyond the physical capabilities of the finest human athlete.
Superhuman Stamina: The advanced musculature of the Danaan Thuatha produces considerably less fatigue toxins during physical activity than the musculature of a human.[113]
Superhuman Durability: The body of the Celtic Gods is much tougher and more resistant to physical injury than the body of a human.[113]
Superhumanly Dense Tissue: The skin, muscle, and bone tissue of the race's members are about 3 times the density of the same tissue in a human's body.[113]
Superhuman Agility: The Tuatha de Danaan's agility, balance, and bodily coordination are enhanced to levels that are beyond the natural physical limits of the finest human athlete.
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. Given enough time they can heal virtually any injury. It would take an injury of such magnitude that it incinerates a Diwata or disperses a major portion of his or her bodily moledules to cause him or her to die. Even then, it may be possible for a god of greater or equal power, or several gods acting together, to revive the deceased god before the god's life essence is beyond resurrections.[113]
Immortality:The Tuatha de Danaan stop aging after reaching adulthood. In addition, their bodies are immune to all known terrestrial diseases and infections.[113]
Magical Energy Manipulation: All Celtic gods and prominent goddess deities are able to control magical forces to a considerable degree in scale.[113]Average Strength Level
Weaknesses
- Slower Reflexes: Due to their large size most Celtic gods possess slower reflexes than gods like the Asgardians or the Olympians.[113]
Habitat
Habitat
Gravity
Atmosphere
Miscellaneous
Type of Government
Level of Technology
Representatives
- Progenitor: Danu.
- Gods: Angus, Arawn, Badb, Belanos, Bodb Derg, Bran, Caber, Camulus, Cathbad, Cernunnos, Cerridwen, Cian, Conchobar Mac Nessa, Crom, Cúchulain, the Dagda, Dian Cecht, Ériu, Etan, Gwynn, Gwythr, Hafgan, Leir, Lugh, Macha, Mannanan, Miach, Morrigan, Nemain, Niamh Chinn Óir, Nuada, Ogma, Rhiannon, Scathach, and Taranis.
- Demigods: Arianrhod, Branwen, Creiddylad, and Herne the Hunter.
- Nethergods: The Nethergods of Otherworld, such as Necromon and Mandrac, might potentially be degenerated Tuatha de Danaan.[114][17]
- Tuatha de Danan: The lycanthropic race of shapeshifters led by Gwydion may have connections to the Celtic pantheon.[17]
- Demons: The demon Ludi claims to have once been a king of Britain who was elevated to godhood after his death but has since degenerated into a demon. Similarly, the demonic entity Samhain, known as the Eternal Embodiment of All Hallows' Eve, asserts that he was once worshipped by the ancient Celts.[17]
Trivia
- The term "Tuatha de Danaan" translates to "Children of Danu." Danu, their ancestral spirit, was associated with the Danube River in Ancient Gaul, which encompasses modern-day Germany, France, and Switzerland. In Celtic literature, the name occasionally appears as "Tuatha de Danann."
See Also
- 44 appearance(s) of Tuatha de Danaan
- 3 appearance(s) in handbook(s) of Tuatha de Danaan
- 5 minor appearance(s) of Tuatha de Danaan
- 16 mention(s) of Tuatha de Danaan
- 5 mention(s) in handbook(s) of Tuatha de Danaan
- 13 image(s) of Tuatha de Danaan
- 57 representative(s) of Tuatha de Danaan
Links and References
- Tuatha de Danaan (Celtic Gods) at the Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
- Celtic Gods at the Guide to the Mythological 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 Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica #1 ; Tuatha de Danaan's entry
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Thor: Blood Oath #4
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Marvel Comics Presents #30
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica #1 ; Caber's entry
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Journey Into Mystery (Vol. 4) #639
- ↑ Marvel Zombies: The Book of Angels, Demons & Various Monstrosities #1 ; Demons' entry
- ↑ Marvel Atlas #1 ; Ireland's entry, Domestic Superhumans section
- ↑ Marvel Atlas #1 ; Ireland's entry, Nonhuman Population section
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Scarlet Witch (Vol. 2) #3
- ↑ Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica #1 ; The Tuatha de Danaan's entry
- ↑ Assault on New Olympus #1
- ↑ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #12 ; Mystic Dimensions - From the Journals of Ian McNee: The Inner Planes, Avalon's entry
- ↑ Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica #1 ; Otherworld's entry, map
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #4 ; Gaea's entry
- ↑ Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica #1 ; Caber's entry lists Gaea and Iarbonel as Caber's grandparents
- ↑ See Ériu's page notes[[Category:]]
- ↑ 17.00 17.01 17.02 17.03 17.04 17.05 17.06 17.07 17.08 17.09 17.10 17.11 17.12 17.13 Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #12 ; Tuatha de Danaan's entry
- ↑ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #12 ; Mystic Dimensions - From the Journals of Ian McNee: The Inner Planes, God Realms's entry
- ↑ Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica #1 ; Nuada's entry
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica #1 ; The Dagda's entry
- ↑ Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica #1 ; Otherworld's entry; map
- ↑ Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica #1 ; Fomorians' entry
- ↑ See Lugh's page notes[[Category:]]
- ↑ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #14 ; Fomor's entry
- ↑ Handbook of the Conan Universe #1 ; Atlantis and the Pre-Cataclysmic Age
- ↑ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Horror 2005 #1 ; Shuma-Gorath's entry
- ↑ Mystic Arcana: The Book of Marvel Magic #1 ; Tomes of Edlritch Knowledge's entry
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 Conan the Barbarian #74 ; The Battle at the Black Walls!
- ↑ Conan the Barbarian #13 ; Web of the Spider-God
- ↑ Savage Sword of Conan #2 ; Black Colossus
- ↑ Giant-Size Conan #1 ; Conan the Conqueror - The Hour of the Dragon - Chapter One
- ↑ Savage Sword of Conan #230 ; Shall Python Fall?
- ↑ Savage Sword of Conan #11 ; Map in The Abode of the Damned story's recap
- ↑ Official Handbook of the Conan Universe #1 ; Gods and Worship's entry
- ↑ 35.0 35.1 Savage Sword of Conan #7 ; Gods of the Hyborian Age Part II - Crom and Mitra: Gods to Swear By
- ↑ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #2 ; Council of Godheads's entry
- ↑ Savage Sword of Conan #54 ; The Stalker Amid the Sands
- ↑ 38.0 38.1 All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #3 ; Council of Godheads's entry
- ↑ Savage Tales #4 ; Night of the Dark God
- ↑ 40.0 40.1 40.2 40.3 40.4 40.5 40.6 40.7 Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #14 ; Nuada's entry
- ↑ 41.0 41.1 King Conan #2 ; The Black Sphinx of Nebthu
- ↑ 42.0 42.1 Marvel Comics Super Special #9 ; Day of the Red Judgment
- ↑ Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica #1 ; The Tenger's entry
- ↑ Conan the Barbarian #135 ; The Forest of the Night
- ↑ 45.0 45.1 45.2 45.3 45.4 45.5 45.6 45.7 45.8 Marvel Comics Presents #108
- ↑ 46.0 46.1 46.2 Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica #1 ; Fomorians's entry
- ↑ 47.0 47.1 Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #14 ; Fomor's entry
- ↑ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #14 ; Leir's entry
- ↑ 49.0 49.1 49.2 49.3 Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica #1 ; The Red Lord's entry
- ↑ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #14 ; Otherworld's entry
- ↑ 51.0 51.1 Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #34
- ↑ 52.0 52.1 52.2 Druid #1
- ↑ Gargoyle #3
- ↑ 54.0 54.1 Scarlet Witch (Vol. 2) #4
- ↑ 55.0 55.1 X-Factor (Vol. 4) #7
- ↑ 56.0 56.1 X-Factor (Vol. 3) #244
- ↑ 57.0 57.1 57.2 Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme Annual #3
- ↑ Epic Illustrated #10
- ↑ Marvel Graphic Novel #21 's introduction
- ↑ Epic Illustrated #11
- ↑ 61.0 61.1 Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica #1 ; Bran the Blessed's entry
- ↑ Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica #1 ; Cúchulain's entry
- ↑ Captain Britain Summer Special #1 ; "Of Mortals and Magi" text
- ↑ Gargoyle #2
- ↑ Mystic Arcana: Black Knight #1
- ↑ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #14 ; Lady of the Lake's entry
- ↑ Fearless Defenders #3
- ↑ Thor #300
- ↑ Thor #301
- ↑ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z Update #1 ; Young Gods' entry
- ↑ 71.0 71.1 71.2 Avengers #226
- ↑ Avengers #225
- ↑ Hulk Comic (UK) #18–19
- ↑ Heroes for Hire #2
- ↑ Excalibur #37–38
- ↑ Captain Britain and MI13 #4
- ↑ Power Man and Iron Fist #113
- ↑ Thor #386
- ↑ Thor #398
- ↑ Thor #399
- ↑ Thor #400
- ↑ Thor #417
- ↑ Thor #418
- ↑ Thor #423
- ↑ Thor #425
- ↑ Thor #426
- ↑ Infinity Gauntlet #2
- ↑ Knights of Pendragon #10
- ↑ Knights of Pendragon #15
- ↑ Knights of Pendragon #17
- ↑ Knights of Pendragon #18
- ↑ Knights of Pendragon (Vol. 2) #11
- ↑ Knights of Pendragon (Vol. 2) #15
- ↑ 94.0 94.1 Avengers Spotlight #37
- ↑ Druid #4
- ↑ Black Knight (Vol. 2) #1
- ↑ Black Knight (Vol. 2) #3
- ↑ 98.0 98.1 Black Knight (Vol. 2) #4
- ↑ Marvel Comics Presents #109
- ↑ Thor: Blood Oath #1
- ↑ 101.0 101.1 Thor: Blood Oath #5
- ↑ She-Hulk (Vol. 2) #24
- ↑ She-Hulk (Vol. 2) #28
- ↑ She-Hulk (Vol. 2) #30
- ↑ Chaos War #3
- ↑ Journey Into Mystery (Vol. 4) #640
- ↑ Journey Into Mystery (Vol. 4) #641
- ↑ 108.0 108.1 X-Factor (Vol. 3) #239
- ↑ X-Factor (Vol. 3) #262
- ↑ Guardians of Infinity #7
- ↑ X-Factor (Vol. 4) #5
- ↑ X-Factor (Vol. 4) #6–7
- ↑ 113.0 113.1 113.2 113.3 113.4 113.5 113.6 113.7 113.8 Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #12
- ↑ Marvel Legacy: The 1980s Handbook #1 ; Necromon's entry