The Tuatha de Danaan are a humanoid race of extradimensional beings that hale from Avalon, a small pocket-dimension adjacent to Earth. An interdimensional nexus between Avalon and Earth can be reached via the United Kingdom. They are also known as the Celtic Gods, who have been worshiped by the Celts (a civilization of Humans who lived in the British Isles and regions of Europe). The worship of the gods fell with the rise of Christianity.[10]
History
Origin[]
The precise origin of the Tuatha remains shrouded in legend. According to ancient myths, the high chieftain Iarbonel coupled with the primordial Earth Mother Danu (Gaea) and sired the first generation of Celtic gods.[10]
On the island of Tír na nÓg, in the dimension of Otherworld, Iarbonel's sons ruled at least two of the four cities inhabited by Tuatha de Danaan: The Dagda ruled Murias,[11] while Nuada ruled Finias.[12]
Pre-Cataclysmic Age[]
Mannanan and Lir, both sea-gods, were worshiped as such by the Atlanteans of the Pre-Cataclysmic Age.[13]
Over 21,000 years ago, the new god Crom led a shaman to three iron-bound books of magic, which the shaman used to imprison Shuma-Gorath in what would become Mount Crom in Cimmeria.[14]
Hyborian Age[]
The Tuatha de Danaan were worshipped at least in 18,000 BC:[15]
- The Ligurean Picts invoked Cernunnos, Epona, Nuadens Argatlam of the Silver Hand[16] (though it remains unknown whether this was an earlier name for Nuada, or a similarly-named earlier deity),[17] and Danu.[16]
- The Cimmerians worshiped Crom, Lord of the Great Mountain,[18] who was especially prominent circa 10,00 BC.[15] His subordinates included such gods as Morrigan the war-goddess, and Father Lir and his son Mannanan Mac Lir[18] (whom worship had been handed down from the Atlanteans).[13] Morrigan, with Macha and Nemain the Venomous,[19] formed the triple war-goddesses.[15] Were also invoked Diancecht[20] and Badb.[21] To be noted that the Cimmerians are one of the civilizations that emerged from the Pre-Cataclysmic Atlanteans, that already worshiped Lir and Mannanan.[13]
The war-goddess Scathach was active during that era, and, in league with the Tenger god Erlik (active trough the Tarim, a prophet worshiped as Erlik's avatar) arranged for Sonja of Hyrkania to become a mighty warrior.[22]
A dark god, the Lord of the Dark Forest, Lord of Forests and Lord of Death, Arawn was active within the Dark Forest (or Twilight Forest) of the Border Kingdom (along with his spirit-beasts), where he had chosen for bride the Argossean Merya after she asked every gods that were listening for rescue from a band of Picts that chased her. Arawn was repelled by Conan, but Merya was killed in the process.[23]
Earth[]
Following Iarbonel's death, Nuada took the lead of the Tuatha de Danaan. They left their cities in Otherworld Tír na nÓg and traveled through an interdimensional nexus to Earth in approximately 1896 BC, just as their hated enemies the Fomorians had done centuries earlier.[1]
In 600 B.C.,[9] Great Dark Warrior Sorceress Carman, and her sons Dian, Dub, and Dother came from Athens to Ireland, but their invasion was repelled by the four mages calling themselves the Tuatha Dé Danann and the boys were exiled to North America where Dian murdered the others to claim their power as his own.[24] It is unclear whether or not those four mages were Celtic gods, or simply posed as the Tuatha.
Human worship / Return to Otherworld[]
Around 350 AD, upon the arrival of the Milesians (the ancestors of the Celts), the Tuatha relinquished their holdings on Earth, sealed an agreement with the Milesian druid Amergin Glúingel stating that Ireland's mortal inhabitants would worship them in exchange for protection, and then returned to Otherworld.[1]
Another mention the Celts worshiping them from 900 B.C., and until 600 A.D.[15]
Cold war with the Asgardians[]
Starting in the 8th century AD, when the Asgardians-worshiping Vikings began plundering villages in the British Isle, a cold war between Tuatha and Asgardians began.
That enmity lasted for century,[1] and for about a thousand years, the Asgardians and Tuatha de Danaan seemingly did not interact, until the modern age.[2]
Modern Age[]
At least two events have launched back the exchanges between the two groups:
- When the Warriors Three inadvertently killed the shapeshifting Giant Holth, his father King Gnives demanded as retribution a list of items (all extremely difficult to acquire), including Chulain's spear,[25] leading the four Asgardians to enter Otherworld.[2]
- The Asgardians and Tuatha de Danaan eventually joined forces to defeat the Egyptian god of evil Seth, thus ending their enmity.[1]
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.[26]
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.[26]
Superhuman Durability: The body of the Celtic Gods is much tougher and more resistant to physical injury than the body of a human.[26]
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.[26]
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.[26]
Immortality:The Tuatha de Danaan stop aging after reaching adulthood. In addition, their bodies are immune to all known terrestrial diseases and infections.[26]
Magical Energy Manipulation: All Celtic gods and prominent goddess deities are able to control magical forces to a considerable degree in scale.[26]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.[26]
Habitat
Habitat
Gravity
Atmosphere
Miscellaneous
Type of Government
Level of Technology
Representatives
Caber, Cernunnos, The Dagda, The Lady of the Lake, Leir, Morrigan, Taranis
The Nethergods, including Necromon and Mandrac, were possibly degenerated Tuatha de Danaan.[27]Trivia
- "Tuatha de Danaan" translates as "Children of Danu." Danu was their ancestral spirit linked with the Danube river in Ancient Gaul (modern Germany, France and Switzerland). It sometimes appears in Celtic literature as "Tuatha de Danann."
See Also
- 43 appearance(s) of Tuatha de Danaan
- 3 appearance(s) in handbook(s) of Tuatha de Danaan
- 3 minor appearance(s) of Tuatha de Danaan
- 15 mention(s) of Tuatha de Danaan
- 5 mention(s) in handbook(s) of Tuatha de Danaan
- 2 image(s) of Tuatha de Danaan
- 48 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
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 [[Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica 1; The Tuatha de Danaan's profile|[[Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica #1|Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica 1]]; The Tuatha de Danaan's profile]]
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Thor: Blood Oath #4
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Marvel Comics Presents #30
- ↑ [[Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica 1; Cairbre's profile|[[Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica #1|Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica 1]]; Cairbre's profile]]
- ↑ Journey Into Mystery #639
- ↑ Marvel Zombies: The Book of Angels, Demons & Various Monstrosities #1 ; Demons' profile
- ↑ [[Marvel Atlas 1; Ireland's profile, Domestic Superhumans section|[[Marvel Atlas #1|Marvel Atlas 1]]; Ireland's profile, Domestic Superhumans section]]
- ↑ [[Marvel Atlas 1; Ireland's profile, Nonhuman Population section|[[Marvel Atlas #1|Marvel Atlas 1]]; Ireland's profile, Nonhuman Population section]]
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Scarlet Witch (Vol. 2) #3
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 [[Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica 1; The Tuatha de Danaan|[[Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica #1|Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica 1]]; The Tuatha de Danaan]]
- ↑ [[Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica 1; The Dagda's profile|[[Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica #1|Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica 1]]; The Dagda's profile]]
- ↑ [[Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica 1; Nuada's profile|[[Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica #1|Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica 1]]; Nuada's profile]]
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Conan the Barbarian #74
- ↑ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Horror 2005 #1 ; Shuma-Gorath's profile
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #3 ; Council of Godheads's profile
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 King Conan #2
- ↑ [[Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z 14; Nuada's profile|[[Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #14|Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z 14]]; Nuada's profile]]
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Official Handbook of the Conan Universe #1 ; Gods and Worship
- ↑ Savage Sword of Conan #54 ; The Stalker Amid the Sands
- ↑ Savage Tales #4 ; Night of the Dark God
- ↑ Conan the Barbarian #31
- ↑ [[Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica 1; The Tenger's profile|[[Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica #1|Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica 1]]; The Tenger's profile]]
- ↑ Conan the Barbarian #135
- ↑ Scarlet Witch (Vol. 2) #4
- ↑ Thor: Blood Oath #1
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 26.4 26.5 26.6 26.7 26.8 Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #12
- ↑ Marvel Legacy: The 1980s Handbook #1 ; Necromon's profile