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.[9]
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]
Pre-Cataclysmic Age
Mannanan and Lir, both sea-gods, were worshiped as such by the Atlanteans of the Pre-Cataclysmic Age.[11]
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.[12]
Hyborian Age
The Tuatha de Danaan were worshipped at least in 18,000 BC,[13] during the Hyborian Age:[1]
- The Picts invoked Nuadens Argatlam of the Silver Hand, Cernunnos, Epona,[14] and Danu.[14]
- The Cimmerians worshiped Crom, Lord of the Great Mountain.[15] His subordinates including such gods as Morrigan the war-goddess, and Father Lir and his son Mannanan Mac Lir[15] (whom worship had been handed down from the Atlanteans).[11] Morrigan, with Macha and Nemain the Venomous,[16] formed the triple war-goddesses.[13] Were also invoked Diancecht[17] and Badb.[18]
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.[10]
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.[19]
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]
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 stating that the Ireland's mortal inhabitants would worship them in exchange for protection, and then returned to Otherworld.[1]
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.[1]
That enmity lasted for century,[1] and for about a thousand years, the Asgardians and Tuatha de Danaan seemingly didn't interacted, until the modern age.[2]
Modern days
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,[20] leading the four Asgardians to enter Otherworld.[2]
- They eventually joined forces to defeat the Egyptian god of evil Seth, ending their enmity.[1]
Powers and Abilities
Powers
Average Strength Level
Habitat
Habitat
Gravity
Atmosphere
Miscellaneous
Type of Government
Level of Technology
Cultural Traits
Representatives
Trivia
See Also
- 41 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
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica #1 ; The Tuatha de Danaan's entry
- ↑ 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 entry
- ↑ Journey into Mystery #639
- ↑ Marvel Zombies Handbook #1 ; Demons' entry
- ↑ Marvel Atlas #1 ; Ireland's entry, domestic superhumans section
- ↑ Marvel Atlas #1 ; Ireland's entry, nonhuman population section
- ↑ Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica #1 ; Tuatha de Danaan
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica #1 ; Tenger's entry
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Conan the Barbarian #74
- ↑ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (Vol. 4) #18 ; Shuma-Gorath's entry
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #3 ; Council of Godheads's entry
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 King Conan #2
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Official Handbook of the Conan Universe #1 ; Gods and Worship's entry
- ↑ Savage Sword of Conan #54 ; The Stalker Amid the Sands
- ↑ Savage Tales #4 ; Night of the Dark God
- ↑ Conan the Barbarian #31
- ↑ Conan the Barbarian #135
- ↑ Thor Blood Oath #1