In Irish mythology Midir (or Midhir) was a son of the Dagda of the Tuatha Dé Danann. The Mythology of pre-Christian Ireland did not entirely survive the conversion to Christianity, but much of it was preserved shorn of its religious meanings The Tuatha Dé Danann ("peoples of the Goddess Danu " Modern Irish pronunciation /t̪ˠuːəhə dʲeː d̪ˠan̪ˠən̪ˠ/ Old Irish /tuːaθa ðʲeː After the Tuatha Dé were defeated by the Milesians, he lived in the sidh of Bri Leith. Milesians are a people figuring in Irish mythology. The descendants of Míl Espáine, they were the final inhabitants of Ireland, and were believed to represent

Midir was the husband of Fuamnach, but later fell in love with Étaín, receiving the help of his foster-son and half-brother Aengus to make her his new bride. In Irish mythology Fuamnach was Midir's first wife and a witch goddess For the French town see Etain In Irish mythology Étaín (sometimes spelt Edain, Aideen, Etaoin For similar names see Angus (disambiguation. In Irish mythology, Aengus ( Áengus, Óengus, Aonghus This provoked Fuamnach's vengeance against the young new wife, causing her a number of disgraces, until after several transformations Étain married Eochaid Airem, at that time the High King of Ireland. Eochu Airem ("the ploughman" son of Finn was according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition a High King of Ireland. A High King of Ireland ( Ard Rí na hÉireann) is a historical or legendary figure who claimed lordship over the whole of Ireland. Far from giving up, Midir made an attempt to bring his wife back home, going to see the king and challenging to a game of fidchell. Fidchell (in Irish; also called fidhcheall fidceall or fithchill; pronounced /ˈfɪðʲˌçɛll/ in Old Irish) or Midir won and asked a kiss from Étain as his prize, but Eochaid refused, breaking his word and banishing Midir from Tara. A kiss is the touching of one person's lips to another place which is used as an expression of Affection, Respect, Greeting, Farewell The Hill of Tara ( Irish Teamhair na Rí, "Hill of the Kings" located near the River Boyne, is an archaeological complex that runs Nevertheless Midir could enter the city and the palace, and turning himself and Étain into swans left the royal residence through the chimney. Eochaid did not accept the loss of his wife and pursued them. Then Midir used his magical powers to turn fifty women into similar to Étain, offering the king the possibility to choose only one. Eochaid, trying to find the true one, chose his own daughter by accident and lost Étain. ^[1]

According to another telling of this story, Etain, deciding that she still loved Eochaid, gave him a signal so he would chose correctly. In this version, Eochaid chose the real Etain, and Midir lost her forever.

Midir owned three magical cranes which stood outside his house denying entry or hospitality to anyone who approached. Cranes are large long-legged and long-necked Birds of the order Gruiformes, and family Gruidae. They were stolen by Athirne. Athirne or Athairne the Importunate was a poet and satirist of the court of Conchobar mac Nessa in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology.

Midir also interfered when Fráech attempted to woo Treblainne. Fráech ( Fróech, Fraích, Fraoch) is a Connacht hero in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology.

References

1. ^ *Gantz, Jeffrey. Early Irish Myths and Sagas. London: Penguin Books, 1981. ISBN 0-14-044397-5.

© 2009 citizendia.org; parts available under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License, from http://en.wikipedia.org
Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic