Tuatha De
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Definition
Proper noun: * Tuatha Dé Danann: A race of supernatural beings, gods, or demigods in Irish mythology. They are said to have ruled Ireland during a legendary, pre-historic period often referred to as a Golden Age, before the arrival of the Milesians (the ancestors of the modern Irish people).
Usage Notes
- The term "Tuatha Dé" is almost always used as part of the full name Tuatha Dé Danann, which translates to "the peoples of the goddess Danu" or "the tribes of the goddess Danu."
- It refers specifically to a collective, mythological race, not to an individual. It is treated as a singular proper noun when referring to the group as a whole.
- This term belongs to the domain of mythology, folklore, and early Irish literature.
Examples
- In the mythological cycle, the Tuatha Dé Danann defeated the Fir Bolg to claim the kingship of Ireland.
- Many famous figures from Irish myths, such as the Dagda and Lugh, are members of the Tuatha Dé.
- After their defeat, the Tuatha Dé Danann were said to have retreated into the fairy mounds () of Ireland, becoming the or fairy folk of later folklore.
Advanced Usage
- "The Coming of the Tuatha Dé Danann": A standard phrase referring to their legendary arrival in Ireland, often shrouded in mist or magic.
- In modern fantasy literature and games, the Tuatha Dé Danann are frequently adapted as a race of elves, faeries, or powerful magical beings.
Variants and Related Words
- Tuatha Dé Danann (n): The full and most common name for this mythological race.
- Aos Sí (n): Literally "people of the mounds"; the term for the supernatural race in later Irish folklore, often considered the descendants or later manifestation of the Tuatha Dé Danann.
- Fir Bolg (n): The race the Tuatha Dé Danann defeated upon arriving in Ireland.
- Milesians (n): The mortal, human race who later defeated the Tuatha Dé Danann and became the dominant people of Ireland.
Synonyms
- The gods of Ireland (in a mythological context)
- The divine tribe
- The folk of the goddess Danu
Related Phrases
- Children of Danu: A direct translation and synonym for Tuatha Dé Danann.
- The Third Invasion of Ireland: In the pseudo-historical (The Book of Invasions), the arrival of the Tuatha Dé Danann is counted as the third mythical invasion of Ireland.
Noun
- race of Celtic gods or demigods; ruled Ireland in the Golden Age