Anu (Irish goddess)
Anu or Ana (sometimes given as Anann or Anand) is the name of a goddess mentioned briefly in Irish mythology.
Myths and sources
[edit]The 9th century Sanas Cormaic (Cormac's Glossary) says in its entry for her:
- "Ana – mother of the gods of Ireland; well did she feed the gods".
She may be a goddess in her own right,[1] or an alternate name for Danu. In the Lebor Gabála Érenn, Anand is given as another name for The Morrígan.[2] As her name is often conflated with a number of other goddesses, it is not always clear which figure is being referred to if the name is taken out of context.[1] The name may be derived from the Proto-Celtic theonym *Φanon-.[3][4]
Anu has particular associations with Munster: the pair of breast shaped hills known as the Paps of Anu (Dá Chích Anann or "the breasts of Anu")[5] in County Kerry are said to have been named after her.[2]
Her name has the meaning of "wealth, riches, and prosperity." Leaving her with a title of being the goddess of "good fortune and prosperity" in the land of Munster. [6]
While an Irish goddess, in parts of Britain a similar figure is referred to as “Gentle Annie”, in an effort to avoid offence, a tactic which is similar to referring to the fairies as “The Good People”.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ a b MacKillop, James (1998). Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. pp. 10, 16, 128. ISBN 0-19-280120-1.
- ^ a b Macalister, R.A. Stewart (1941). Lebor Gabála Érenn [Book of Invasions of Ireland] (First Redaction ed.). Dublin, IE: Irish Texts Society. Part IV, § VII.
- ^ "Celtic Lexicon". The Celtic Languages and Cultural Identity. Centre for Advanced Welsh Celtic Studies. Cardiff, Wales: University of Wales.
- ^ "Indo-European database". Leiden, NL: University of Leiden. Archived from the original on 11 February 2006.
- ^ "The Paps of Anu". Prehistoric and Early Ireland. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
- ^ MacLeod, Sharon Paice (1998). "Mater Deorum Hibernensium: Identity and Cross-Correlation in Early Irish Mythology". Proceedings of the Harvard Celtic Colloquium. 18/19: 340–384. ISSN 1545-0155.
- ^ "Black Annis, Gentle Annie". whitedragon.org.uk.
Bibliography
[edit]- MacKillop, James (1998). Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-280120-1.
- Wood, Juliette (2002). The Celts: Life, Myth, and Art. Thorsons Publishers. ISBN 0-00-764059-5.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Anu (Irish goddess) at Wikimedia Commons
