Abcán
Encyclopedia
Abcán was the dwarf poet of the Tuatha Dé Danann
, the early Celtic
divinities of Ireland
. He was said to have a bronze boat with a tin sail.
In the story of the death of the goddess, Ruad
, Abcán is the dwarf that ferries her from the other world
to this one so that she can seduce the human, Aed Srónmár. The sounds of mermaid
s singing, or in some versions, music from a fairy mound cause her to leap into the water and drown.
In another story, Abcán is captured by the hero, Cúchulainn
. He frees himself by playing lullabies so irresistible that the warrior goes to sleep.
Abcán has much in common with the dwarf musician Fer Í.
Tuatha Dé Danann
The Tuatha Dé Danann are a race of people in Irish mythology. In the invasions tradition which begins with the Lebor Gabála Érenn, they are the fifth group to settle Ireland, conquering the island from the Fir Bolg....
, the early Celtic
Celtic mythology
Celtic mythology is the mythology of Celtic polytheism, apparently the religion of the Iron Age Celts. Like other Iron Age Europeans, the early Celts maintained a polytheistic mythology and religious structure...
divinities of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. He was said to have a bronze boat with a tin sail.
In the story of the death of the goddess, Ruad
Ruad
Ruad may refer to:* Arwad, a small waterless island off the coast of Tortosa, Syria* Fall of Ruad, battle around 1300 between the Egyptian Mamluks and the Crusaders* Áed Rúad, High King of medieval Irish legend* Ruad, Old Irish term for red, as in Red Branch...
, Abcán is the dwarf that ferries her from the other world
Other World
The Otherworld is a concept in Celtic mythology, referring to a realm of the dead, the home of the deities or spirits....
to this one so that she can seduce the human, Aed Srónmár. The sounds of mermaid
Mermaid
A mermaid is a mythological aquatic creature with a female human head, arms, and torso and the tail of a fish. A male version of a mermaid is known as a "merman" and in general both males and females are known as "merfolk"...
s singing, or in some versions, music from a fairy mound cause her to leap into the water and drown.
In another story, Abcán is captured by the hero, Cúchulainn
Cúchulainn
Cú Chulainn or Cúchulainn , and sometimes known in English as Cuhullin , is an Irish mythological hero who appears in the stories of the Ulster Cycle, as well as in Scottish and Manx folklore...
. He frees himself by playing lullabies so irresistible that the warrior goes to sleep.
Abcán has much in common with the dwarf musician Fer Í.