Áine
Encyclopedia
Áine (ˈaːnʲə) is an Irish
goddess of love, summer, wealth and sovereignty. She is associated with the sun
and midsummer
, and is sometimes represented by a red mare. She is the daughter of Egobail
, the sister of Aillen
and/or Fennen, and is claimed as an ancestor by multiple Irish clans. As the goddess of love and fertility, she had command over crops and animals and as such was always associated with agriculture.
Áine is strongly associated with County Limerick
. The hill of Knockainy, is named after her , and was site of rites in her honour, involving fire and the blessing of the land, recorded as recently as 1879. She is also associated with sites such as Toberanna County Tyrone
, Dunany County Louth
, Lissan
County Londonderry
, and Cnoc Áine near Teelin, County Donegal
.
, who is said to have "ravished" her, an affair ending in Áine biting off his ear - hence "Aulom", meaning "one-eared". By maiming him this way, Áine rendered him unfit to be King, thereby taking away the power of sovereignty. The descendants of Aulom, the Eóganachta
, claim Áine as an ancestor.
In other tales Áine is the wife of Gearoid Iarla. Rather than having a consensual marriage, he rapes her (thought to be based on the story of Ailill Aulom), and she exacts her revenge by either changing him into a goose, killing him, or both. Thus the Geraldines also claim an important association with Áine. The story may have various inspirations but it is the essence of the claim that matters, and this represents the most extreme degree of Gaelicization
. The FitzGeralds would become known for being "more Irish than the Irish themselves".
In yet other versions of her myth, she is the wife or daughter of the sea god Manannán mac Lir
. The feast of Midsummer Night
was held in her honor. In County Limerick, she is remembered in more recent times as Queen of the fairies. This is also the most commonly believed derivation of the name Áine, however there is no definitive proof that this is the case.
Herbalists and folk-healers at the time in which worship of Áine was most prevalent believed she was directly responsible for a "vital spark" in their blood, which they believed traversed the body
once every day. This meant that bloodletting
was forbidden on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday following Lughnasadh
for fear that the spark would flow away.
as her name bears a superficial resemblance to Anu.
"Aynia", reputedly the most powerful fairy in Ulster, may be a variant of the same figure.
About seven miles from Knockainy (Aine's hill) in County Limerick
, is the hill of the goddess Grian, Cnoc Gréine. Grian (literally, "sun") is believed to be either the sister of Áine, another of Áine's manifestations, or possibly "Macha
in disguise". Due to Áine's connection with midsummer rites, it is possible that Áine and Grian may share a dual-goddess, seasonal function (such as seen in the Gaelic myths of the Cailleach
and Brighid) with the two sisters representing the "two suns" of the year: Áine representing the light half of the year and the bright summer sun (an ghrian mhór), and Grian the dark half of the year and the pale winter sun (an ghrian bheag).
Irish mythology
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, in medieval Irish literature, which represents the most extensive and best preserved of all the branch and the Historical Cycle. There are...
goddess of love, summer, wealth and sovereignty. She is associated with the sun
Solar deity
A solar deity is a sky deity who represents the Sun, or an aspect of it, usually by its perceived power and strength. Solar deities and sun worship can be found throughout most of recorded history in various forms...
and midsummer
Midsummer
Midsummer may simply refer to the period of time centered upon the summer solstice, but more often refers to specific European celebrations that accompany the actual solstice, or that take place on a day between June 21 and June 24, and the preceding evening. The exact dates vary between different...
, and is sometimes represented by a red mare. She is the daughter of Egobail
Egobail
In Irish mythology, Egobail was a foster son of Manannan mac Lir and father of Aine....
, the sister of Aillen
Aillen
Aillen or Áillen is a being in Irish mythology. Called "the burner", he is a member of the Tuatha Dé Danann who resides in Mag Mell, the underworld. According to The Boyhood Deeds of Fionn, he would burn Tara to the ground every year at Samhain with his fiery breath after lulling all the...
and/or Fennen, and is claimed as an ancestor by multiple Irish clans. As the goddess of love and fertility, she had command over crops and animals and as such was always associated with agriculture.
Áine is strongly associated with County Limerick
County Limerick
It is thought that humans had established themselves in the Lough Gur area of the county as early as 3000 BC, while megalithic remains found at Duntryleague date back further to 3500 BC...
. The hill of Knockainy, is named after her , and was site of rites in her honour, involving fire and the blessing of the land, recorded as recently as 1879. She is also associated with sites such as Toberanna County Tyrone
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
, Dunany County Louth
County Louth
County Louth is a county of Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Louth. Louth County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Lissan
Lissan
Lissan is a civil and ecclesiastical parish that spans into County Londonderry and County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. The local Roman Catholic church was built in 1908....
County Londonderry
County Londonderry
The place name Derry is an anglicisation of the old Irish Daire meaning oak-grove or oak-wood. As with the city, its name is subject to the Derry/Londonderry name dispute, with the form Derry preferred by nationalists and Londonderry preferred by unionists...
, and Cnoc Áine near Teelin, County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
.
In Irish mythology
In early tales she is associated with the semi-mythological King of Munster, Ailill AulomAilill Aulom
In Irish traditional history Ailill Ollamh , son of Mug Nuadat, was a king of the southern half of Ireland. Sabia, daughter of Conn of the Hundred Battles, was his wife. He divided the kingdom between his sons Éogan, Cormac Cas, and Cian. Éogan founded the dynasty of the Eóganachta...
, who is said to have "ravished" her, an affair ending in Áine biting off his ear - hence "Aulom", meaning "one-eared". By maiming him this way, Áine rendered him unfit to be King, thereby taking away the power of sovereignty. The descendants of Aulom, the Eóganachta
Eóganachta
The Eóganachta or Eoghanachta were an Irish dynasty centred around Cashel which dominated southern Ireland from the 6/7th to the 10th centuries, and following that, in a restricted form, the Kingdom of Desmond, and its offshoot Carbery, well into the 16th century...
, claim Áine as an ancestor.
In other tales Áine is the wife of Gearoid Iarla. Rather than having a consensual marriage, he rapes her (thought to be based on the story of Ailill Aulom), and she exacts her revenge by either changing him into a goose, killing him, or both. Thus the Geraldines also claim an important association with Áine. The story may have various inspirations but it is the essence of the claim that matters, and this represents the most extreme degree of Gaelicization
Gaelicization
Gaelicization or Gaelicisation is the act or process of making something Gaelic, or gaining characteristics of the Gaels. The Gaels are an ethno-linguistic group who are traditionally viewed as having spread from Ireland to Scotland and the Isle of Man."Gaelic" as a linguistic term, refers to the...
. The FitzGeralds would become known for being "more Irish than the Irish themselves".
In yet other versions of her myth, she is the wife or daughter of the sea god Manannán mac Lir
Manannán mac Lir
Manannán mac Lir is a sea deity in Irish mythology. He is the son of the obscure Lir . He is often seen as a psychopomp, and has strong affiliations with the Otherworld, the weather and the mists between the worlds...
. The feast of Midsummer Night
Midsummer
Midsummer may simply refer to the period of time centered upon the summer solstice, but more often refers to specific European celebrations that accompany the actual solstice, or that take place on a day between June 21 and June 24, and the preceding evening. The exact dates vary between different...
was held in her honor. In County Limerick, she is remembered in more recent times as Queen of the fairies. This is also the most commonly believed derivation of the name Áine, however there is no definitive proof that this is the case.
Herbalists and folk-healers at the time in which worship of Áine was most prevalent believed she was directly responsible for a "vital spark" in their blood, which they believed traversed the body
Circulatory system
The circulatory system is an organ system that passes nutrients , gases, hormones, blood cells, etc...
once every day. This meant that bloodletting
Bloodletting
Bloodletting is the withdrawal of often little quantities of blood from a patient to cure or prevent illness and disease. Bloodletting was based on an ancient system of medicine in which blood and other bodily fluid were considered to be "humors" the proper balance of which maintained health...
was forbidden on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday following Lughnasadh
Lughnasadh
Lughnasadh is a traditional Gaelic holiday celebrated on 1 August. It is in origin a harvest festival, corresponding to the Welsh Calan Awst and the English Lammas.-Name:...
for fear that the spark would flow away.
Related goddesses
Áine (Ir. "brightness, glow, joy, radiance; splendour, glory, fame") is sometimes mistakenly equated with DanuDanu (Irish goddess)
In Irish mythology, Danu is the mother goddess of the Tuatha Dé Danann . Though primarily seen as an ancestral figure, some Victorian sources also associate her with the land.-Name:...
as her name bears a superficial resemblance to Anu.
"Aynia", reputedly the most powerful fairy in Ulster, may be a variant of the same figure.
About seven miles from Knockainy (Aine's hill) in County Limerick
County Limerick
It is thought that humans had established themselves in the Lough Gur area of the county as early as 3000 BC, while megalithic remains found at Duntryleague date back further to 3500 BC...
, is the hill of the goddess Grian, Cnoc Gréine. Grian (literally, "sun") is believed to be either the sister of Áine, another of Áine's manifestations, or possibly "Macha
Macha
Macha is the name of a goddess and several other characters in Irish mythology.Macha can also mean:*The LÉ Macha , a ship in the Irish Naval Service, named for the goddess*The Macha crater in Russia, less than 7000 years old...
in disguise". Due to Áine's connection with midsummer rites, it is possible that Áine and Grian may share a dual-goddess, seasonal function (such as seen in the Gaelic myths of the Cailleach
Cailleach
In Irish and Scottish mythology, the , also known as the Cailleach Bheur, is a divine hag, a creatrix, and possibly an ancestral deity or deified ancestor...
and Brighid) with the two sisters representing the "two suns" of the year: Áine representing the light half of the year and the bright summer sun (an ghrian mhór), and Grian the dark half of the year and the pale winter sun (an ghrian bheag).