Aengus
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- For similar names see Angus Og.
The Dagda had an affair with Boann, wife of Nechtan. In order to hide their affair, the Dagda made the sun stand still for nine months; therefore, Aengus was conceived, gestated and born in one day. Elcmar was his foster-father.[link]
When he came of age Aengus dispossessed the Dagda of his home, the Brú na Bóinne (Newgrange). He arrived after the Dagda had shared out his land among his children, and there was nothing left for Aengus, so Aengus asked his father if he could live in the Brú for a day and a night, and the Dagda agreed. But Irish has no indefinite article, so "a day and a night" is the same as "day and night", which covers all time, and so Aengus took possession of the Brú permanently. In a different version of this story, appearing in "The Wooing of Étaín", Aengus uses the same ploy to trick Elcmar out of Brú na Bóinne, with the Dagda's connivance. In this version, Midir is Aengus's foster-father, while Elcmar is the husband of Boann cuckolded by the Dagda.[link]
Aengus fell in love with a girl he had seen in his dreams. His mother, Boann, searched Ireland for an entire year. Then his father, the Dagda, did the same. Finally, King Bodb Dearg of Munster found her after a year.[link]
Aengus went to the lake of the Dragons's Mouth and found 150 girls chained up in pairs. He found his girl, Caer Ibormeith. On November 1, Caer and the other girls would turn into swans for one year, every second Samhain. Aengus was told he could marry Caer if he could identify her as a swan. Aengus succeeded. He turned himself into a swan and they flew away, singing beautiful music that put all its listeners asleep for three days and nights.[link]
Aengus was the foster-father and protector of Diarmuid Ua Duibhne of the Fianna. He rescued Diarmuid and Gráinne from one or two tight spots during their pursuit by the Fianna.
Aengus is widely considered to be connected to the ancient Celtic god Maponos and his Welsh equivalent, Mabon ap Modron.
The Old Irish name Óengus is attested in Adomnan's Life of St. Columba as Oinogus(s)ius, showing that its etymology is from the Proto-Celtic roots *oino- "one" and *guss- "choice".
Texts
- Tochmarc Étaíne: [The Wooing of Étaín]
- De Gabáil in t-Sída: The Taking of the Fairy Mound
- Aisling Óenguso: [The Dream of Óengus]
- Toruigheacht Dhiarmada Agus Ghráinne: [The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Gráinne]
- The Hounds of the Morrigan: Pat O'Shea
Namesakes
Aengus was also a popular Irish and Scots Gaelic name, borne by a variety of historical and legendary figures, including:
- Aengus Olmucada, legendary High King of Ireland of the 15th century BC.
- Aengus Ollamh, legendary High King of Ireland of the 5th century BC.
- Aengus Tuirmech Temrach, legendary High King of Ireland of the 4th century BC.
- Aengus mac Nadfraoch, first Christian king of Munster, 5th century AD.
- Óengus of Dalriada, Scottish king of the 9th century AD.
- Óengus of Moray, last Mormaer of Moray.
External links
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