Boann
Irish · deity · mythic prehistoric · Recorded classification
Goddess of the river Boyne, mother of Aengus by the Dagda, drowned by the bursting Well of Segais.
Children
Domains
- rivers waters
Powers
- her transgression of the Well of Segais looses the river and the waters of wisdom
- Creates the River Boyne by circling the well widdershins
Epithets
- Boand 'White/Bright Cow' (bó + find), the river-goddess's nameMetrical Dindshenchas, 'Boand I' (Gwynn ed.) (primary)
- Eithne alternative name of Boann as mother of AengusTochmarc Étaíne (The Wooing of Étaín) (primary)
Relations
- spouse: Elcmar
- lover: The DagdaBoann bore Aengus (Óengus mac ind Óc) to the Dagda; he hid the affair from her husband Elcmar by halting the sun. The Aengus parent-edge is recorded on Aengus.Tochmarc Étaíne; Metrical Dindshenchas, 'Boand' I-II (primary)
Sources
- existence: Metrical Dindshenchas, 'Boand'; Tochmarc Étaíne (primary)