Manannán mac Lir
Irish · deity · mythological cycle · Recorded classification
Major Tuatha Dé Danann deity — sea-god, lord of the Otherworld, over-king of the Tuath Dé after the Milesian conquest. His domain is the sea-as-otherworld-passage. Wields the Sguaba Tuinne (self-navigating boat), Aonbharr (water-traversing horse), Fragarach (truth-compelling sword), and the féth fíada (cloak of mists). The Isle of Man bears his name and preserves continuous folk-cult (the Midsummer rent-paying ritual). Lord of Emain Ablach (Avalon-cognate), Mag Mell, and Tír Tairngire. Foster-father of Lugh and other Tuatha Dé children. Father of Mongán mac Fíachnai (the historical Dál nAraide king d. c. 625) by Caintigern in the bargain-with-Fíachna tradition recorded in Compert Mongáin.
Parentage
- parent: LirFather Lir, the older sea-god whom Manannán supplanted in role; some traditions make Manannán son of Allod instead (Lebor Gabála variant).Lebor Gabála Érenn; multiple texts (primary)
Children
Domains
- sea and otherworld passage
- kingship of Tuatha Dé after Milesians
- lord of Otherworld
- foster parentage of Tuatha Dé children
Powers
- Cast the concealing mist
- Shapeshift
Epithets
- mac Lir Son of Ler/the sea; the fixed patronymic of the sea-godImmram Brain (The Voyage of Bran) (primary); Sanas Cormaic (Cormac's Glossary), s.v. Manannán (primary)
Relations
- parent: LirFather Lir, the older sea-god whom Manannán supplanted in role; some traditions make Manannán son of Allod instead (Lebor Gabála variant).Lebor Gabála Érenn; multiple texts (primary)
- spouse: FandHis wife Fand, who had the affair with Cú Chulainn in Serglige Con Culainn; Manannán shook the cloak of mists between them to make them forget each other.Serglige Con Culainn (primary)
- lover: CaintigernThree-variant tradition of how the union came about — all three preserve the bargain structure: Manannán saved Fíachna mac Báetáin's life in battle in exchange for a night with Caintigern. (a) Manannán took Fíachna's form and went to Caintigern with her unwitting consent; (b) Manannán bargained directly with Caintigern with her witting consent; (c) Manannán visited Caintigern in disguise as a stranger and told her he would protect her husband if she lay with him.Compert Mongáin (Lebor na hUidre, Yellow Book of Lecan, Book of Fermoy variants); Immram Brain (primary)
- father of: Mongán mac FíachnaiCompert Mongáin; Immram Brain (primary)
- foster parent: Mongán mac FíachnaiTook Mongán to the Otherworld three days after birth and raised him in Tír Tairngire until age twelve (or sixteen per variant) before returning him to Ulster.Compert Mongáin (primary)