Flidais

In Irish mythology, Flidas or Flidais (modern spelling: Fliodhas, Fliodhais) is a female member of Tuatha Dé Danann, known by the epithet Foltchaín ("beautiful hair"). She is believed to have been a goddess of animals, woodlands and fertility, somewhat akin to the Greek Artemis and Roman Diana.[1] "As goddess of wild beasts [...] she rode in a chariot drawn by deer" while "as goddess of the domestic herds" she had a magical cow of plenty.[1]

She is mentioned in Lebor Gabála Érenn and is said to be the mother of Fand, Bé Chuille and Bé Téite.[1] In the Middle Irish glossary Cóir Anmann ("Fitness of Names") she is said to be the wife of the legendary High King Adamair and the mother of Nia Segamain, who by his mother's power was able to milk deer as if they were cows.[2] She is mentioned in the Metrical Dindshenchas as mother of Fand.[3]

Flidais is a central figure in Táin Bó Flidhais ("The Driving-off of Flidais's Cattle"), an Ulster Cycle work, where she is the lover of Fergus mac Róich and the owner of a magical herd of cattle. The story, set in Erris, County Mayo tells how Fergus carried her and her cattle away from her husband, Ailill Finn.[4] During the Táin Bó Cúailnge (Cattle Raid of Cooley) she slept in the tent of Ailill mac Máta, king of Connacht, and every seven days her herd supplied milk for the entire army.[5] In Táin Bó Flidhais she has a favoured white cow known as "The Maol" which can feed 300 men from one night's milking.[6][7] Another Ulster Cycle tale says that it took seven women to satisfy Fergus, unless he could have Flidais.[8] Her affair with Fergus is the subject of oral tradition in County Mayo.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Monaghan, Patricia. The Encyclopedia of Celtic Mythology and Folklore. Infobase Publishing, 2004. p.197
  2. ↑ A. H. Leahy (ed & trans, 1906), Heroic Romances of Ireland Vol II p. 107
  3. ↑ Edward Gwynne (ed & trans, 1906), The Metrical Dindshenchas Vol 3 poem 49
  4. ↑ "The Driving of the Cattle of Flidais" From Leahy, Heroic Romances Volume II pp. 108-128
  5. ↑ Cecile O'Rahilly (ed & trans, 1967), Táin Bó Cúailnge from the Book of Leinster, p. 146
  6. ↑ Dunford, S. Táin Bó Flidhais (2008) Dublin
  7. ↑ Leahy, Heroic Romances of Ireland Vol II pp. 104-105
  8. ↑ "The Tidings of Conchobar son of Ness" ed. and trans. by Whitley Stokes. Ériu. vol. II. London: David Nutt, 1908
  9. ↑ James MacKillop (1998), Dictionary of Celtic Mythology
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