In Irish mythology, Danu or Dana was the mother goddess of the Tuatha Dé Danann (peoples of the goddess Danu). However, little is recorded about her as an individual. Some scholars believe Danu and Anu (also Ana) are the same deity, while others state that the two are separate individuals. Danu's Welsh equivalent is Dôn.[1]
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Antiquity of her recognition
Based on the evidence of place-names, such as the river Danube (Latin: Danuvius), Dniestr, Dniepr and Don, Danu may have been worshiped throughout the Celtic world. Indeed, the presence of a goddess named Danu in Hindu mythology, associated with water and mother of a race of Asuras called the Danavas, may indicate a very ancient Proto-Indo-European origin for this figure.
Etymology of the name
Köbler [2] and Pokorny [3] both reconstruct *dānu as a Proto-Indo-European root denoting ‘fluvial water.’
References
- ^ MacKillop, James (1998) Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. Oxford: Oxford University Press ISBN 0192801201 pp.16, 128
- ^ Köbler, Gerhard, (2000). Indogermanisches Wörterbuch, (3rd Edition): p.181. Available at: [1]
- ^ Julius Pokorny’s Indogermanisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch. Entry 313. Available at: [2]
External links
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| Early invaders | Bith • Cessair • Fintan mac Bóchra • Nemed • Partholón • Tuan mac Cairill |
| Fir Bolg | Eochaid mac Eirc • Rudraige • Sreng • Tailtiu |
| Tuatha Dé Danann | Abhean • Aengus • Aí • Áine • Airmed • Anann • Badb • Banba • Bé Chuille • Boann • Bodb Derg • Brian • Brigid • Caer • Cian • Cliodhna • Creidhne • The Dagda • Danu • Dian Cecht • Ecne • Étaín • Ériu • Fionnuala • Flidais • Fódla • Goibniu • Lir • Luchtaine • Lug • Mac Cuill • Mac Cecht • Mac Gréine • Macha • Manannán • Miach • Midir • Morrígan • Neit • Nemain • Nuada • Ogma • Tuireann • aes sídhe (bean sídhe, leanan sídhe) |
| Four Treasures | Dagda's Cauldron • Spear Lúin • Lia Fáil • Claíomh Solais |
| Fomorians | Balor • Bres • Cethlenn • Cichol Gricenchos • Elatha • Ethniu |
| Milesians | Amergin • Breogán • Éber • Érimón • Fenius Farsa • Goídel Glas • Míl • Scota |
| Others | Birog • Bran mac Febail • Cailleach • Carman • Crom Cruach |
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