Blathnat

Blathnat

ALSO KNOWN AS:

Blathnait; Blathnet

ORIGIN:

Ireland

CLASSIFICATION:

Tuatha Dé Danaan

Blathnat, the Flower Maiden, is Angus Og’s foster sister. She is a Fairy woman, a goddess, although this is rarely made explicit in the legends told of her. Versions vary: she may have eloped with the hero Cu Chulain, or she may have been kidnapped by him and/or his rival, Cu Roi. She may or may not have helped loot her father’s treasure/burial mound, and if she did, she may or may not have done so willingly.

The single consistent feature of the legends about her is that she betrays Cu Roi to Cu Chulain. Cu Roi is almost immortal: he can only be killed by his own sword. Delilah-like, Blathnat inveigles this secret from him and then slips the sword to Cu Chulain. She signals Cu Chulain to let him know when Cu Roi is vulnerable. (In some versions, he’s sleeping; in others, he’s in the bath.)

In some versions, she rides off happily with Cu Chulain following Cu Roi’s death. Alternatively she dies at the end of the story, killed by Cu Roi’s bard. Lugaid, son of Blathnat and Cu Roi, eventually avenged his father, slaying Cu Chulain.

SEE ALSO:

  • Angus Og
  • Blodeuwedd
  • Tuatha Dé Danaan

Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses– Written by Judika Illes Copyright © 2009 by Judika Illes.

BOOKS FOR YOU TO READ IN OUR LIBRARY:

Animals in Celtic Life and Myth - Miranda Green
Cauldron of the Gods: a Manual of Celtic magick - Jan Fries
Symbol and Image in Celtic Religious Art - Miranda Green
Water From an Ancient Well: Celtic Spirituality for Modern Life - Kenneth McIntosh
The Sidhe: Wisdom from the Celtic Otherworld - John Matthews
Celtic mythology  tales of gods, goddesses, and heroes - Philip Freeman
Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom - John O’Donohue
Brigid: History, Mystery, and Magick of the Celtic Goddess -  Courtney Weber
Celtic Myth and Religion: A Study of Traditional Belief, with Newly Translated Prayers, Poems and Songs -  Sharon Paice Macleod
Celtic Tree Rituals : Ceremonies for the Thirteen Moon Months and a Day - Sharlyn Hidalgo
The Morrigan: Celtic Goddess of Magick and Might - Courtney Weber

GO TO MEMBERS AREA