Celtic Gods N

NECHTAN:  Water god whose sacred well was the source of all knowledge.  Only Nechtan and his three cup-bearers could approach the sacred well.  Fintan, the Salmon of Knowledge was said to reside in the well, where he gained the knowledge of the world by eating the acorns of the sacred oak trees surrounding the well.  His wife, Boann, violated the sanctity of the well and it rose up to become the river Boyne (depending on the story it either killed or merely chased Boann). Also known as:  ELCMAR. __________ NEIT:  God of war.  He was a consort of Nemon, an aspect of the five-fold goddess Morrigna. He was killed at the second Battle of Magh Tuireadh.  Believed to be the father of the three craft gods of the Tuathe De Danann. __________ NEMETONA:  The goddess of sacred groves or shrines.  War goddess worshipped in Bath, England. Also known as:  NEMETON. __________ NEMGLAN:  An Irish bird god who fell in love with Mess Buachalla, the betrothed to Eterscel, High King of Ireland.  On the eve of Mess’s wedding, Nemglan came to her in his bird form and seduced her, resulting in their son, Conaire Mor.  He was passed off as Eterscel’s son, but Mess warned him never to kill a bird. __________ NEMON:  One of the five war goddesses who formed the Morrigna.  Her name means “Venomous.”  Her mother was Ernmas.  Wife of Nuada. She appeared on behalf of Cu Chulainn at the Battle of the Boyne.  At her shriek 100 men of the Connacht army dropped dead of fright. Also known as:  NEMAIN and NEMHAIN. __________ NISIEN:  Nisien and Efnisien were the sons of Penarddun by Eurosswydd, who had captured her husband Llyr and held him hostage until she slept with him.  They were twins, and half-brothers of Bran, Branwen, and Manawydan. __________ NODENS: The river god of the Severn estuary in south-west Britain. Also known as a god of healing. He is either related to or the equivilant of Nuada. Also known as: NODONS. __________ NUADA: Irish chieftain-god of beauty, childbirth, dogs, healing, magic,oceans, poetry, sorcery, the Sun, warfare, weapons, writing, and youth. Nuada had an invincible sword, Findias, one of four great treasures of the Tuatha Dé Danann. He used it to cleave his enemies in half. Ruler of the Tuatha De Danann, he was deemed unfit and replaced by Bres after he lost his hand in battle during the First Battle of Mag Tuiredh with the Firbolg. The hand was cut off by the Firbolg warrior Sreng. His brother Dian Cecht, the great god of healing, fashioned him a silver hand for a substitution. By this time Bres had become a tyrannical leader and was exiled by the Tuatha Dé Danann, and Nuada retook the position of king. This was one of the key factors which led to the Second Battle of Mag Tuiredh. Nuada was killed by Balor in the second battle of Mag Tuiredh. Also known as: ARGETLAM and NUDD. __________ NUDD: Son fo Bile and Don, he was a sky god and is attributed with stopping three supernatural plagues. The equivalent of NUADA. Also known as: LLUDD and LUDD. __________

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