Gráinne

Gráinne [ grɒ ː n ʲ ə ] ( Irish: grain, granule ) is a legendary figure in Celtic mythology of Ireland, the female protagonist of the story " Diarmuid and Gráinne ". She is the daughter of the High King Cormac mac Airt and Fionn mac Cumhail promised to marry.

Etymology

Birkhan assumes that Gráinne is derived from the ancient Celtic * grann -ia. About the god Grannus there would then connect to its female counterpart Sirona (such as " big heifer "). It may also be a derivative of this vorkeltisch * greina, Old Irish Grian, gene. Grene ( "Sun" ), or even by grond Gronn, his ( " Immolate " ), which in turn leads directly to the etymology of bloodlines.

A figure with coming from the same stem name is Grian, the sister of Áine and foster daughter of Manannan mac Lir. Grian is also associated with Macha. Named after her is the hill Cnoc Gréine ( County Limerick ), which is regarded as their place of residence.

Mythology

The story " Diarmuid and Grainne " is part of the southern Irish Finn cycle of Fionn mac Cumhail. Although she is promised in marriage to Fionn, Gráinne is the young and beautiful Fianna warrior Diarmuid with an intellectual that he still had to kidnap before the wedding. The Diarmuid can not escape and flees with Gráinne, with him are his brothers to the side. Fionn followed the small crowd with his warriors, forcing them always to fight. Since Darmuid not affected from allegiance Gráinne long time, they mocked him, as at a river crossing water droplets on her leg spray:

In the grove of sacred mountain ash trees, where they find refuge, Gráinne Diarmuid is pregnant. When she Fionn discovered there as well, helps Diarmuid's foster father Oengus and divine peace between the counterparties. Then the couple moves to Rath Gráinne in North Connacht, where they live undisturbed for several years. Gráinne gets from Diarmuid total of five children, one daughter and four sons. But then it is possible the still vengeful Fionn to lure Diarmuid into a trap; when induced by him fight with a boar dies his rival. Gráinne Fionn's son Oisín learns of what has happened and they distributed the arms of her husband among his sons, so that they can one day avenge the death of his father.

Some dolmens ( megalithic tombs ) in Ireland still bear the name Leapthacha Dhiarmada agus Ghráinne ( " beds of Diarmuid and Gráinne "). St. Cronan 's church from the 10th century is one of the oldest churches still in use in Ireland and is located in the village of Tuamgraney ( Tuaim Gréine, " grave of Gráinne " ) in the east of County Clare. In this church Gráinne to be buried.

Gráinne is the predecessor of Isolde and in their fate almost identical with Deirdre from the Northern Irish sagas.