Macha

Macha [' maxa ] is in the Ulster Cycle of Irish Celtic mythology the name of several national deities and legendary figures. The name is from the Indo-European root word * magh ( "fight" ) is derived. Another version would be a derivative from the Proto -Celtic root * Makaja ( " level ").

Mythology

The country goddess

Macha is considered as a female descendant of those gods who ruled before the gods of the Celts over Ireland. In the myths and legends it is through the " sacred marriage " (Greek hieros gamos, ιερός γάμος, Ieros Gamos ) the wife of kings that characterized the rightful rulers of the country were.

As a goddess she is a part of the Trinity Morrigan, along with Badb and Nemain that occur in various myths as washerwoman at the ford, battle crow and female fighter with chariots. It is regarded as hippomorphe ( " horse -faceted " ) goddess, as the first word of the following shows.

In lapidary of St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, an approximately one meter wide sculpture is exhibited, which is a naked woman ( goddess? ) With horse ears - possibly a representation of Macha.

Noínden Ulad

• Article Noínden Ulad

In the story Noínden Ulad ( " The weakness of the Ulter " ) is reported that Macha ingen Sainrith meic Imbaith ( " Macha, daughter of the son is peculiar of the sea"? ) Was forced into a race with the horses of the king. Then she died and cursed the Ulter having to endure the pangs weakness of a woman giving birth, whenever the kingdom was in danger. The place of her death was given the name Emain Macha (now Navan Fort in County Armagh ).

Macha Mongruadh

Another story tells of the Queen Macha Mongruadh ( " Macha Red Hair " ), the daughter of King Aed Ruad ( " Red Fire "). One of her uncles, Ditorba (the " Useless " ), defeated in the battle for dominance after the death of her father, the other, Cimbaeth ( " Silver Fire" ), she married (see Hiero Gamos ). After they defeated the five sons Ditorbas and had enslaved, they had to build her a seat of power, which they named Emuin Macha ( eo, " clasp " and Muin, "neck", or " neck clasp / brooch Macha ") announced, as they had marked the boundaries of the castle with its clasp.