Goibniu
Encyclopedia
In Irish mythology
Goibniu (Old Irish) or Goibhniu (Modern Irish
– pronounced ˈɡovʲnʲu or gov-nu) was the smith
of the Tuatha Dé Danann
. The name of his father appears as Esarg or Tuirbe Trágmar, the 'thrower of axe
s.' Irish texts do not mention his mother but his counterpart in Welsh mythology
, Gofannon, is a son of Dôn
. Grouped together alongside Luicne
the carpenter
, Creidne
the wright
and Dian Cecht
the leech
, in the Lebor Gabála Érenn
, he is described as ‘not impotent in smelting
,’ and is said to have died, along with Dian Cecht
, of a ‘painful plague’. He and his brothers Creidhne
and Luchtaine
were known as the Trí Dée Dána, the three gods of art, who forged the weapons which the Tuatha Dé used to battle the Fomorians
. His weapons were always lethal, and his mead
gave the drinker invulnerability. His name can be compared with the Old Irish gobae ~ gobann ‘smith
,’ Middle Welsh gof ~ gofein ‘smith
,’ Gallic
gobedbi ‘with the smiths
,’ Latin faber ‘smith
’ and with the Lithuanian
gabija
‘sacred home fire’ and Lithuanian
gabus ‘gifted, clever’. According to Altram Tige Dá Medar, the feast of Goibniu protected the Tuatha Dé from sickness and old age. In the St. Gall incantations, he is invoked against thorns, alongside Dian Cecht
.
Irish mythology
The mythology of pre-Christian Ireland did not entirely survive the conversion to Christianity, but much of it was preserved, shorn of its religious meanings, in medieval Irish literature, which represents the most extensive and best preserved of all the branch and the Historical Cycle. There are...
Goibniu (Old Irish) or Goibhniu (Modern Irish
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
– pronounced ˈɡovʲnʲu or gov-nu) was the smith
Smith (metalwork)
A metalsmith, often shortened to smith, is a person involved in making metal objects. In contemporary use a metalsmith is a person who uses metal as a material, uses traditional metalsmithing techniques , whose work thematically relates to the practice or history of the practice, or who engages in...
of the Tuatha Dé Danann
Tuatha Dé Danann
The Tuatha Dé Danann are a race of people in Irish mythology. In the invasions tradition which begins with the Lebor Gabála Érenn, they are the fifth group to settle Ireland, conquering the island from the Fir Bolg....
. The name of his father appears as Esarg or Tuirbe Trágmar, the 'thrower of axe
Axe
The axe, or ax, is an implement that has been used for millennia to shape, split and cut wood; to harvest timber; as a weapon; and as a ceremonial or heraldic symbol...
s.' Irish texts do not mention his mother but his counterpart in Welsh mythology
Welsh mythology
Welsh mythology, the remnants of the mythology of the pre-Christian Britons, has come down to us in much altered form in medieval Welsh manuscripts such as the Red Book of Hergest, the White Book of Rhydderch, the Book of Aneirin and the Book of Taliesin....
, Gofannon, is a son of Dôn
Dôn
Dôn was a Welsh mother goddess. She does not play a direct part in the action of the Mabinogi, though many characters in that cycle are related to her. She is the mother of Arianrhod, Gwydion, Gilfaethwy, Gofannon, Eufydd, Elestron and Amaethon. Patrick K...
. Grouped together alongside Luicne
Luchtaine
In Irish mythology, Luchtaine was a son of Brigid and Tuireann and the carpenter or wright of the Tuatha Dé Danann. He and his brothers Creidhne and Goibniu were known as the Trí Dée Dána, the three gods of art, who forged the weapons which the Tuatha Dé used to battle the Fomorians....
the carpenter
Carpentry
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
, Creidne
Creidhne
In Irish mythology, Credne or Creidhne was a son of Brigid and Tuireann and the artificer of the Tuatha Dé Danann, working in bronze, brass and gold...
the wright
Wright
Wright is an occupational surname originating in England. The term Wright comes from the circa 700 AD Old English word "wryhta" or "wyrhta", meaning worker or shaper of wood. Later it became any occupational worker , and is used as a British family name...
and Dian Cecht
Dian Cecht
In Irish mythology, Dian Cécht , also known as Cainte, Canta, was the God of healing to the Irish people. He was the healer for the Tuatha Dé Danann and the father of Cian, Cú, and Cethen...
the leech
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
, in the Lebor Gabála Érenn
Lebor Gabála Érenn
Lebor Gabála Érenn is the Middle Irish title of a loose collection of poems and prose narratives recounting the mythical origins and history of the Irish from the creation of the world down to the Middle Ages...
, he is described as ‘not impotent in smelting
Smelting
Smelting is a form of extractive metallurgy; its main use is to produce a metal from its ore. This includes iron extraction from iron ore, and copper extraction and other base metals from their ores...
,’ and is said to have died, along with Dian Cecht
Dian Cecht
In Irish mythology, Dian Cécht , also known as Cainte, Canta, was the God of healing to the Irish people. He was the healer for the Tuatha Dé Danann and the father of Cian, Cú, and Cethen...
, of a ‘painful plague’. He and his brothers Creidhne
Creidhne
In Irish mythology, Credne or Creidhne was a son of Brigid and Tuireann and the artificer of the Tuatha Dé Danann, working in bronze, brass and gold...
and Luchtaine
Luchtaine
In Irish mythology, Luchtaine was a son of Brigid and Tuireann and the carpenter or wright of the Tuatha Dé Danann. He and his brothers Creidhne and Goibniu were known as the Trí Dée Dána, the three gods of art, who forged the weapons which the Tuatha Dé used to battle the Fomorians....
were known as the Trí Dée Dána, the three gods of art, who forged the weapons which the Tuatha Dé used to battle the Fomorians
Fomorians
In Irish mythology, the Fomoire are a semi-divine race said to have inhabited Ireland in ancient times. They may have once been believed to be the beings who preceded the gods, similar to the Greek Titans. It has been suggested that they represent the gods of chaos and wild nature, as opposed to...
. His weapons were always lethal, and his mead
Mead
Mead , also called honey wine, is an alcoholic beverage that is produced by fermenting a solution of honey and water. It may also be produced by fermenting a solution of water and honey with grain mash, which is strained immediately after fermentation...
gave the drinker invulnerability. His name can be compared with the Old Irish gobae ~ gobann ‘smith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
,’ Middle Welsh gof ~ gofein ‘smith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
,’ Gallic
Gaulish language
The Gaulish language is an extinct Celtic language that was spoken by the Gauls, a people who inhabited the region known as Gaul from the Iron Age through the Roman period...
gobedbi ‘with the smiths
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
,’ Latin faber ‘smith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
’ and with the Lithuanian
Lithuanian language
Lithuanian is the official state language of Lithuania and is recognized as one of the official languages of the European Union. There are about 2.96 million native Lithuanian speakers in Lithuania and about 170,000 abroad. Lithuanian is a Baltic language, closely related to Latvian, although they...
gabija
Gabija
Gabija is the goddess of fire and hearth in the Lithuanian mythology. She is the protector of home and family, provider of happiness and fertility. Her name is derived from gaubti or from St. Agatha...
‘sacred home fire’ and Lithuanian
Lithuanian language
Lithuanian is the official state language of Lithuania and is recognized as one of the official languages of the European Union. There are about 2.96 million native Lithuanian speakers in Lithuania and about 170,000 abroad. Lithuanian is a Baltic language, closely related to Latvian, although they...
gabus ‘gifted, clever’. According to Altram Tige Dá Medar, the feast of Goibniu protected the Tuatha Dé from sickness and old age. In the St. Gall incantations, he is invoked against thorns, alongside Dian Cecht
Dian Cecht
In Irish mythology, Dian Cécht , also known as Cainte, Canta, was the God of healing to the Irish people. He was the healer for the Tuatha Dé Danann and the father of Cian, Cú, and Cethen...
.
Primary sources
- Lebor Gabála ÉrennLebor Gabála ÉrennLebor Gabála Érenn is the Middle Irish title of a loose collection of poems and prose narratives recounting the mythical origins and history of the Irish from the creation of the world down to the Middle Ages...
—The Book of Invasions - Cath Maige Tuireadh—The (second) Battle of Magh Tuireadh
- Oidheadh Chlainne Tuireann—The Death of the Children of Tuireann
- Altram Tige Dá Medar ed. and trans. Maighréad ni C. Dobs. Zeitchrift für Celtische Philologie vol. 18 (1929–30). -The Fosterage of the House of the Two Milk-Pails
- The St. Gall Incantations. Thesaurus Palaeohibernicus edited and translated by Whitley Stokes and John StrachanJohn Strachan (linguist)John Strachan was a scholar of Sanskrit, Ancient Greek and the Celtic languages. He was a professor at Owens College and the University of Manchester...
. Cambridge: University Press, 1903.
Secondary sources
- James MacKillop (1998). Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. London: Oxford. ISBN 0-19-860967-1.