Leanan sídhe
Encyclopedia
In Celtic folklore
, the "Barrow-Lover" is a beautiful woman of the Aos Sí
(people of the barrow or the fairy
folk) who takes a human lover. Lovers of the leannán sídhe are said to live brief, though highly inspired, lives. The name comes from the Gaelic words for a sweetheart, lover, or concubine and the term for a barrow
or fairy-mound.
The leanan sídhe is generally depicted as a beautiful muse
, who offers inspiration to an artist in exchange for their love and devotion; however, this frequently results in madness for the artist, as well as premature death. W. B. Yeats popularized a slightly different perspective on these spirits with emphasis on their vampiric
tendencies:
as Harry Dresden's Godmother, The Leanansidhe.
An alien leannan sìth appears in an episode
of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
.
A character called Leanan Sidhe appears in a number of Atlus
Megami Tensei
games.
In Patrick O'Brian
's historical novel The Commodore
, Stephen Maturin refers to his daughter Brigid as a leana sidhe - the term being apparently used in early nineteenth century rural Ireland for children with what would now be called an autistic spectrum condition.
In Maggie Stiefvater
's novel Ballad the gifted musician James Morgan meets a faerie, Nuala, who is a leanan sídhe.
Shakugan no Shana
has a character called Spiral Organ who was once referred to as Leanan Sidhe. She was in love with a human painter.
There is a character in Julie Kagawa
's Iron Fey series who is known as Leanansidhe.
Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely series features the Leanansidhe.
Similar to Felurian from Patrick Rothfuss' novel The Wise Man's Fear.
In Robert Jordan
's The Wheel of Time series known as Leane Sedai, one of the Aes Sedai based on the Irish Aes Sídhe. Leane, after undergoing a trauma, embraces her cultural upbringing, begins practicing the art of seduction, and takes a male guardian.
Celtic mythology
Celtic mythology is the mythology of Celtic polytheism, apparently the religion of the Iron Age Celts. Like other Iron Age Europeans, the early Celts maintained a polytheistic mythology and religious structure...
, the "Barrow-Lover" is a beautiful woman of the Aos Sí
Aos Sí
The aos sí are a supernatural race in Irish mythology and Scottish mythology are comparable to the fairies or elves. They are said to live underground in the fairy mounds, across the western sea, or in an invisible world that coexists with the world of humans...
(people of the barrow or the fairy
Fairy
A fairy is a type of mythical being or legendary creature, a form of spirit, often described as metaphysical, supernatural or preternatural.Fairies resemble various beings of other mythologies, though even folklore that uses the term...
folk) who takes a human lover. Lovers of the leannán sídhe are said to live brief, though highly inspired, lives. The name comes from the Gaelic words for a sweetheart, lover, or concubine and the term for a barrow
Tumulus
A tumulus is a mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves. Tumuli are also known as barrows, burial mounds, Hügelgrab or kurgans, and can be found throughout much of the world. A tumulus composed largely or entirely of stones is usually referred to as a cairn...
or fairy-mound.
The leanan sídhe is generally depicted as a beautiful muse
Muse
The Muses in Greek mythology, poetry, and literature, are the goddesses who inspire the creation of literature and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge, related orally for centuries in the ancient culture, that was contained in poetic lyrics and myths...
, who offers inspiration to an artist in exchange for their love and devotion; however, this frequently results in madness for the artist, as well as premature death. W. B. Yeats popularized a slightly different perspective on these spirits with emphasis on their vampiric
Vampire
Vampires are mythological or folkloric beings who subsist by feeding on the life essence of living creatures, regardless of whether they are undead or a living person...
tendencies:
The Leanhaun Shee (fairy mistress) seeks the love of mortals. If they refuse, she must be their slave; if they consent, they are hers, and can only escape by finding another to take their place. The fairyFairyA fairy is a type of mythical being or legendary creature, a form of spirit, often described as metaphysical, supernatural or preternatural.Fairies resemble various beings of other mythologies, though even folklore that uses the term...
lives on their life, and they waste away. Death is no escape from her. She is the Gaelic muse, for she gives inspiration to those she persecutes. The Gaelic poets die young, for she is restless, and will not let them remain long on earth - this malignant phantom.
In popular culture
The leanan sídhe makes several appearances in The Dresden FilesThe Dresden Files
The Dresden Files is a series of contemporary fantasy/mystery novels written by Jim Butcher.He provides a first person narrative of each story from the point of view of the main character, private investigator and wizard Harry Dresden, as he recounts investigations into supernatural disturbances in...
as Harry Dresden's Godmother, The Leanansidhe.
An alien leannan sìth appears in an episode
The Muse (DS9 episode)
"The Muse" is an episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the 20th episode of the 4th season. It marks the final appearance of the character Lwaxana Troi...
of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
.
A character called Leanan Sidhe appears in a number of Atlus
Atlus
is a Japanese computer and video game developer, publisher, and distributor based in Tokyo, Japan, best known for developing the console role-playing game franchise Megami Tensei. The first Megami Tensei was a Nintendo Entertainment System video game published by Namco based on a trilogy of...
Megami Tensei
Megami Tensei
, commonly abbreviated as , is a Japanese console role-playing game metaseries which was originally based on the novel series Digital Devil Story by Aya Nishitani and has gone to become one of the major franchises of the genre in its native country...
games.
In Patrick O'Brian
Patrick O'Brian
Patrick O'Brian, CBE , born Richard Patrick Russ, was an English novelist and translator, best known for his Aubrey–Maturin series of novels set in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and centred on the friendship of English Naval Captain Jack Aubrey and the Irish–Catalan physician Stephen...
's historical novel The Commodore
The Commodore
The Commodore is a Horatio Hornblower novel written by C. S. Forester. It was published in the United States under the title Commodore Hornblower.-Plot summary:...
, Stephen Maturin refers to his daughter Brigid as a leana sidhe - the term being apparently used in early nineteenth century rural Ireland for children with what would now be called an autistic spectrum condition.
In Maggie Stiefvater
Maggie Stiefvater
Maggie Stiefvater is a bestselling American author of young-adult/urban fantasy novels. She currently lives in Virginia. She attended Mary Washington College, graduating with a B.A. in history. After graduating, she worked as a portrait artist, specializing in equestrian art.; her art was...
's novel Ballad the gifted musician James Morgan meets a faerie, Nuala, who is a leanan sídhe.
Shakugan no Shana
Shakugan no Shana
, also known simply as Shana, is a Japanese light novel series written by Yashichiro Takahashi, with illustrations by Noizi Ito. The series includes 25 novels released between November 2002 and October 2011 published by ASCII Media Works under their Dengeki Bunko imprint...
has a character called Spiral Organ who was once referred to as Leanan Sidhe. She was in love with a human painter.
There is a character in Julie Kagawa
Julie Kagawa
Julie Kagawa is an American author, best known for writing the Iron Fey series consisting of four books: The Iron King, The Iron Daughter, The Iron Queen and The Iron Knight. She has also written two e-books called Winter's Passage and Summer's Crossing. Her books made it to the New York Times...
's Iron Fey series who is known as Leanansidhe.
Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely series features the Leanansidhe.
Similar to Felurian from Patrick Rothfuss' novel The Wise Man's Fear.
In Robert Jordan
Robert Jordan
Robert Jordan was the pen name of James Oliver Rigney, Jr. , under which he was best known as the author of the bestselling The Wheel of Time fantasy series. He also wrote under the pseudonyms Reagan O'Neal and Jackson O'Reilly.-Biography:Jordan was born in Charleston, South Carolina...
's The Wheel of Time series known as Leane Sedai, one of the Aes Sedai based on the Irish Aes Sídhe. Leane, after undergoing a trauma, embraces her cultural upbringing, begins practicing the art of seduction, and takes a male guardian.