Nemed
Encyclopedia
Nemed meaning "holy" or "privileged" is a figure of Irish mythology
who features in The Book of Invasions
. He was the leader of the third group of inhabitants of Ireland
, the Nemedians.
, Agnoman being the son of Piamp, son of Tait, son of Sera, son of Sru, son of Esru, son of Brament, son of Aitecht, son of Magog
.
Ireland had been empty for thirty years after the death of the last of Partholon
's followers when Nemed sailed to Ireland with his four sons and chieftains, Starn, Iarbonel the Soothsayer, Annind, and Fergus Red-Side. He had started from the Caspian Sea
with a fleet of 44 ships, taking a year and a half. In the end, only his ship reached Ireland. His wife, Macha
, died twelve days after they arrived, and was buried at Ard Macha (Armagh
).
They arrived in 2350 BC according to the chronology of the Annals of the Four Masters
, 1731 BC according to Seathrún Céitinn's chronology.
Nemed won the battle of Ros Fraechain against Gann and Sengann, two kings of the Fomorians
, who were both killed. He won three more battles against the Fomorians, at Badbgna in Connacht
, Cnamros in Leinster
(in which Artur, Nemed's first son born in Ireland, died), and Murbolg in Dal Riada (where his son Starn was killed by the Fomorian Conand
).
s in Ireland in Nemed's time, including Loch Annind, which burst from the ground when Annind's grave was being dug. The other three lakes were Loch Cal in Ui Niallain, Loch Munremair in Luigne, and Loch Dairbrech.
Nemed founded two royal forts, Rath Chimbaith in Semne and Rath Chindeich in Ui Niallain. Rath Cindleich was dug in one day by Boc, Roboc, Ruibne and Rotan, the four sons of Matan Munremar. Nemed killed them before dawn the next morning.
He cleared twelve plains: Mag Cera, Mag Eba, Mag Cuile Tolaid, and Mag Luirg in Connacht
: Mag Seired in Tethba; Mag Tochair in Tir Eogain; Mag Selmne in Araide; Mag Macha in Airgialla; Mag Muirthemne in Brega; Mag Bernsa in Leinster
; Leccmag and Mag Moda in Munster
.
in Cork Harbour
.
His followers were then oppressed by Morc and Conand of the Fomorians, who lived in Conand's Tower on Tory Island
. Two thirds of their children, their wheat and their milk had to be given to them every Samhain
. They revolted against this burden. 207 years after Nemed's death, sixty thousand men, led by their three champions, Semul son of Iarbonel the Soothsayer, Erglan son of Beoan son of Starn, and Nemed's son Fergus Red-Side, destroyed Conand's Tower, killing Conand and all his heirs. But Morc retaliated and a great battle ensued. The sea rose up over them. Only one ship, containing thirty warriors, escaped, and the last of Nemed's followers left Ireland. The island would again be empty for another 200 years.
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...
who features in The Book of Invasions
The Book of Invasions
The Book of Invasions: A Celtic Symphony is an album by the Irish Celtic rock band Horslips. It was a concept album based on an adaptation of Irish legends built into a complex story. It is named for the Lebor Gabála Érenn, a book of Irish mythology known as The Book of Invasions in English....
. He was the leader of the third group of inhabitants of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, the Nemedians.
Origins and invasion
Nemed was the son of Agnoman of ScythiaScythia
In antiquity, Scythian or Scyths were terms used by the Greeks to refer to certain Iranian groups of horse-riding nomadic pastoralists who dwelt on the Pontic-Caspian steppe...
, Agnoman being the son of Piamp, son of Tait, son of Sera, son of Sru, son of Esru, son of Brament, son of Aitecht, son of Magog
Magog
Magog may refer to:* Magog , a grandson of Noah in the Old Testament* Gog and Magog, a Biblical pair * Magog, Quebec, a town in southern Quebec, Canada...
.
Ireland had been empty for thirty years after the death of the last of Partholon
Partholón
Partholón, in medieval Irish historical tradition, was the leader of the second group of people to settle in Ireland, supposedly first to arrive after the biblical Flood. They arrived in 2680 BC according to the chronology of the Annals of the Four Masters, 2061 BC according to Geoffrey Keating's...
's followers when Nemed sailed to Ireland with his four sons and chieftains, Starn, Iarbonel the Soothsayer, Annind, and Fergus Red-Side. He had started from the Caspian Sea
Caspian Sea
The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth by area, variously classed as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. The sea has a surface area of and a volume of...
with a fleet of 44 ships, taking a year and a half. In the end, only his ship reached Ireland. His wife, Macha
Macha
Macha is the name of a goddess and several other characters in Irish mythology.Macha can also mean:*The LÉ Macha , a ship in the Irish Naval Service, named for the goddess*The Macha crater in Russia, less than 7000 years old...
, died twelve days after they arrived, and was buried at Ard Macha (Armagh
Armagh
Armagh is a large settlement in Northern Ireland, and the county town of County Armagh. It is a site of historical importance for both Celtic paganism and Christianity and is the seat, for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland, of the Archbishop of Armagh...
).
They arrived in 2350 BC according to the chronology of the Annals of the Four Masters
Annals of the Four Masters
The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland or the Annals of the Four Masters are a chronicle of medieval Irish history...
, 1731 BC according to Seathrún Céitinn's chronology.
Nemed won the battle of Ros Fraechain against Gann and Sengann, two kings of 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...
, who were both killed. He won three more battles against the Fomorians, at Badbgna in Connacht
Connacht
Connacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for...
, Cnamros in Leinster
Leinster
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
(in which Artur, Nemed's first son born in Ireland, died), and Murbolg in Dal Riada (where his son Starn was killed by the Fomorian Conand
Conand (mythology)
In Irish mythology Conand was a leader of the Fomorians who lived in a tower on Tory Island. He oppressed the followers of Nemed, demanding a huge tribute of their produce and children. Eventually Nemed's people rose up and killed him, destroying his tower....
).
Achievements
There were four lake-burstLake-burst
A lake-burst is a phenomenon referred to in Irish mythology, in which a previously non-existent lake comes into being, often when a grave is being dug.-Partholón's time:*Loch Laighlinne in Ui mac Uais of Breg*Loch Cuan and Loch Rudraige in Ulaid...
s in Ireland in Nemed's time, including Loch Annind, which burst from the ground when Annind's grave was being dug. The other three lakes were Loch Cal in Ui Niallain, Loch Munremair in Luigne, and Loch Dairbrech.
Nemed founded two royal forts, Rath Chimbaith in Semne and Rath Chindeich in Ui Niallain. Rath Cindleich was dug in one day by Boc, Roboc, Ruibne and Rotan, the four sons of Matan Munremar. Nemed killed them before dawn the next morning.
He cleared twelve plains: Mag Cera, Mag Eba, Mag Cuile Tolaid, and Mag Luirg in Connacht
Connacht
Connacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for...
: Mag Seired in Tethba; Mag Tochair in Tir Eogain; Mag Selmne in Araide; Mag Macha in Airgialla; Mag Muirthemne in Brega; Mag Bernsa in Leinster
Leinster
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
; Leccmag and Mag Moda in Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
.
Death and legacy
Nine years after arriving in Ireland, Nemed died of plague along with three thousand of his people. He was buried on the hill of Ard Nemid on Great IslandGreat Island
Great Island is the name of an island in Cork Harbour, just outside Cork city, at the mouth of the River Lee. The town of Cóbh is situated on the island, which is connected by bridge to Fota Island to the north, which in turn is connected by a causeway to the mainland...
in Cork Harbour
Cork Harbour
Cork Harbour is a natural harbour and river estuary at the mouth of the River Lee in County Cork, Ireland. It is one of several which lay claim to the title of "second largest natural harbour in the world by navigational area" . Other contenders include Halifax Harbour in Canada, and Poole Harbour...
.
His followers were then oppressed by Morc and Conand of the Fomorians, who lived in Conand's Tower on Tory Island
Tory Island
Toraigh is an inhabited island 14.5 km off the northwest coast of County Donegal, Ireland. It is also known in Irish as Oileán Thoraigh, Oileán Thoraí or Oileán Thúr Rí.-Language:The main spoken language on the island is Irish, but English is also understood...
. Two thirds of their children, their wheat and their milk had to be given to them every Samhain
Samhain
Samhain is a Gaelic harvest festival held on October 31–November 1. It was linked to festivals held around the same time in other Celtic cultures, and was popularised as the "Celtic New Year" from the late 19th century, following Sir John Rhys and Sir James Frazer...
. They revolted against this burden. 207 years after Nemed's death, sixty thousand men, led by their three champions, Semul son of Iarbonel the Soothsayer, Erglan son of Beoan son of Starn, and Nemed's son Fergus Red-Side, destroyed Conand's Tower, killing Conand and all his heirs. But Morc retaliated and a great battle ensued. The sea rose up over them. Only one ship, containing thirty warriors, escaped, and the last of Nemed's followers left Ireland. The island would again be empty for another 200 years.
Further reading
- The Invasion of Nemed, ed. and tr. Vernam Hull, "The Invasion of Nemed." Modern Philology 33 (1935). 119-123. Available from Thesaurus Linguae Hibernicae.