Etain

In early Goidelic mythology, Etain was a sun goddess.

In Irish Mythology  Etain was one of Ailill's daughters, supposedly with Medb.

When Midir fell in love with and married her, his rejected first wife Fuamnach became jealous and cast a series of spells on her. First Fuamnach turned Etain into a pool of water, then into a worm, and then into a fly. Fuamnach then created a wind that sent the fly far until it fell on some rocks near the sea, where remained for seven years. After all that time, Aengus found the fly and wanted to bring it in the form of Etain to Midir, but Fuamnach created another wind, and the fly fell into a glass of wine.

The wine was swallowed (together with the fly) by a pregnant woman, thereby enabling Etain's rebirth. Years went by, and Etain married King Eochaidh; howeverm, Midir learned of this and journeyed to Tara (Eochaidh's capital) to bring his wife back home. After several happenings, Midir and Etain escaped from Eochaidh's palace and returned home, pursued by the king. Thanks to Midir's magical abilities Etain remained his wife and Eochaidh was fooled.

Other names

• Edain
  

Writings on Irish Folklore, Legend and Myth by W. B. Yeats, Robert Welch Book Description Through his research into Irish folklore, legend, and myth, Yeats attempted to discover a specifically Irish imagination and to create a movement in literature enriched by, and rooted in, a vital narrative tradition. This collection brings together all of Yeats's published prose writings on the subject. These essays, introductions, and sketches are presented chronologically, enabling the reader to perceive how Yeats's analysis develops, embracing ideas and visions of increasing psychological and philosophical complexity.

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