#ClaidheamhSoluis or #swordoflight . The divine sword was a fiery and bright lightning weapon, most often conceived of as a throwing spear; in later traditions, the wielder would change from god to hero, and the spear tended to be replaced by sword. . From the heroic cycles, some prominent examples are Fergus Mac Roigh's sword #Caladbolg (covered in yesterday's post) and Mac Cecht's spear. Caladbolg was not a blazing sword. (but it did emit a rainbow arc of light when swung). . The sword of light (sometimes glaive) is a trope artefact that occurs in many Gaelic tales and folklore. The "Quest for sword of light" being one. The hero in these tropes may resort to the sword of light as the only effective weapon against his enemies, but often the sword is was not enough, and the supernatural enemy has to be attacked on a single vulnerable spot. Once again a parallel can be drawn from the #norsemythology of #baldr being struck by #hodr with a #spear . The assertion has been made that the sword #Claidheamh #Soluis is "a symbol of Ireland attributed in oral tradition to #CĂșchulainn " (James Mackillop). . T. F. O'Rahilly suggested that the "sword of light" in folk tales was a vestige of divine weapons and heroic weapons, such as CĂșchulainn's #shiningsword #CruaidĂnCatutchenn whose name means âthe Hard-headed Steelingâ. This sword (aka "Socht's sword") is said to have "shone at night like a candle". Frodo's sword spring to mind. . the legacy of these mythological and heroic weapons resemble the god Lug's lighting weapon, his "son" CĂșchulainn's sword, (which I'll cover in another post) survive in the "sword of light" in folklore. . Willy Pogany 'The King's Son of Ireland.' (1916). . 1922/3 Ireland definitive 6p postage stamp showing Claidheamh Soluis (The Sword of Light). . #SWORDOFTHEWARGOD #celtic #gaelic #celticmythology #irish #irishmythology #mythology #bookseries #book #lugh #baldur #loki #godofwar #pagan #paganism #folklore #writer #swords https://www.instagram.com/p/CNj4vq8n0hK/?igshid=ssgs2q24gv0i
