Who is dagda

The Dagda is often thought of as an earth god who had dominion over agriculture and fertility. While he was often associated with food, however, this was not his only function. The Dagda was a master of magic and of warfare. Known for his wisdom and strength, he was a formidable opponent both on and off the battlefield. The Dagda was a powerful figure whose magic bridged the divide between life and death.

A god of the earth, he was also a god of death, order, and natural law. He is often compared to the Norse god Odin because of his association with magic. The two gods were likely derived from the same source. Both were also father figures in their respective pantheons. Many myths emphasize food and plenty when they discuss the Dagda. He was said to not only have an immense appetite, but also to be able to provide amply for others. The Dagda owned a cauldron that never went dry, so no matter how many people he hosted no one would ever be left unsatisfied.

His ladle was big enough for two men to fit into. He also owned an orchard where the trees were always heavy with ripe fruit. He had two pigs so that one could always be roasting while the other grew to replace it. Each night he came home and ate a rich meal. Each bite he took, however, was the size of an entire pig. The god soon grew to resent his neighbor for taking advantage of his hospitality and became noticeably thinner from having so much food taken from his plate.

He gave the Dagda three gold coins to put in his food. Cridenbel ate the coins and died when the gold stuck in his stomach. The Dagda was accused of poisoning his neighbor and violating laws of hospitality, offenses that were punishable by death.

This story shows that, as a god of abundance, the Dagda was likely involved in matters of hospitality and generosity. While he encouraged sharing food with his bottomless cauldron, he could also punish those who abused the traditions of hospitality to the detriment of others.

He is often shown as a somewhat buffoonish and comical character. He is large and gruff with a thick beard and unruly hair. Descriptions often note that his clothes are far too small to fit his enormous frame. His stomach and buttocks stick out, emphasizing his oafish portrayal. Despite this, however, the other characters in these legends do not seem to treat the Dagda with the disdain that would usually be seen for someone who appeared so foolish.

The Tuatha de Dannan deferred to the Dagda as a wise leader, a fearsome fighter, and a skilled mage. He was a chief among the druids and held in high regard. He is described as beautiful and powerful even in some texts where his clothes are too small and his hair is unkempt. When later Christian writers recorded the legends of pagan Ireland, they had a vested interest in making the gods seem less noble and divine.

In comparison to their own god, they wanted to make the pagan gods seem less legitimate and attractive. In some cases, gods were demonized or made into less powerful faeries or other folklore characters. In the case of the Dagda, he was made to seem foolish and brutish. Some contemporary sources challenged this portrayal. One text claimed that the Dagda was seen as a beautiful god whose magic made him a father of the earth.

Despite being associated with bounty and fertility, the Dagda was also seen as a powerful warrior. Most Irish gods and many of the goddesses took part in the battles that formed part of their legends. This was especially true of the Tuatha de Dannan who first came to Ireland and had to fight two battles for supremacy over the island. While the Tuatha de Dannan easily defeated the Fir Bolg, they were soon overpowered by the Fomorians. In the years that the Fomorians controlled Ireland, the Dagda was one of the key figures in planning how to fight back.

His brother, Nuada, had once been king so they spent years in council preparing their rebellion. Every breath that the men of Ireland will exhale will increase their courage and skill at arms and strength. Even if they remain in battle for seven years, they will not be weary at all. His brothers were often listed as Nuada, king of the gods, and Oghma, a great champion. The Dagda and his brothers may have represented a god in three persons, as they often shared similar attributes and carried titles such as chief and king at the same time.

This group hailed from four cities north of the Emerald Isle, where they had learned the arts and sciences of their time, including magic.

At this time, the Dagda was their chief. Though he did not hold the title of king, he was consulted and respected by many as if he was one.

To prevent Elcmar from seeking retribution against the child, the Dagda held the sun in place for nine months, allowing Boann to carry and give birth to the child in a single day.

The Dagda then gave the child to his son Midir to raise, and the boy became Aengus, god of love and poetry. In agreeing to their request, Elcmar had unwittingly given his home to his enemies for eternity.

Soon after, the Dagda and Boann assisted Aengus in his quest to find the girl haunting his dreams. Some time later, while Aengus was away, the Dagda distributed his land among his many children. Upon his return, Aengus discovered that his father had saved nothing for him. The most powerful of these groups was the Fomorians, a monstrous race ruled by the cruel king Balor.

Knowing conflict with the Fomorians was inevitable, the Dagda made careful plans to trick them out of key resources, including their sheep. On Samhain, he went to his wife, the Morrigan, goddess of battle and of death, and found her bathing. After they made love, she prophesied the coming battle: they would be victorious over the Formorions—at a price.

At long last, both sides met at Moytura, in County Sligo, where they fought for control of Ireland. The Dagda himself was also mortally wounded by Cethlenn, wife of Balor. At his time of death, he had already ruled for seventy or eighty years, depending on the source. Explore Wikis Community Central. Register Don't have an account?

View source. History Talk 2. Do you like this video? Play Sound. Carries his own pot of rice into battle. A sketch of Dagda as he appears in one of the ending scenes, by Ikumi Fukuda.

Persona 2: Innocent Sin Personas. Persona 2: Eternal Punishment Personas. Universal Conquest Wiki. Buffs party's attack, defense and agility by 1 level.

Medium physical damage to one foe. Debuffs all foes' attack, defense and agility by 1 level. Drains small amount of HP and MP from one foe. I am the strong man of great wisdom, Dagda. I eat delicious food, bed beautiful women, and sleep again.

Be true to your desires. Danann god presiding over the earth, knowledge, and fertility. Deal high Water damage to one enemy. Deal Almighty fury ailment to all enemies. Deal high Water damage to an enemy group. Deal high Ice damage to one enemy. May freeze. The wisdom and strength of others do not compare with mine! I will rid of all these pests for you! Leader of the Celtic gods. Wields a large club. Inflicts large Strike damage to an enemy.

Inflicts large Water damage to a group of enemies. Renders all enemies Furious. Inflicts huge Strike damage to an enemy. Inflicts huge Water damage to all enemies. Reflects or nullifies the incoming attack.

Boss - Manabu - Nikkari - Danu - Dr. Krishna - Odin - Maitreya - Inanna - Shesha. Other Media. Shin Megami Tensei IV. Original Soundtrack. Major Arcana. Longma - Otohime - Culebre - Taksaka - Vritra. Hanged Man. Shax - Kabandha - Barbatos - Adramelech.

Harpy - Fjalar - Stymphalides - Phoenix - Suzaku. Poltergeist - Surt - Beelzebub - Lucifer. Kanaloa - Loki - Aeshma - Seker - Seth. Minor Arcana. Fukurokuju - Ebisu - Sarasvati. Galahad - Bacchus - Dagda. Cu Chulainn - Arthur - Futsuno Mitama. Budai - Shou Shen - Quetzalcoatl.