Post by blackrose on May 29, 2009 8:57:15 GMT -5
As requested - though, as I said, I don't know much about him other than the basics. I've always been more a warrior than a healer
Dian Cécht was (one of) the healer/physician of the Tuatha de Danann. Once again there is a confused geneology - he may have been Dagda's son, or his brother, or his distant cousin... One point of agreement seems to be that he is the paternal grandfather of Lugh (the Long Arms, the Skilled of Many Arts).
He is most famous for creating a silver hand "that worked as well as any hand" for Nuada, after he lost his in battle against the Fir Bolg.
During the Second Battle of Magh Tuiredh, against the Fomorians, he, along with his sons Octriuil and Miach, and his daughter Airmed, chanted spells over the Well of Sláine (health or healthfulness, roughly). The waters of this well would heal warriors who were mortally wounded in battle - as long as their heads weren't cut off (nor the brain cut through its membrane).
Editor's note: (*grins* I always wanted to say that. Anyway.) Some say that the Well returned life. I think that the wording of the text, at least the translation I'm using, suggests that they may have been alive, though they were fatally wounded, which makes it a well of powerful healing/regeneration, but not necessarily one of rebirth. Also, I think it important to note that the healing properties are due to the incantation of the four healers, and not a nascent property of the well itself.)
He was also jealous of his craft, though. His son, Miach, proved to be a better physician than he was. Miach was unsatisfied with Nuadu's hand being of silver, so, through an incantation, he made it become a real hand of flesh and blood in nine days and nights.
Dian Cécht was jealous, and angry, and attached his son three times, but Miach healed himself. But then Dian Cecht cut through the membrane of his brain, and no one could heal this wound - not even Dian Cecht.
He buried his son, and 365 herbs grew from the grave, "corresponding to the number of his joints and sinews." His daughter, Airmed, began collecting and categorizing the herbs for their purpose, but Dian Cécht jumbled them all up, so that no one would know their healing properties. (A Christian interpolation in the story says "unless the Holy Spirit taught them afterwards.")
**
There is one other story which is sometimes attributed to Dian Cecht - the killing of the Morrigu's (Morrighan's) son, Méche (the one whose heart was fulls of snakes which would've destroyed Ireland and whatnot). In other versions of the story it is Mac Cecht, one of the kings of Ireland during the time of the Milesian Invasion, who kills Méche. Either way, I, personally, don't think it really adds much to the knowing of Diancecht - and I've not found that particular story on most of what I consider the more reliable sites that I use.
(I've purposely used different variations of the spellings of the names )
Dian Cécht was (one of) the healer/physician of the Tuatha de Danann. Once again there is a confused geneology - he may have been Dagda's son, or his brother, or his distant cousin... One point of agreement seems to be that he is the paternal grandfather of Lugh (the Long Arms, the Skilled of Many Arts).
He is most famous for creating a silver hand "that worked as well as any hand" for Nuada, after he lost his in battle against the Fir Bolg.
During the Second Battle of Magh Tuiredh, against the Fomorians, he, along with his sons Octriuil and Miach, and his daughter Airmed, chanted spells over the Well of Sláine (health or healthfulness, roughly). The waters of this well would heal warriors who were mortally wounded in battle - as long as their heads weren't cut off (nor the brain cut through its membrane).
Editor's note: (*grins* I always wanted to say that. Anyway.) Some say that the Well returned life. I think that the wording of the text, at least the translation I'm using, suggests that they may have been alive, though they were fatally wounded, which makes it a well of powerful healing/regeneration, but not necessarily one of rebirth. Also, I think it important to note that the healing properties are due to the incantation of the four healers, and not a nascent property of the well itself.)
He was also jealous of his craft, though. His son, Miach, proved to be a better physician than he was. Miach was unsatisfied with Nuadu's hand being of silver, so, through an incantation, he made it become a real hand of flesh and blood in nine days and nights.
Dian Cécht was jealous, and angry, and attached his son three times, but Miach healed himself. But then Dian Cecht cut through the membrane of his brain, and no one could heal this wound - not even Dian Cecht.
He buried his son, and 365 herbs grew from the grave, "corresponding to the number of his joints and sinews." His daughter, Airmed, began collecting and categorizing the herbs for their purpose, but Dian Cécht jumbled them all up, so that no one would know their healing properties. (A Christian interpolation in the story says "unless the Holy Spirit taught them afterwards.")
**
There is one other story which is sometimes attributed to Dian Cecht - the killing of the Morrigu's (Morrighan's) son, Méche (the one whose heart was fulls of snakes which would've destroyed Ireland and whatnot). In other versions of the story it is Mac Cecht, one of the kings of Ireland during the time of the Milesian Invasion, who kills Méche. Either way, I, personally, don't think it really adds much to the knowing of Diancecht - and I've not found that particular story on most of what I consider the more reliable sites that I use.
(I've purposely used different variations of the spellings of the names )