Fand

Otherworldly woman in Irish mythology

For the village in Iran, see Fand, Iran.

Fand ("tear", "teardrop of beauty") or Fann ("weak, helpless person'") is an otherworldly woman in Irish mythology. The two forms of her name are not phonetic variants, but two different words of different meaning and the history of her name is debated.[1]

## Appearance in Serglige Con Culainn

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Fand appears most prominently in the Ulster Cycle tale, Serglige Con Culainn ("The Sickbed of Cúchulainn") as the daughter of Áed Abrat, sister of Lí Ban and one Angus, and wife of Manannán.[1]

She enters the story in the form of an otherworldly sea bird. In her sea bird form, she flies with a flock of enchanted birds, with each pair joined together by a silver chain. Fand, flying with her sister Lí Ban, stands out from the rest as they are connected by a gold chain.

The hero Cúchulainn hurls stones at the seabirds, one of which passes through Fand's wing feathers. Later, Fand and Lí Ban return in the form of "Otherworldly women" and confront him on the shore of the lake. They beat Cúchulainn with horsewhips until he falls ill and lies abed for a year, unable to rise.

Cúchulainn eventually regains his health by the favor of Fand when, via negotiators (Lí Ban, and Cúchulainn's charioteer, Láeg), Cúchulainn reluctantly agrees to travel to the Fand's otherworld island and help her in a battle against her foes. Cúchulainn and Fand then become lovers.

The relationship does not last, as Cúchulainn's wife, Emer is very jealous and comes to attack the couple with a troop of women armed with knives. Fand sees that Emer is worthy of Cúchulainn, and obviously upset by their affair, so Fand chooses to leave him. She chants a poem, and then returns to her husband Manannán, who shakes his magical cloak of mists between Fand and Cúchulainn, that they may never meet again. Cúchulainn and Emer then drink a drink of forgetfulness, provided by the druids.

## Other appearances in early literature

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According to MacKillop, "her mother is sometimes given as Flidais, the woodland deity. In variant texts she is described as the wife of Eochaid Iúil, one of Labraid's enemies vanquished by Cúchulainn".[1]

The goddess or otherworldly woman, Niamh of the Golden Hair, is said to be a daughter of Manannán. As Niamh and Fand share some of the same characteristics, it is possible Niamh is also the daughter of Fand. Some sources mention another possible daughter of Manannán, Cliodna, but as Manannán is known to have partnered with a number of goddesses and mortal women, her connection with Fand is unclear.[citation needed]

## Appearances in modern literature

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Fand inspired William Larminie's Fand and Other Poems (Dublin, 1892) and Arnold Bax's tone poem The Garden of Fand (1916).[1]

Fand has also appeared as a recurring character in Kevin Hearne's The Iron Druid Chronicles series.

## See also

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* Irish mythology in popular culture

## References

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1. ^ a b c d James MacKillop, A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998), s.v. "Fand".

* Serglige Con Culainn, ed. Myles Dillon (1953). Serglige Con Culainn. Mediaeval and Modern Irish Series 14. Dublin: DIAS.; tr. Jeffrey Gantz (1981). Early Irish Myths and Sagas. London: Penguin. pp. 155–78.
* The Sick-Bed of Cuchulain Archived 8 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine, an English translation of the above
* The Only Jealousy of Emer

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Irish mythology: the Mythological Cycle

Supernatural
figures|

| Tuatha Dé
Danann|

* Abcán
* Aed
* Aengus
* Anu-Danu-Danand
* Áine
* Bánánach
* Bé Chuille
* Béḃinn
* Boann
* Bodb Derg
* Bres
* Brian
* Brigid
* Cermait
* Cian
* Clídna
* Dagda
* Delbáeth-Tuirenn
* Dian Cecht-Miach-Airmed
* Ecne
* Ernmas
* Étaín
* Ériu-Banba-Fódla
* Fiacha
* Flidais
* Fuamnach
* Lén
* Lir
* Lug
* Mac Gréine-Mac Cuill-Mac Cecht
* Macha
* Manannán
* Midir
* Morrígan (Badb, Nemain)
* Neit
* Nuada (Nechtan, Elcmar)
* Ogma
* Trí Dé Dána (Goibniu, Credne, Luchta)

|

Fomhoraigh|

* Balor
* Bres
* Cethlenn
* Cichol
* Conand
* Elatha
* Ethniu
* Tethra

Others|

* Caillech
* Carman
* Crom Cruach
* Donn
* Mug Ruith
* Tailtiu
* Tlachtga
* Tuan mac Cairill

Settlers|

* Cesair
* Partholón
* Nemed

Fir Bolg|

* Aengus mac Umor
* Eochaid mac Eirc
* Fiacha Cennfinnán
* Fodbgen
* Gann-Genann-Sengann
* Rinnal
* Rudraige
* Sláine
* Sreng

Milesians|

* Amergin Glúingel
* Breogán
* Éber Donn
* Éber Finn
* Érimón
* Fénius Farsaid
* Goídel Glas
* Lámfhind
* Míl
* Scota

Creatures|

* Aes Síde
* Enbarr
* Failinis
* Glas Gaibhnenn

Items|

* Areadbhar
* Four Treasures
* Fragarach
* Lúin of Celtchar
* Uaithne

Places|

* Otherworld
* Mag Mell
* Tír na nÓg
* Tech Duinn
* Brú na Bóinne
* Connla's Well
* Emain Ablach
* Fintan's Grave
* Teamhair
* Toraigh
* Uisneach

Texts|

* Lebor Gabála Érenn
* Cath Maige Tuired
* Tochmarc Étaíne
* Aided Chlainne Lir
* Aided Chlainne Tuirenn
* Immram Brain
* Dindsenchas

part of a series on Celtic mythology

* v
* t
* e

Irish mythology: the Ulster Cycle

Ulster|

* Conchobar mac Nessa
* Amergin mac Eccit
* Athirne
* Blaí Briugu
* Bricriu
* Cathbad
* Celtchar
* Cethern mac Fintain
* Conall Cernach
* Cruinniuc
* Cú Chulainn
* Cúscraid
* Deichtine
* Deirdre
* Fedelm
* Fedlimid
* Findchóem
* Furbaide
* Láeg
* Leabharcham
* Lóegaire Búadach
* Mugain
* Neas
* Naoise
* Sencha
* Súaltam

Ulster exiles|

* Cormac Cond Longas
* Dubthach Dóeltenga
* Fergus mac Roích

Connacht|

* Medb
* Ailill Finn
* Ailill mac Máta
* Bélchú
* Cet mac Mágach
* Etarcomol
* Ferdiad
* Findabair
* Flidais
* Fráech
* Mac Cécht
* Nera

Munster|

* Cú Roí
* Conganchnes mac Dedad
* Lugaid mac Con Roí

Others|

* Achall
* Aífe
* Bláthnat
* Conaire Mór
* Cairbre Nia Fer
* Connla
* Dáire mac Fiachna
* Emer
* Éogan mac Durthacht
* Erc mac Cairpri
* Fedelm
* Fir Fálgae
* Garb mac Stairn
* Lugaid Riab nDerg
* Mesgegra
* Nechtan Scéne
* Scáthach
* Uathach

Supernatural figures|

* Aengus
* Bébinn
* Boann
* Dáire
* Étaín
* Fand
* Flidais
* Lí Ban
* Lug
* Macha
* Manannán mac Lir
* Midir
* The Morrígan
* Nemain

Creatures|

* Donn Cuailnge and Finnbhennach
* Liath Macha and Dub Sainglend

Weapons|

* Caladbolg
* Fragarach
* Gáe Bulg
* Lúin of Celtchar

Locations|

* Brú na Bóinne
* Cruachan
* Cuailghe
* Dealga
* Dún Flidhais
* Eamhain Mhacha
* Magh Meall
* Teamhair

Texts|

* Aided Óenfhir Aífe
* Compert Con Culainn
* Fled Bricrenn
* Mac Da Thó's Pig
* Mesca Ulad
* Scéla Conchobair
* Serglige Con Culainn
* Táin Bó Cúailnge
* Táin Bó Flidhais
* Tochmarc Emire
* Tochmarc Étaíne
* Togail Bruidne Dá Derga

part of a series on Celtic mythology
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