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The Tuatha de Danaan are a humanoid race of extradimensional beings that hale from Avalon, a small pocket-dimension adjacent to Earth. An interdimensional nexus between Avalon and Earth can be reached via the United Kingdom. They are also known as the Celtic Gods, who have been worshiped by the Celts (a civilization of Humans who lived in the British Isles and regions of Europe). The worship of the gods fell with the rise of Christianity.[10]

History

Origin[]

The precise origin of the Tuatha remains shrouded in legend. According to ancient myths, the high chieftain Iarbonel coupled with the primordial Earth Mother Danu (Gaea) and sired the first generation of Celtic gods.[10]

On the island of Tír na nÓg, in the dimension of Otherworld, Iarbonel's sons ruled at least two of the four cities inhabited by Tuatha de Danaan: The Dagda ruled Murias,[11] while Nuada ruled Finias.[12]

Pre-Cataclysmic Age[]

Mannanan and Lir, both sea-gods, were worshiped as such by the Atlanteans of the Pre-Cataclysmic Age.[13]

Over 21,000 years ago, the new god Crom led a shaman to three iron-bound books of magic, which the shaman used to imprison Shuma-Gorath in what would become Mount Crom in Cimmeria.[14]

Hyborian Age[]

The Tuatha de Danaan were worshipped at least in 18,000 BC:[15]

The war-goddess Scathach was active during that era, and, in league with the Tenger god Erlik (active trough the Tarim, a prophet worshiped as Erlik's avatar) arranged for Sonja of Hyrkania to become a mighty warrior.[22]

A dark god, the Lord of the Dark Forest, Lord of Forests and Lord of Death, Arawn was active within the Dark Forest (or Twilight Forest) of the Border Kingdom (along with his spirit-beasts), where he had chosen for bride the Argossean Merya after she asked every gods that were listening for rescue from a band of Picts that chased her. Arawn was repelled by Conan, but Merya was killed in the process.[23]

Earth[]

Following Iarbonel's death, Nuada took the lead of the Tuatha de Danaan. They left their cities in Otherworld Tír na nÓg and traveled through an interdimensional nexus to Earth in approximately 1896 BC, just as their hated enemies the Fomorians had done centuries earlier.[1]

In 600 B.C.,[9] Great Dark Warrior Sorceress Carman, and her sons Dian, Dub, and Dother came from Athens to Ireland, but their invasion was repelled by the four mages calling themselves the Tuatha Dé Danann and the boys were exiled to North America where Dian murdered the others to claim their power as his own.[24] It is unclear whether or not those four mages were Celtic gods, or simply posed as the Tuatha.

Human worship / Return to Otherworld[]

Around 350 AD, upon the arrival of the Milesians (the ancestors of the Celts), the Tuatha relinquished their holdings on Earth, sealed an agreement with the Milesian druid Amergin Glúingel stating that Ireland's mortal inhabitants would worship them in exchange for protection, and then returned to Otherworld.[1]

Another mention the Celts worshiping them from 900 B.C., and until 600 A.D.[15]

Cold war with the Asgardians[]

Starting in the 8th century AD, when the Asgardians-worshiping Vikings began plundering villages in the British Isle, a cold war between Tuatha and Asgardians began.

That enmity lasted for century,[1] and for about a thousand years, the Asgardians and Tuatha de Danaan seemingly did not interact, until the modern age.[2]

Modern Age[]

At least two events have launched back the exchanges between the two groups:

  • When the Warriors Three inadvertently killed the shapeshifting Giant Holth, his father King Gnives demanded as retribution a list of items (all extremely difficult to acquire), including Chulain's spear,[25] leading the four Asgardians to enter Otherworld.[2]
  • The Asgardians and Tuatha de Danaan eventually joined forces to defeat the Egyptian god of evil Seth, thus ending their enmity.[1]


On Earth, the Emerald Warlock (Dian) tracked down and killed all the descendants of the Tuatha Dé Danaan (tens of thousands) that had "wronged him" as revenge, the last being Sotinwa, in Lagos, Nigeria.[9]

Powers and Abilities

Powers

Superhuman Strength: All Celtic gods possess superhuman strength. However, they are physically weaker than some other pantheons of gods on average, such as the Olympians and Asgardians. The average strength for a male member of the breed is can lift around 25 tons.

Superhuman Speed: Danaan's Thuatha can run and move at speeds that are beyond the physical capabilities of the finest human athlete.

Superhuman Stamina: The advanced musculature of the Danaan Thuatha produces considerably less fatigue toxins during physical activity than the musculature of a human.

Superhuman Durability: The body of the Celtic Gods is much tougher and more resistant to physical injury than the body of a human.

Superhumanly Dense Tissue: The skin, muscle, and bone tissue of the race's members are about 3 times the density of the same tissue in a human's body.

Superhuman Agility: The Tuatha de Danaan's agility, balance, and bodily coordination are enhanced to levels that are beyond the natural physical limits of the finest human athlete.

Superhuman Reflexes: Members of the race's reflexes are similarly enhanced and are superior to those of the finest human athlete.

Regenerative Healing Factor: Despite your body's great resistance to injury, it is possible for Celtic gods to be injured. All Celtic gods possess accelerated metabolism and the mystical energies of his divine life force allow him to rapidly heal damaged bodily tissue much faster and more extensively than a human is capable of. They cannot, however, regrow lost limbs or organs, at least not without the help of powerful, outside mystical forces.

Immortality:The Tuatha de Danaan stop aging after reaching adulthood. In addition, your body is immune to all known terrestrial diseases and infections

Energy Manipulation: All Celtic gods and prominent goddess deities are able to control magical forces to a considerable degree in scale.

Average Strength Level

The Average Danaan male can lift (press) about 30 tons under optimal conditions; the average Danaan female can lift (press) 25 tons under optimal conditions.

Habitat

Habitat

Earth-like

Gravity

Normal

Atmosphere

Normal

Miscellaneous

Type of Government

Monarchy

Level of Technology

Magic

Representatives

Caber, Cernunnos, The Dagda, The Lady of the Lake, Leir, Morrigan, Taranis

The Nethergods, including Necromon and Mandrac, were possibly degenerated Tuatha de Danaan.[26]

Trivia

  • "Tuatha de Danaan" translates as "Children of Danu." Danu was their ancestral spirit linked with the Danube river in Ancient Gaul (modern Germany, France and Switzerland). It sometimes appears in Celtic literature as "Tuatha de Danann."

See Also

Links and References

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 [[Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica 1; The Tuatha de Danaan's profile|[[Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica #1|Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica 1]]; The Tuatha de Danaan's profile]]
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Thor: Blood Oath #4
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Marvel Comics Presents #30
  4. [[Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica 1; Cairbre's profile|[[Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica #1|Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica 1]]; Cairbre's profile]]
  5. Journey Into Mystery #639
  6. Marvel Zombies: The Book of Angels, Demons & Various Monstrosities #1 ; Demons' profile
  7. [[Marvel Atlas 1; Ireland's profile, Domestic Superhumans section|[[Marvel Atlas #1|Marvel Atlas 1]]; Ireland's profile, Domestic Superhumans section]]
  8. [[Marvel Atlas 1; Ireland's profile, Nonhuman Population section|[[Marvel Atlas #1|Marvel Atlas 1]]; Ireland's profile, Nonhuman Population section]]
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 Scarlet Witch (Vol. 2) #3
  10. 10.0 10.1 [[Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica 1; The Tuatha de Danaan|[[Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica #1|Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica 1]]; The Tuatha de Danaan]]
  11. [[Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica 1; The Dagda's profile|[[Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica #1|Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica 1]]; The Dagda's profile]]
  12. [[Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica 1; Nuada's profile|[[Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica #1|Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica 1]]; Nuada's profile]]
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 Conan the Barbarian #74
  14. Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Horror 2005 #1 ; Shuma-Gorath's profile
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #3 ; Council of Godheads's profile
  16. 16.0 16.1 King Conan #2
  17. [[Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z 14; Nuada's profile|[[Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #14|Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z 14]]; Nuada's profile]]
  18. 18.0 18.1 Official Handbook of the Conan Universe #1 ; Gods and Worship
  19. Savage Sword of Conan #54 ; The Stalker Amid the Sands
  20. Savage Tales #4 ; Night of the Dark God
  21. Conan the Barbarian #31
  22. [[Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica 1; The Tenger's profile|[[Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica #1|Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica 1]]; The Tenger's profile]]
  23. Conan the Barbarian #135
  24. Scarlet Witch (Vol. 2) #4
  25. Thor: Blood Oath #1
  26. Marvel Legacy: The 1980s Handbook #1 ; Necromon's profile
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