Dagda chief of the Tuatha dé Danann

[Mystic Wolf]

https://mythopedia.com/celtic-mythology/gods/dagda/

The Dagda was chief of the Tuatha dé Danann, the foremost of the Irish ancestral gods. Highly skilled and wise beyond measure, he was not only the god of life and death, but of seasons, agriculture, fertility, magic, and Druidry as well. He wielded three sacred treasures: a cauldron of plenty, a club of life and death, and a harp that controlled men and seasons alike.

The Dagda (Gaelic: An Dagda) was a title, meaning “the good or great god,” that reflected his mastery over many skills rather than the fortitude of his character. This Gaelic name was first derived from the Proto-Indo-European Dhagho-deiwos, or “shining divinity." As the language evolved into Proto-Celtic, the root morphed into Dago-deiwos. It is from the word Dagos that the Dagda’s name receives its two meanings: “shining” in relation to daytime, or “good” as in skilled.

Beyond the Dagda, his many titles included Eochaid Ollathair (Horseman or All-Father), Fer Benn (the Horned Man), Ruad Rofhessa (Lord of Great Knowledge), Dáire (the Fertile One), and Cerrce (Striker), among others.

The Dagda was described as a giant of a man, oafish in both demeanor and attire. His beard was long and unruly, and he wore a woolen cloak about his head. His clothing never fit right, often exposing his stomach and buttocks. Nevertheless, these faults did little to distract from his good looks.

Some scholars have theorized that his gruff appearance came from the Christians who recorded Irish myths and traditions; these early historians may have wished to make the Dagda appear comedic and foolish in contrast to their own deity. Even in these portrayals, however, the Dagda was still described as wise, witty, and wily on a consistent basis. Such versions also allowed him to remain a druid schooled in magic, art, and military strategy.

The Dagda often carried three sacred relics with him that defined several of his many talents:

1. The coire ansic, a cauldron that could produce a bountiful feast; one could never be found wanting in the company of the Dagda. This particular relic was one of the Four Treasures of the Tuatha dé Danann, which were crafted in Murias.
2. The lorg mór, a mighty club (or staff) that possessed two distinct powers; its head had the power to slay nine men in a single swing while its handle could revive the slain with but a touch.
3. The uaithne, an ornate harp carved of oak. This harp could place the seasons in the proper order and command the wills and emotions of men. With these potent abilities, the Dagda was often seen as a god of order putting everything in its place, every time in its season, and every man to their rightful action.