Donn
A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology
|
2004
|
|
© A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology 2004, originally published by Oxford University Press 2004. (Hide copyright information)
Copyright
Donn 1. Irish god of the dead and the
Otherworld; simultaneously an ancestor-deity whose identity is confused with the
Dagda; may also be identified with Donn mac Míled, the son of
Míl Espáine, who sometimes retains a distinct personality (see below). To a lesser extent Donn (1) may also be confused with
Donn Fírinne and
Donn Ua Duibne; additionally, Donn (1) may also bear the name
Donn Tétscorach.
As a chthonic or underworld deity, Donn bears a relationship to several Mediterranean deities, most notably the Roman
Dis Pater, from whom he may derive through Gaulish intermediaries. He is a retiring, aloof deity who prefers to live in isolation away from the company of other gods. He is most associated with west
Munster, the province most often linked with the dead. The first of the invaders to land in Ireland, he resides at
Tech Duinn, ‘Donn's House’, or, more often in English, ‘the House of Donn’, described as a rocky islet near Dursey Island at the extreme western end of the
Beare peninsula. The dead live with him here. Some Christian commentators have speculated that the souls of the damned may linger for an undetermined time in Tech Duinn before departing for hell. Not surprisingly, aspects of Donn (1)'s character have been adapted to portrayals of the
devil in pious folklore. In later oral tradition Donn (1) was thought to cause storms and shipwrecks.
Donn mac Míled, the eldest son of
Míl Espáine and Seang, is portrayed as a character in the
Lebor Gabála [Book of Invasions], but not always identified as Donn (1), god of the dead; his brothers are
Amairgin and
Colptha. When he offended
Ériu she prophesied that he would not be able to enter Ireland, and so he lived on the rocky islet at the end of the
Beare peninsula known in stories as Tech Duinn. Except that he is recorded as having drowned, all remaining elements of his characterization imply identification with Donn, ruler of the dead.
2. Máel Fothartaig's foster-brother, who murders
Eochaid and his wife in revenge for the slaying of Máel Fothartaig.
Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.
|
Althing The World's Oldest Parliament.(Iceland)
Magazine article from: Faces: People, Places, and Cultures; 5/1/2000; ; 700+ words
; ...under one rule of law. This meeting was the Althing, or "the gathering of all the people." The Althing was government by assembly, or a parliament...to recite the laws from memory during the Althing. He was the only person who had the power...
|
|
Suprisingly unsurprising: the Icelandic parliamentary elections of 1995.
Magazine article from: West European Politics; 10/1/1995; ; 700+ words
; ...Parliamentary elections, elections to the Althing, were held in Iceland on 8 April 1995...votes and 56 out of 63 members in the Althing. The Women's Alliance, who took part...time in 1983, almost dropped out of the Althing. The new People's Movement received...
|
|
|
ICELAND Through Time.
Magazine article from: Faces: People, Places, and Cultures; 5/1/2000; 700+ words
; ...seven days. 930 Icelanders create the Althing, believed to be the world's first parliamentary...1262 Discouraged Icelanders meet at their Althing and give up their independence. King...in control of Iceland, abolishes the Althing. Icelanders work toward independence...
|
|
Alcoa Embraces Decision on Vatnajokull National Park.
Business Wire; 3/28/2007; 700+ words
; ...announced it embraces the decision of Althing (Parliament of Iceland) to establish...underlying ambitious ideology. "We salute Althing for taking this important step to support...National Park began as early as in 1999 when Althing passed a parliamentary resolution to establish...
|
 "The News Letter (Belfast, Northern Ireland)")
|
Travel:Iceland: Olaf, bring me a mouldy shark.(Features)
Newspaper article from: The News Letter (Belfast, Northern Ireland); 5/8/2003; 700+ words
; ...Thingvellir, the grassy plain where in 930 the Althing, the world's oldest parliament, was...their feuds with a handshake. Today, the Althing having moved down to Reykjavik, there...for dinner. Now, since the days of the Althing, a traditional Icelandic meal has been...
|
|
ALCOA EMBRACES DECISION ON VATNAJOKULL NATIONAL PARK.
News Wire article from: AsiaPulse News; 3/29/2007; 700+ words
; ...announced it embraces the decision of Althing (Parliament of Iceland) to establish...underlying ambitious ideology. "We salute Althing for taking this important step to support...National Park began as early as in 1999 when Althing passed a parliamentary resolution to establish...
|
|
Blue-eyed sheikhs
Magazine article from: The Spectator; 10/9/2004; ; 700+ words
; ...regulation, and to open up its economy. For 70 years the Althing has been dominated by the splendidly named Independence party...they do in Britain; they must be specifically approved by the Althing. An official in Iceland's European department puts it thus...
|
|
Leading a new nation: Iceland's five presidents
Magazine article from: Scandinavian Review; 10/1/1998; ; 700+ words
; ...responsibility for foreign affairs into its own hands. In 1941 the Althing decreed that the 1918 treaty between the nations would not...meeting place of the A/thing-on June 17, 1944. As the Althing came together at its old place of assembly, Logberg, Sveinn...
|
 "The Economist (US)")
|
Norse code.(bioprospecting in Iceland )(Abstract)
Magazine article from: The Economist (US); 12/5/1998; 700+ words
; ...elsewhere IN THE next few days, Iceland's parliament, the Althing, will debate a bill to allow its citizens' medical records...Johannesdottir, an opposition party member who sits on the Althing committee responsible for the bill, has stacks of letters...
|
 "The Mail on Sunday (London, England)")
|
Iceland in row over refund to UK taxpayers; CRITICS ATTACK [pounds sterling]2.3bn DEAL ON LANDSBANKI CRASH.(News)
Newspaper article from: The Mail on Sunday (London, England); 7/19/2009; 620 words
; ...s banking system last year. The parliament, known as the Althing, will vote this week on whether to ratify a treaty under which...enacted, the agreement must be approved by the 63-member Althing, where there is cross-party discontent at the terms of the...
|
|
Althing
Dictionary entry from: Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms
Althing a whole assembly, specifically, the General Assembly of Iceland.
|
|
Iceland
Book article from: A Dictionary of World History
...chieftains, who met periodically in the Althing, an official assembly. A lawspeaker...1000 to a partnership of Church and Althing. In 1262 Iceland passed to Norway and...movement achieved the restoration of the Althing or parliament in 1845. Iceland acquired...
|
|
Reykjavík
Book article from: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition
...industries. Reykjavík is the seat of the parliament (Althing), of the Lutheran bishop of Iceland, and of the supreme...commemorate the 1,000th anniversary of the founding of the Althing. In 1986 Reykjavík was the site of historic arms...
|
|
|
Thingvellir
Book article from: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition
...Icelandic Þingvellir, a wide lava plain, since 1928 a national park, the ancient place of assembly of the Icelandic Althing , which met there from 930 to 1798. It is located c.30 mi (50 km) NE of Reykjavík, on the north shore of Thingvallavatn...
|
|
|
Jón Sigurðsson
Book article from: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition
...literature; he began the series Diplomatarium Islandicum in 1857. He served twice (1849-57, 1865-79) as president of the Althing, or parliament, but his journalistic activity was his great contribution to the Icelandic political revival. In 1841 he...
|
