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Anu (Irish goddess)

For the Mesopotamian god, see Anu.
Not to be confused with Annan.

Anu or Ana (sometimes given as Anann or Anand) is the name of a goddess mentioned briefly in Irish mythology.

Paps of Anu

Myths and sources

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The 9th century Sanas Cormaic (Cormac's Glossary) says in its entry for her:

"Ana – mother of the gods of Ireland; well did she feed the gods".

She may be a goddess in her own right,[1] or an alternate name for Danu. In the Lebor Gabála Érenn, Anand is given as another name for The Morrígan.[2] As her name is often conflated with a number of other goddesses, it is not always clear which figure is being referred to if the name is taken out of context.[1] The name may be derived from the Proto-Celtic theonym *Φanon-.[3][4]

Anu has particular associations with Munster: the pair of breast shaped hills known as the Paps of Anu (Dá Chích Anann or "the breasts of Anu")[5] in County Kerry are said to have been named after her.[2]

While an Irish goddess, in parts of Britain a similar figure is referred to as “Gentle Annie”, in an effort to avoid offence, a tactic which is similar to referring to the fairies as “The Good People”.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b MacKillop, James (1998). Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. pp. 10, 16, 128. ISBN 0-19-280120-1.
  2. ^ a b Macalister, R.A. Stewart (1941). Lebor Gabála Érenn [Book of Invasions of Ireland] (First Redaction ed.). Dublin, IE: Irish Texts Society. Part IV, § VII.
  3. ^ "Celtic Lexicon". The Celtic Languages and Cultural Identity. Centre for Advanced Welsh Celtic Studies. Cardiff, Wales: University of Wales.
  4. ^ "Indo-European database". Leiden, NL: University of Leiden. Archived from the original on 11 February 2006.
  5. ^ "The Paps of Anu". Prehistoric and Early Ireland. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
  6. ^ "Black Annis, Gentle Annie". whitedragon.org.uk.

Bibliography

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  • MacKillop, James (1998). Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-280120-1.
  • Wood, Juliette (2002). The Celts: Life, Myth, and Art. Thorsons Publishers. ISBN 0-00-764059-5.
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