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Aillen

Fire-breathing entity in Irish mythology From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Aillen
For the hill fort in County Kildare, see Dún Ailinne.

Aillen or Áillen is an incendiary being in Irish mythology. He played the harp or timpán and would lull his victims into a deep sleep with his music.[1][2]

Thumb
Fionn mac Cumhaill fighting Aillen, illustration by Beatrice Elvery in Violet Russell's Heroes of the Dawn (1914)

Character

Called "the burner",[3] According to the most frequently repeated story, Aillén harasses Cormac's court at Tara every November 1 at Samhain.

Deeds

According to The Boyhood Deeds of Fionn, he would burn Tara to the ground every year at Samhain with his fiery breath after lulling all the inhabitants to sleep with his music.[2] This only ended with the arrival of Fionn mac Cumhaill,[1] who inhaled the poison from his spear to keep himself awake and slew Aillen. The act won him the leadership of the Fianna.

Names

Áillen was also a popular personal name in ancient Ireland and was used by several personages.

References

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