Dagda's Harp
Legend: http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-irish-myths-and-legends.php:
Picture: http://www.toptenz.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Dagdas-Harp.jpg Background: http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/AEmblem/Harp.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fomorians |
"In Irish mythology, there was a high rated priest named Dagda who owned a very large and beautiful harp. During a war, a rival tribe stole the harp and took it to an abandoned castle. Dagda followed the tribe and called to the harp. It came to Dagda and he struck the cords. Everyone began to cry when Dagda let out the music of tears. Dagda struck the chords again and the harp played the music or mirth (merry, glee, hilarity) and the warriors began to laugh. Then he struck the music of sleep. Everyone but Dagda fell into a deep sleep, allowing him to escape with his magical harp."
I also found out that it is believed that the first harp was owned by Dagda. Dagda was the chief of the Tuatha De Danaan. The rival tribe was the Fomorians. Wikipedia says that "it has been suggested that the Fomorians represented the gods or chaos and wild nature" and that the Tuatha De Danaan represented the god or human civilization." |