Maithghean
human_specialist Irish single tradition · 1
Maithghean is an 8th-century druid who owned Broicsech. Broicsech gave birth to Brigid at dawn, on the threshold, while bringing milk into Maithghean's house. He is portrayed somewhat sympathetically in the stories and eventually frees Brigid and her mother.
When
- First attested
- 700 CE
- Attested period
- 700 – 2020
- Historical notes
- 8th-century druid.
Relationships
- served by
- Broicsech
Mentioned by
Sources
wikipedia (1)
Source passages
“An 8th-century account calls the druid Maithghean. It says Broicsech gave birth to Brigid at dawn, on the threshold, while bringing milk into the druid's house. This liminality seems to be a vestige of druidic lore. Brigid was thus born into slavery. Legends of her early holiness include her vomiting when the druid tried to feed her, due to his impurity; a white cow with red ears arrives to sustain her instead.”
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