GoodGod!

Meet the Gods: The Three Craft Gods of the Danann

Merry meet.

In Irish mythology, there are brothers who are ‘The Three Craft Gods of the Danann.’ They are also called ‘The Three Gods of Skill of the Tuatha Dé Danann.’ Brigid and Tuireann are their parents.

Credne – or Creidne in Old Irish and Creidhne in modern Irish – was a craftsman who worked mostly in bronze, but also in brass and gold. When Nuada, the High King of the Tuatha Dé Danann, lost his arm in battle, it was Credne who fashioned a replacement arm from silver.

(Photo by Nicolas Hoizey on Unsplash)

Goibniu – is the blacksmith. He also is connected with hospitality & putting on feasts for the gods. One source said he had a magic cow, Glas Gaibhnenn (glas-gav-e-lan), prized for giving profuse quantities of milk.

Luchta – or Luchtaine, is the carpenter. He was considered the patron of woodworking and wheel making.

The three of them forged weapons for Tuatha De, the ancient divine race of the Mother Goddess Danu (the enchanted, mystical beings, fairies and leprechauns) when they fought the abominable giants and monsters whose magic was strong. Credo provided sword hilts, spear rivets and the conical pieces of thick metal in the center of a shield that protect the user’s hand.

Those working in any of these crafts and seeking the skill or protection from one of these brothers could place an item on the altar that is a tool of the trade such as a hammer or chisel, or small items made by someone in the trade. Offerings could include water or ale, along with raw materials such as precious or semiprecious metals, or a piece of wood.

Merry part. And merry meet again.

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About the Author:

Lynn Woike was 50 – divorced and living on her own for the first time – before she consciously began practicing as a self taught solitary witch. She draws on an eclectic mix of old ways she has studied – from her Sicilian and Germanic heritage to Zen and astrology, the fae, Buddhism, Celtic, the Kabbalah, Norse and Native American – pulling from each as she is guided. She practices yoga, reads Tarot and uses Reiki. From the time she was little, she has loved stories, making her job as the editor of two monthly newspapers seem less than the work it is because of the stories she gets to tell. She lives with her large white cat, Pyewacket, in central Connecticut. You can follow her boards on Pinterest, and write to her at woikelynn at gmail dot com.