The Earth before the Flood: Disappeared continents and civilizations

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Fomorians - the most ancient inhabitants of Ireland

Fomorians are considered by the most ancient, native inhabitants of Ireland. As legends narrate, all invaders invariably met them on the island (up to 1700-700 BC). They gave to know about themselves at the time of Partolon which settled down in Ireland together with his companions after the Great Deluge or Flood (about 12 thousand years ago). From time to time fomorias took shelter from conquerors in "the country of fomorians" - "boundless flatness with a great number of human assemblages (gatherings)", presumably in Britain - and on a mysterious island "with glass tower" - the Glass island or Inis Vitrin where the residence of their rulers (Tetra, Indech, Balor, etc.) was. Legends place this island in the west of ocean and compare with it "The land of blissful" which sometimes is called as "Tetra Possession".

Fomorians - colossal and ugly creatures

Generally fomorians were huge and ugly creatures. In the "The Book of Invasions" of Ireland (" The Book of Conquests", Leabhar Gabhala Eireann) they are described as "crowds of abominable giants and monsters" - one-eyed, one-armed and one-legged giants, or as giants with a shapeless monstrous appearance and a different number of eyes and extremities. For example, mother fomorian Kihol, Lota had four eyes which were placed on her back, and the swelled lips were on a chest. Some fomorians had on their shoulders heads of goats, horses and buffalos.

Leader of fomorians Balor. The eye of Balor

One of the most picturesque persons - the leader of fomorians Balor. His father was Buarayneh, that is "buffalo-headed". One eye of Balor has been always shut, because it was so poisonous (venomous) that slayed everyone on whom its gaze dropped. "Neither gods, nor giants" couldn't save themselves from his glare. Therefore they had saved Balor life only on the condition that his killing eye would not cause injury to anybody . Here that is speak about the eye of Balor in "The Battle of Mag Tuired" (Cath Maige Tuired) saga :
"The baneful eye was at him. This eye was opened only in the field of fight. Four persons were necessary to raise an eyelid of his eye by four polish rods passed through eyelids. The army which would look in this eye, could not resist, even if be in many thousands by number".
The "Destruction of Da Derg house" saga describe another fomorian - swineherd Badb from a sid on Femen plane which has similar features with Balor: "squint-eyed [on the left eye] with a baneful eye".

Fomorians - "green half from land to crown"

It is rather curious the description of fomor Loh Letglas in "The Battle of Mag Tuired" saga who was "green half from ground to crown".

Fomorians - werewolves. Marriages of fomorians with Tuatha de Danann

Perhaps, it is all descriptions of the true appearance of fomorians. Much more often in legends there are absolutely others fomorians - werewolves espoused with men and women of the people of Danu (the Danu people). Here they have an appearance of perfect girls and young men - well matched Tuatha.
Here before us is fomorian Elatha - the warrior with a gold yellow hair and in a garment embroidered by gold threads with gold patterns which have liaison with Eriu from the Danu people. From that liaison Bres (Bress mac Elatha) was born, who became soon the ruler of Tuatha. Other men and women of the people of Danu have also been related with fomorians by dynasty marriages, for example, Lug, the mister of hundred crafts, was the grandson of the sovereign of fomorians Balor and the divine physician Dian Keht from the Danu people .

Fomorians - beings, comparable with Tuatha de Danann in magic art

Both in Irish and Welsh legends there is not enough information and on a lifestyle, customs and capacityies of fomorians. They were the only beings comparable to Tuatha de Danann in the art of magic. They could clear away a fog, withdraw (take back) waters, stop a storm called by magicians of the people of Danu. Imitating them, druids sometimes conjured, standing on one leg and having folded one eye. The data presents that fomorians (at least, one of them by name Mata) could "hear" any talks in the country because the wind brought them all the words even said in a whisper.
Fomorians were rather tempted in a military science and fighted almost against all who arrived to Ireland.

"Truly, to fight against fomorians was all the same to punch a wall by head, to hold an arm in a snake nest or to substitute a face to flame".

Destiny of fomorians

In 1700-700 BC fomorians together with the People of Danu had withstanded three or five fights with the Sons of Mile Spanish while those could not prevail against them. According one legends, they had lodged in subterranean hills-sids which they devided with Tuatha de Danann, or had left even more under land, on other - had sailed away at sea.

Fomorians - perfect breeders and farmers

Irish legends definitely indicate that fomorians were perfect breeders and farmers. Bres, appealing for mercy to Tuatha då Danann, promised that "milk at cows of Ireland" will not run out for ever". Then he had told that if he would be saved, Irishman would reap the harvest each quarter of year. At last, when it also had not saved him, he had learnt "people of Ireland" how it is necessary to till, sow and reap: "… let till on Tuesday, fields sow on Tuesday, on Tuesday let reap". This formula which had saved life to Bres, is alive till now in Ireland as talisman from otherwordly forces which aim to steal fruits of farmer labours.

Whom fomorians were ?

So, whom fomorians were? More often they are considered by dark demons or gods and opposed to light demons or gods - Tuatha då Danann. Their progenitress was the goddess Domnu, the name of which means "abyss", "a marine abyss", and the word "fomorians" according to A.Riis and B.Riis (the Legacy of Celts, 1999) means "living under sea". The sovereign of fomorians Indech was the son of Domnu.
There is an opinion that the word "fomorian" means virgin antiquity or chaos to which Celts traditionally related the immense ocean populated by any monstrous monsters. It was opposite to such concepts, as heaven and the sun. Fomorians themselves considered as beings more ancient than gods, from ams of which they, in long run, should be perished.
In the late mediaeval texts the word "fomorian" acquires meanings "giant", and in church tradition they are imaged in the same row with elves, horseheaded and other ugly beings. Sometimes they are considered as the tribe (nation) leading their stem from Cain and Ham, the damned son of the Noah.

© A.V.Koltypin, 2009

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