SAGA-BOOK - Viking Society Web Publications

Celtic and Germanic Religion II7
Now it becomes evident that careful attention has to
be paid to the agreements between religious activities
and ideas of the Celts and the Teutons. We should not
be deterred by the casual remark of Caesar, that these
peoples showed marked differences in religion, for we are
better equipped than he to form a proper idea of
Germanic cult and creed. In a little book, published
two years ago, I pointed out that there are many instances
of similarity, even of identity, in these two peoples of
Western Europe. These can still be perceived in spite of
the bewildering differences which have arisen in course
of development along different lines, during many
centuries.
If we want to understand the character of a god, we
must know what people said about his deeds. Or in
other words we must be acquainted with the myths in
which he plays a part. Now we have about the Irish
god Lug a very interesting mythical tale, which has been
preserved in the well-known story of the Battle of Mag
Tured. This is a matter much too complex and difficult
to be discussed here in detail. I am not even able to
sketch the course of events and I must content myself
with giving some striking details about the role Lug plays
in this conflict. The war is in fact of a mythical nature;
the battle between the Tuatha De Danann and the
Fomorians may be likened to the famous war between
the lEsir and the Vanir in the Eddie mythology. Lug
plays an important part in this conflict, in fact he is the
protagonist of the gods. In the beginning of the tale he
comes to the chief of the gods, Nuadu, and begs to be
admitted into the circle of the gods. He boasts of many
kinds of skill and handicraft; he may be called samilddnich,
that means one who has himself alone many
arts. And we are reminded of Caesar's remark about
the Gaulish Mercury "omnium inventor artium". Here
the Roman general evidently has given a very adequate
statement of his character.