magic peas
Excerpt from A GLOSSARY OF GODS Part One by Michael Atkinson
Aine Treidhe Dian Ainm Taulac, Fan, Mollac “Circle, Triple Goddess of name, Taulac, Fan, Mollac.” The Creator, Preserver and Destroyer. Fan may be related to the Coptic Pheneh, meaning Eternal, and possibly related to the Phoenix. She is said to be “First born, begotten by the spirits of Fire and Night.” Folklore associates her with Cnoc Aine in Co. Limerick, Aoibheall of Craig Liath in Co. Glare and Cliodna of Carraig Cliodna in Co. Cork where she is known as the Queen of Faerie. She has magic peas that grow overnight and supply enough food for weeks. Aine is the Goddess/mate of Lugh lam fada.
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No sources are listed for this info, however I can see the symbollic connection to Lugh, i.e.- both being emanations, avatars, or spiritual representatives of solar deity. This is the first mention of “magic peas” I’ve seen, and I find that amusing. This appears to be some sort of neopagan document, much of the info is unsourced, so (like much that is online) should probably be taken with a grain of salt until otherwise confirmed from primary sources. Drawing connections to the Phoenix is stretching things out of context quite a bit!
Most of the online sources for information about Áine are retellings of retellings, and most get it wrong, it seems. They mostly confuse the relationship of Áine and Manannán, God of the Sea, though the oldest sources seem to get it right.
This entry is interesting, though, because of the additional names given… something more to research for me.
