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By Maxine Miller
Approx 9.5 inches high.
Though Danu was the mother goddess and namesake of the Tuatha Dé Danann tribe, much about her remains shrouded in mystery. Danu was the source of the tribe's common heritage, as well as its nobility, unity, and power. As a goddess of sovereignty and power, Danu would grant gifts to rulers and those of noble birth. Though such gifts varied in value and substance, it is nevertheless clear that the kings, chiefs, and Ollam of the Tuatha Dé Danann all drew their power from her. The Tuatha Dé Danann were creative, crafty, and skilled; it has been theorized that Danu was the source of such talents.
As a mother goddess, Danu was believed to have suckled many of the gods and instilled in them a sense of wisdom. Given the migratory nature of the Tuatha Dé Danann, it has been speculated that she was a wind or earth goddess as well. All things in Ireland depended upon her blessings. Her connection to the earth also tied her to the fairies, fairy mounds, and the many standing stones and dolmens of Ireland.
Many scholars have theorized that Danu was a great river goddess. In many parts of the Celtic world, the most powerful mother goddesses had ties to major bodies of water. The River Danube, one of Europe’s longest rivers, may have been one of many rivers named in Danu’s honor. This theory has been challenged as scholars continue to debate the potential migration patterns of Celtic people and their culture; nevertheless, it remains quite popular.
