A. Sutherland  – AncientPages.com – Among the shape-shifting magicians of the Celts in Irish mythology, there was once Amergin (Amairgin or Amergin Glúingel), the son of Prince Mil (Míl Espáine), whose name later, in Latin, was Milesius).

“The Coming of the Sons of Miled,” illustration by J. C. Leyendecker in T. W. Rolleston’s Myths & Legends of the Celtic Race, 1911

These ancient people are known as the  “sons of Míl” or Milesians. One of them was Amergin, one of the first Druids. He was the mythical ancestor of the final inhabitants of Ireland.

As a Druid (meaning “sorcerer”), Amergin, whose name means “Wondrously Born,” served as a chief poet, bard, and fortune teller and also performed the duties of a judge among the Milesians. His decisions were unchangeable.

The Milesians came to Ireland under the command of Amergin, which happened during a Celtic holiday at the beginning of summer, Beltane.

The Tuatha de Danann then had control of Ireland. To keep invading Milesians from landing, they blew up a magical storm. This obstacle was not a big problem for the Milesians and their leader, Amergin, who had to react.

According to the ‘Irish Mythological Cycle,’ he used his magical words to calm the storm and allowed his people to the land, with Amergin becoming the first of his race to set foot on Irish soil.

As soon as he set foot upon the soil of Ireland, he began to chant a poem ‘The Song of Amergiri”, today considered one of the oldest compositions in the Irish language.

In the poem,  the Milesian bard Amergin states:

“I am the wind on the sea;
I am the wave of the sea;
I am the bull of seven battles;
I am the eagle on the rock
I am a flash from the sun;
I am the most beautiful of plants;
I am a strong wild boar;
I am a salmon in the water;
I am a lake in the plain;
I am the word of knowledge;
I am the head of the spear in battle;
I am the God that puts fire in the head;
Who spreads light in the gathering on the hills?
Who can tell the ages of the moon?
Who can tell the place where the sun rests?”

Through these powerful and magic words, Amergin described himself as a shapeshifter. He could be a salmon, a sunbeam, a flower, a spear, and take other forms.

He symbolized the “word of science,” the God who gives man the fire of thought, an extraordinary being ᴀssociated with the winds, the waves, wild animals, and a brave warrior.

The Milesians found the island inhabited by a fair and highly gifted race, the Dé Danann. Tradition has it that when the Milesians landed, a conference took place with the island’s kings. The kings announced that if the Milesians withdrew for three days, they would decide upon one of three courses: retire, submit, or fight.

Amergin was chosen as a judge and was “the first judgment” delivered in Ireland.

He decided that the island belonged right to the Dé Danann and that his people should withdraw at the distance of ‘nine green waves.’ If they could land again and conquer, the island should belong to them by the right of battle.

Milesians Met Three Sisters

Shortly after their arrival, the Milesians met a trio of queen-goddesses and the island’s high authorities, each of whom asked that the island be called after her. The sorceress Banba, who was married to Mac Cuill, a grandson of the Dagda, made her demand from the top of her favorite mountain, and so did Fódla when the invaders approached her mountain.

Finally, the Milesians met the glorious Eriu, who greeted them at the sacred mountain, Uisneach. She made the same demand as her sisters, but she promised much more than two other goddesses – Banba and Fódla –  did.

Credit: Adobe Stock – Rainer Fuhrmann

Amergin decided to call it after Ériu. As the chief poet of the Milesians, Amergin was simultaneously judge and seer, so as we said, his decision was unchangeable.

Significant Meaning Of The ‘Milesian Myth’

The ‘Milesian Myth,’ in which Amergin plays a crucial role, has much to say and is very symbolic. At the same time, it isn’t easy to interpret.

The myth is devoted to the struggle of the Tuatha De Danann (means “children of Dana”), who came to Ireland with four magical treasures, often mentioned in early Irish literature.

The question remains: “How does it come that the lords of light and beauty, wielding all the powers of thought (represented by magic and sorcery), succumbed to a human race,” writes Thomas William Rolleston in his book Celtic Myths and Legends. At the same time, Rolleston writes that De Danann “were dispossessed by them of their hard-won inheritance? “

‘What is the meaning of this shrinking of their [Tuatha De Danann’s] powers which once took place when the Milesians came on the scene? “

In what way were the Milesians superior, De Danann? As far as we know, they were guided by Amergin, the first Druid, a powerful representation of poetry and thought, a magical being who could easily use his powers in the same way as the god-like De Danann did. Was the Tuatha’s Kingdom of Light, then, divided against itself?’

Nevertheless, the Milesians won the confrontation, despite heavy losses on both sides. The three kings of the Tuatha Dé Danann were each killed in a single battle by three of the surviving sons of Míl, Eber Finn, Érimón, and Amergin.

Amergin then divided the land between his two brothers, Eber, who took the southern half of Ireland, and Eremon the north. Within the year, Érimón defeated Éber in battle and gained the kingship of the whole of Ireland. Two years later, and two years later, he killed Amergin in another battle

The Milesian dominance in Ireland prevailed, becoming very strong over time, and their representatives were highly honored individuals.

Written by – A. Sutherland  – AncientPages.com Senior Staff Writer

Updated on September 6, 2022

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