Salmon of Wisdom

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In Irish mythology, the Salmon of Wisdom or Salmon of Knowledge (bradán feasa) was an ordinary salmon that ate the nine acorns that fell from the tree of knowledge into the river Boyne (or sometimes the Shannon). In doing so, the salmon grew to enormous size and gained all the knowledge in the world. Moreover, the first person to eat of its flesh would, in turn, gain this knowledge.

The poet Finegas spent seven years fishing for the salmon. When he finally caught it, he instructed his apprentice, Fionn mac Cumhail, to prepare it for him. Fionn burned his thumb when spattered with some of the hot fat from the cooking salmon and immediately sucked on it to ease the pain. He instantly gained all the knowledge of the world.

When he brought the cooked meal to Finegas, his master saw a fire in the boy's eyes that had not been there before. When asked by Finegas, Fionn denied that he had eaten of the fish. When pressed, he admitted his accidental taste. It was this incredible knowledge and wisdom gained from the Salmon of Knowledge that allowed Fionn to become the leader of the Fianna, the famed heroes of Irish myth.