Fand

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For the village in Iran, see Fand, Iran.

Fand is an early Irish sea goddess, later described as a "Queen of the Fairies". Her name is variously translated as "Pearl of Beauty" or "A Tear". She is seen as the most beautiful of goddesses, associated with the Other World islands of pleasure, youth and women.

Fand appears in the Ulster Cycle tale, Serglige Con Culainn (The Sickbed of Cúchulainn) first as an otherworldly sea bird, and later as an avenging goddess (or "Woman of the Otherworld). In her sea bird form, she flies with a flock of enchanted birds, with each pair joined together by a silver chain. Fand, flying with her sister Lí Ban, stands out from the rest as they are connected by a gold chain.

The hero Cúchulainn hurls stones at the seabirds, one of which passes through Fand's wing feathers. Later, Fand and Lí Ban return in the form of "Otherworldly women" and confront him on the shore of the lake. They beat Cúchulainn with horsewhips until he falls ill and lies abed for a year, unable to rise.

Cúchulainn eventually regains his health by the favor of Fand when, via negotiators (Lí Ban, and Cúchulainn's charioteer, Láeg), Cúchulainn reluctantly agrees to travel to the Fand's otherworld island and help her in a battle against her foes. Cúchulainn and Fand then become lovers.

The relationship does not last, as Cúchulainn's wife, Emer is very jealous and comes to attack the couple with a troop of women armed with knives. Fand sees that Emer is worthy of Cúchulainn, and obviously upset by their affair, so Fand chooses to leave him. She chants a poem, and then returns to her husband Manannán, who shakes his magical cloak of mists between Fand and Cúchulainn, that they may never meet again. Cúchulainn and Emer then drink a drink of forgetfulness, provided by the druids.

The goddess or otherworldly woman, Niamh of the Golden Hair, is said to be a daughter of Manannán. As Niamh and Fand share some of the same characteristics, it is possible Niamh is also the daughter of Fand. Some sources mention another possible daughter of Manannán, Cliodna, but as Manannán is known to have partnered with a number of goddesses and mortal women, her connection with Fand is unclear.

References

Serglige Con Culainn, ed. Myles Dillon (1953). Serglige Con Culainn. Mediaeval and Modern Irish Series 14. Dublin: DIAS ; tr. Jeffrey Gantz (1981). Early Irish Myths and Sagas. London: Penguin. pp. 155–78.
The Sick-Bed of Cuchulain, an English translation of the above
The Only Jealousy of Emer

v t e Irish mythology: the Mythological Cycle

Early invaders	Cesair Partholón Nemed

Fomorians	Aengus mac Umor Balor Bres Buarainech Cethlenn Cichol Gricenchos Conand Corb Elatha Ethniu Tethra

Fir Bolg	Eochaid mac Eirc Fiacha Cennfinnán Fodbgen Gann and Genann Gaillimh inion Breasail Rinnal Rudraige Sengann Sláine Sreng Tailtiu

Tuatha Dé Danann	Abarta Abcán Abean Aed Aengus Aí Áine Airmed Anann Badb Banba Bec Bé Chuille Bébinn Boann Bodb Derg Brea Bres Brian Brigid Caer Cermait Cian Clídna Credne Dagda Danand Danu Delbáeth Dian Cecht Ecne Egobail Elcmar Ernmas Étaín Ethal Ériu Fand Fiacha mac Delbaíth Finnguala Flidais Fódla Fuamnach Goibniu Iuchar Iucharba Lén Lí Ban Lir Luchta Lug Mac Cuill Mac Cecht Mac Gréine Macha Manannán Miach Midir Morrígan Nechtan Neit Nemain Niam Nuada Ogma Tuirenn

Milesians	Amergin Glúingel Breogán Éber Érimón Fénius Farsaid Goídel Glas Lámfhind Míl Scota

Others	Achtland Biróg Bran mac Febail Caillech Canola Carman Cé Crob Derg Crom Cruach Donn Ailill Angubae Mug Ruith Tlachtga Tuan mac Cairill

Creatures	Aos Sí Enbarr Failinis Glas Gaibhnenn

Items	Areadbhar Four Treasures Fragarach Lúin of Celtchar Uaithne

Places	Brú na Bóinne Connla's Well Fintan's Grave Magh Meall and Tír na nÓg Teamhair Toraigh Uisneach

Texts	Annála na gCeithre Máistrí Cath Maighe Tuireadh Dinnsheanchas Leabhar Gabhála Éireann Oidheadh Chlainne Lir Tochmharc Eadaoine

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v t e Irish mythology: the Ulster Cycle

Ulster	Conchobar mac Nessa Amergin mac Eccit Athirne Blaí Briugu Bricriu Cathbad Celtchar Cethern mac Fintain Conall Cernach Cruinniuc Cú Chulainn Cúscraid Deichtine Deirdre Fedelm Fedlimid Findchóem Furbaide Láeg Leabharcham Lóegaire Búadach Mugain Neas Naoise Sencha Súaltam

Ulster exiles	Cormac Cond Longas Dubthach Dóeltenga Fergus mac Roích

Connacht	Medb Ailill Finn Ailill mac Máta Bélchú Cet mac Mágach Etarcomol Ferdiad Findabair Flidais Fráech Mac Cécht Nera

Munster	Cú Roí Conganchnes mac Dedad Lugaid mac Con Roí

Others	Achall Aífe Bláthnat Conaire Mór Cairbre Nia Fer Connla Dáire mac Fiachna Emer Éogan mac Durthacht Erc mac Cairpri Fedelm Fir Fálgae Forgall Monach Garb mac Stairn Lugaid Riab nDerg Mesgegra Nechtan Scéne Scáthach Uathach

Supernatural figures	Aengus Bébinn Boann Dáire Étaín Fand Flidais Lí Ban Lug Macha Manannán mac Lir Midir Morrígan Nemain

Creatures	Donn Cuailnge and Finnbhennach Liath Macha and Dub Sainglend

Weapons	Caladbolg Fragarach Gáe Bulg Lúin of Celtchar

Locations	Brú na Bóinne Cruachan Cuailghe Dealga Dún Flidhais Eamhain Mhacha Magh Meall Teamhair

Texts	Aided Óenfhir Aífe Compert Con Culainn Fled Bricrenn Mac Da Thó's Pig Mesca Ulad Scéla Conchobair Serglige Con Culainn Táin Bó Cúailnge Táin Bó Flidhais Tochmarc Emire Tochmarc Étaíne Togail Bruidne Dá Derga

part of a series on Celtic mythology

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Fand

See also

References