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Do any of you take into consideration the uncanny resemblance between the two? If you have never noticed them, then please do!

There is a great article by Thor Edwing running around the internet named "The Birth of Lugh - Odin and Loki Among the Celts". I highly recommend the read.

Now we all know the story of Baldr and Loki correct? Loki causes his death by laced arrow properly placed. It is the only thing to be able to kill the beautiful god.

Well, in Irish mythology, taking into account that Loki shares mythology with Lugh. Let's for a moment consider them one in the same.

The story goes that the Fomorians (like the titans or giants) were defeated by the Tuatha De Danann. But there was still a power stuggle going on. The king that led the tribe was Bres the beautiful, half Tuatha De, half Fomorian. But he lost his throne because he was corrupted. Of course, he doesn't take this lightly. So he ran to Balor a tough Fomorian warrior. Now, he's sided with the Fomorians.

Now let's just stop right here. Bres was considered an exceedingly beautiful male god and royalty. He realizes he's in trouble and talks to the next "B", Balor. This guy is tough, has very little weakness. Except for a grandson yet to be born (prophesied to be the one to kill him). Lugh is hidden and grows up. No surprise, he's his grandson. So Bres the beautiful side steps and out pops Balor as leader.

Fast forward. Two sides of a big battle. Balor leading the side of the Fomorians and Lugh leading the side of the Tuatha De Danann. They clash.

What happens? Like David verses Goliath, Lugh kills him with a sling shot to the face. Balor dies to the hand of Lugh by ranged weapon.

Baldr dies to Loki by ranged weapon. Resemblance? or coincidence? Obviously different. But not so different that it couldn't be considered that down the line, someone edited and romanticized the myth.

I do not see them as entirely different pantheons, but mythology that has altered through distance, culture clash and the course of time, from generations upon generations of oral tradition and the differences and natural development of language.

Here is another great example.

The Morrigan herself is displayed in the Valkyries and due to both of their association with "choosing" the slain, the wyrd sisters. They are both bird women as well. Their prophesying ability also causes them to be tied together. Morrigan as the Bean Nighe (Washer of the Ford) and Bean Sidhe in comparison with the sight of a Valkyrie before impending death.

In Norse culture, from what we know of, women were not warriors. For the Irish culture, they were front line! So for the Irish the Morrigan worked through the physical women. But for the Norse, they were behind the veil, unseen forces. This is your culture clash and how the myth wraps around the different ways of life.

Let's try a different subject.

How much did the Norse like their wyrms? These were giant snakes yes? "Dragons" if you will. Well, Ireland is known to have done serious snake worship. What exactly is lost in time. But snakes show up in so much of their art. This is why St. Patrick "drove out the snakes in Ireland". It was significant of him removing the pagan faith there (as best he could). Well...snakes don't exist in Ireland. They just don't! So how would they know about them? They obviously didn't get their knowledge from their land. And old Nessy? If you look into the mythology of Loc Ness, you'll find a striking similarity to Midgardsomr.

Don't even get me started on alfr. They didn't skip Ireland and pop up as British elves. It was a mythology that spread and was shared.

Since Norse mythology is limited to such a small amount of literature, I felt I would share with you this, so that you may find new branches of knowledge to wrap your mind around. Of course, it's best to also learn about the history and the culture of each, because that will reflect in the way they developed their mythology. It can definitely help you to see your deities in a new light.

There is a pretty common saying, "there is no native Irish". The fact of the matter is, the land was invaded so many times, and with such violence that the winners took the land. What is "true" Irish is a mystery. Based off my surname, my 100% "Irish" ancestor was Anglo Saxon. But he was full blooded Irish with a brogue born and raised there before coming to America.

The Norse were also extremely well known for both their war nature and their vast travel and trading. When scholars say these people mixed, then there is much more than mythology which contains similarities. Bound by blood both shed and mixed.

The point of this is to show you how you are not limited by the Eddas and Sagas for your faith when there is a wealth of information in the neighboring cultures.

Hail to the Gods both above and below!

~White Raven