Elathan

Family: Fomor · Role: king · First appears: The Gods · The Coming of the Tuatha de Danaan · The Reign of Bres · Part 2

In the story of Bres’s reign, Elathan, king of the Fomor and son of Dalbaech, came to Eri over the sea. Though she had refused the young men of her own people, she accepted his love; “she cried when he left her.” Their son was Bres.

Later, when Bres saw Elathan’s ring, Eri told him the story and Elathan learned that Bres was his son. When Bres and Elathan came to ask help of the Fomor against Lugh, Bres volunteered to lead seven battalions to Ireland and bring back Lugh’s head; Balor and the others approved.

Relationship record

Life events

• Eri accepted Elathan's love after refusing the young men of her own people.(The Gods · The Coming of the Tuatha de Danaan · The Reign of Bres · Part 2)
  • With: Eri
  • “And she that had refused the love of all the young men of her own people, gave him her love, and she cried when he left her.”
• Elathan recognized his ring on Bres and learned that Bres was his son.(The Gods · The Coming of the Tuatha de Danaan · The Reign of Bres · Part 2)
  • With: Bres
  • “Then his mother answered him and told the whole story, and that Bres was his own son.”
• Bres volunteered to lead seven battalions against Lugh and bring back his head, and the Fomor approved.(The Gods · Lugh of the Long Hand · The Coming of Lugh · Part 3)
  • With: Bres Balor
  • “And it was just at that time Bres and his father Elathan were come to ask help of the Fomor, and Bres said: ‘I myself will go to Ireland, and seven great battalions of the Riders of the Fomor along with me, and I will give battle to this Ildánach, this master of all arts, and I will strike his head off and bring it here to you, to the green of Berbhe.’ ‘It would be a fitting thing for you to do,’ said they all.”

The Gods · The Coming of the Tuatha de Danaan · The Reign of Bres · Part 2

• child: Bres “and she told him then that his father was a king of the Fomor, Elathan, son of Dalbaech, and that he came to her one time over a level sea in some great vessel that seemed to be of silver, but she could not see its shape, and he himself having the appearance of a young man with yellow hair, and his clothes sewed with gold, and five rings of gold about his neck.”
• parent: Dalbaech “and she told him then that his father was a king of the Fomor, Elathan, son of Dalbaech, and that he came to her one time over a level sea in some great vessel that seemed to be of silver, but she could not see its shape, and he himself having the appearance of a young man with yellow hair, and his clothes sewed with gold, and five rings of gold about his neck.”

The Gods · Lugh of the Long Hand · The Coming of Lugh · Part 3

• child: Bres “And it was just at that time Bres and his father Elathan were come to ask help of the Fomor,”

The Gods · Lugh of the Long Hand · The Sons of Tuireann · Part 1

• child: Bres “It is then Bres, son of Elathan, rose up and said:”

The Gods · Lugh of the Long Hand · The Sons of Tuireann · Part 2

• child: Bres “And Lugh saw the battle pen where Bres, son of Elathan, was, and he made a fierce attack on him and on the men that were guarding him, till he had made an end of two hundred of them.”

The Gods · Lugh of the Long Hand · The Great Battle of Magh Tuireadh · Part 3

• child: Bres “And Lugh and his comrades were following them, and they came up with Bres, son of Elathan, and no guard with him, and he said: “It is better for you to spare my life than to kill me.”

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Extracted from the original text of Gods and Fighting Men. Made with Rho MD.