Folk Lore: Leprechaun, Aqrabuamelu

Folk Lore

The legend of the Leprechaun

is one of the most enduring

myths in Ireland and relates to

a mystical type of fairy who is

originally linked to the Tuatha

De Danann of Irish mythology.

According to fables, Leprechauns are tiny entities that normally take the form of an old man in a red or green coat.

They are known to be mischievous little creatures that like to make shoes and store their gold coins in a pot of gold that is hidden at the end of a rainbow.

If you happen to capture a Leprechaun, he will give you three wishes provided you let him go.

Leprechaun Origin Most Leprechaun legends can be traced back to the 8th century tales of water spirits which were known as ‘luchorpán’ which means ‘small body’.

It is said that these spirits merged with a household fairy and developed a penchant for heavy drinking so no cellar was safe! According to other researchers, the term Leprechaun actually comes from the Irish term ‘leath brogan’ which means shoemaker.

It is interesting to note that Leprechauns are often associated with wealth, particularly gold coins, but they are actually cobblers which you would hardly presume is a lucrative vocation! Nonetheless, the myth of the pot of gold persists and there are still people who go looking for this hidden treasure!

The Pot of Gold This is the most common of all Leprechaun myths which says that they find gold coins buried in the earth and store them all in a pot which is hidden at the end of a rainbow.

The fact that a rainbow doesn’t have a fixed spot or a real end should be discounted for the sake of the story!

Quite why Leprechauns even need gold is another matter entirely since they can’t actually spend it. Some researchers suggest that this gold is used as a means of tricking humans and given the Leprechauns’ propensity for trickery, this is entirely possible.

In most Irish folklore tales featuring the Leprechaun, he is depicted as a rogue who will deceive whenever he can. In

Leprechaun

Shared By: High Priestess, Lady Gloriana

Folk Lore

Leprechaun Continued

rare cases where humans catch Leprechauns in tales, they are easily outsmarted by the magical creature that often uses a person’s greed against him.

Unless you are an expert in all things Leprechaun, there are a few facts about the mystical trickster that may surprise you.

Popular Culture The image of Leprechauns has been updated and now the legend serves as something of a tourist attraction which lures a huge amount of American tourists in particular to Ireland.

The Leprechaun has really captured the imagination of Americans and features as Notre Dame’s mascot and the symbol of Lucky Charms cereal. Of course, not everything related to Leprechauns is fun or particularly tasteful as can be seen in the awful Leprechaun movies starring Warwick Davis.

It is fair to say that many Irish people are irritated by the ethnic stereotypes perpetuated by Leprechauns but there is a tale of morality that can be taken from the fable of the Leprechaun.

The fact that they often trick people who seek the pot of gold can be taken as a warning to people not to be invested in ‘get rich quick’ schemes.

Additionally, you should not look to take what isn’t yours nor should you interfere with things beyond your understanding.

Ultimately, tales of the Leprechaun are not to be taken seriously and should only serve to amuse and delight us. Did You Know? The modern day depiction of a Leprechaun is that of a man clad entirely in green. However, Irish folklore describes Leprechauns as men who wore red outfits and tri-cornered hats. Irish novelist Samuel Lover describes Leprechauns as such in his 1831 work Legends and Stories of Ireland.

According to Carolyn White’s A History of Irish Fairies, there is no record of any female Leprechauns existing. This of course means that Leprechauns defy typical laws of biology by surviving and there is no evidence which tells the story of how they breed.

The book says that Leprechauns are actually deformed children of the fairies.

Folk Lore

Leprechaun Continued

Though the legend of the Leprechaun is well over a thousand years old, there was a ‘sighting’ as recently as 1989 by a pub landlord called P.J O’Hare in Carlingford, County Louth.

O’Hare claims that he heard screams from a well and found the remains and clothing of a Leprechaun which is on display in his pub! The town now has an annual Leprechaun hunt though the object of the game is to find plastic versions of the fabled creature.

Did you know that Leprechauns are actually a protected species under EU law?

Carlingford’s Sliabh Foy Loop trail is officially protected land for the 236 Leprechauns that apparently live in Ireland. A local lobbyist group which contains Kevin Woods, a native of Carlingford, managed to convince the EU that the area should be protected and now it is under the European Habitats Directive.

https://www.celticweddingrings.com/celticresources/myth-of-theleprechaun

Ancient Legends

Aqrabuamelu

The Aqrabuamelu are mysterious scorpion men mentioned in many Babylonian myths.

They were said to be guardians of Shamash, the god of Sun truth, justice and healing.

The scorpion men are described to have the head, torso, arms of a man, and the body of a scorpion and were sometimes also referred to as girtablilu.

The existence of these fascinating beings dates back to the beginning of time.

Myths and legends tell the Aqrabuamelu were first created by the Tiamat in order to wage war against the younger gods for the betrayal of her mate Apsu.

Apsuwas the name for the primeval sea below the void space of the underworld (Kur) and the earth (Ma) above.

The Scorpion Men guarded the entrance to Kurnugi We also come across the scorpion men in the Epic of Gilgamesh.

Their duty was to guard outside the gates of the Sun god Shamash at the mountains of Mashu.

The gates were the entrance to Kurnugi, the land of darkness.

The scorpion men opened the doors for Shamash as he traveled out each day, and closed the doors after him when he returned to the underworld at night.

The scorpion men must have had the ability to see very beyond the horizon as they could also warn travelers of coming dangers.

According to myths written in the Akkadian language, the Aqrabuamelu had heads that touch the sky. They could terrorize people and their glance resulted in death.

By: Mawa Cardea

The Scorpion Men In Aztecs’ Myths Were Called The Tzitzimime Similar scorpion men are also mentioned in the legends of the Aztecs.

They were called Tzitzimime and considered to be spirits of defeated gods cast out of the sky after they destroyed the sacred grove of fruit trees.

The Tzitzimime were deities associated with stars, especially those that can be seen around the Sun during a solar eclipse.

They were depicted as skeletal female figures wearing skirts often with skull and crossbone designs.

Ancient Legends

Aqrabuamelu

In Postconquest descriptions they are often described as “demons” or “devils”.

As it so often is with many mythological beings, the Tzitzimimeh had a double role in the Aztec religion.

They were protectors of mankind, but they were also very powerful and dangerous.

https://www.ancientpages.com/2016/01/19/aqrabuamelu-mysterious-scorpion-men-babylonianmythology/

Ancient Legends

The stories of water nymphs, spirits, and river goddesses appear from the depths of many different cultures.

Melusine is no different. She is often depicted as a siren, a mermaid, and a spirit of water with a tail from the waist down.

Sometimes she comes to us from French folklore. Legend has it that Melusine , and her two sisters grew up on the island of Avalon ( where Morgan le Fay , The great witch of Arthurian legend also resided).

When she asked her mother why they had fled to Avalon to live, her mother told her the story of her father for the first time. Melusines father had broken A promise to Melusine‘s mother. She had made him swear to never look at her while in the bath.

After the nobleman had broken his oath, Melusine mother had run to Avalon, where she raised her three daughters. Melusine and her younger sisters we’re in raged with their father, and because of this they sought revenge.

They captured their father and locked him away in a tower on a mountain when Melusines mother discovered what her daughters had done , she was infuriated with them for meddling in her business and disrespecting their father. Because of this, they were punished by becoming half serpent, or mermaid women every Saturday.

One day Melusine was exploring a nearby forest, when she ran into Raymond of Poitou. He would later describe Melusine as sitting next to a fountain, donning a glimmering white dress, with golden hair, and a face of indescribable beauty.

He was instantly taken by her beauty and beg for her hand in marriage. Echoing the story of her mother, Melusine agreed, however, she told him that he must never enter the bedroom chamber on Saturdays.

While together, Melusine brought her magic to the kingdom. The flowers blossomed, the forests were restored to former beauty, cities were built, and crops were bountiful.

Melusine became a symbol for abundance and fertility. She also gave birth to 10

Melusine

By High Priestess Ravensthorn

Ancient Legends

sons with Raymond. On one specific Saturday, Raymond disregarded his promise and entered her chamber to find her half a serpent and half a woman. Melusine heart shattered.

She transformed into a dragon and gifted Raymond with two magical rings as parting gifts.

She said goodbye to her husband and vanished, never to be reunited with him again. A few of her sons however did claim, hearing their mothers presence, soaring through the air around the castle checking in on them from time to time.

This is the story of Melusine the water Nymph ...