weapon

Spear of Lugh

By Elizabeth Stein for Mythos Atlas. About the author. Editorial notes are grounded in the site's cited sources and can be challenged through the contact page.

Description

Spear from Gorias

Lebor Gabála Érenn lists four treasures of the Tuatha Dé Danann: the stone of Fál, the spear from Gorias, the sword from Findias, the cauldron from Murias. Lugh's spear (Gáe Assail and related names in later dindshenchas and Cath Maige Tuired tradition) is the victory-weapon that must be quenched or it burns. Medieval Irish Christian scholars wrote these tracts; they keep older names inside a learned origin-of-Ireland framework. Unlike Excalibur, this is Irish saga-material in medieval recension — pagan furniture in a monastic book, not a French romance.

Primary Sources

“From Gorias was brought the spear that Lugh had. No battle was maintained against it or against him who held it in his hand.”
Lebor Gabála Érenn (Four Treasures)(c. 11th century recension)

“Lugh came to the battle of Mag Tuired with the equipment of a champion, and the victory of the Tuatha Dé followed his coming.”
Cath Maige Tuired(c. 9th–12th century)

Powers & Abilities

Perfect AccuracyVictory AssuranceFire GenerationReturning