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This piece is based on one that was found near
the ancient Irish hill fort of Emain Macha Three kings
agreed to split the governing of Ireland among
themselves, taking turns. When one died, his
daughter Macha claimed the right to rule in his
place and won her right to rule in a battle.
Another died and his 3 sons claimed their
father's turn. Macha refused to give up her
power, saying that she had won her right to rule
through battle, and need not honour the previous
agreement. She married the third king to
consolidate her claim. She then went to the 3
dissident sons disguised as a hag. Each of them
in turn were filled with lust for her because of
the beauty of her eyes. She took them one by one
to the woods, where she bound them. Her people
urged her to kill them, but she made them slaves,
feeling that this was a greater humiliation. She
marked out a rath trench for them to dig with a
brooch of gold "eo" that was at her
neck "muin" so the place was called
Emain Macha.
Another
story about Macha tells of her husband Crunchu
bragging at the fair that she could run faster
than the King's horses. When she was summoned to
prove herself, she begged them to wait until
after her delivery, for she was nine months
pregnant. However they forced her to run,
threatening to kill her husband if she did not.
She ran the race and collapsed at the finish line
just in front of the king's chariot, where she
gave birth to twins in great travail. She then
cursed the men of Ulster to the ninth generation,
that they would themselves suffer the pains of
childbirth whenever they had greatest need of
strength. That place was ever afterwards called
Emain Macha (i.e. the twins: 'emain' of Macha)
Both
of these stories are from the "Metrical
Dindshenchas" translated by Edward
Gwynn
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Colours: Blue Soyer
153, Turquoise Soyer 45, Purple Soyer
104/raspberry Size: 3"h x
1"w
All
brooches can also be ordered as necklaces
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