Bile- Celtic GodDeity"Father of the Milesians"
Also known as: Beli and Beli Mawr
Description
Every Gael traces their lineage through Bile, father of Míl Espáine, whose sons conquered Ireland from the gods, yet almost nothing of Bile's own mythology survives. His name echoes the Irish word for a sacred tree, and some traditions pair him with Danu, mother of the Tuatha Dé Danann.
Mythology & Lore
The Ancestor
Bile is named in the genealogies as the father of Míl Espáine, whose sons conquered Ireland from the Tuatha Dé Danann and became the ancestors of the Gaelic people. Beyond this, almost nothing of his mythology survives. He is also named as the consort of Danu, the mother goddess from whom the Tuatha Dé Danann took their name. His name is the same word as the Irish bile, a sacred or ancient tree that marked royal assembly sites. Places like Moville (Magh Bile, "plain of the sacred tree") preserve the word in the landscape.
The Coming of the Milesians
Míl Espáine led the final invasion of Ireland according to the Lebor Gabála Érenn. His sons defeated the Tuatha Dé Danann and forced them to retreat into the síd mounds beneath the earth. The Milesians ruled the surface. The old gods lived on below.
Relationships
- Family