Ethniu- Celtic GodDeity
Also known as: Eithne, Ethnea, Ethlinn, and Ethliu
Description
Balor imprisoned his daughter in a crystal tower on Tory Island, attended by twelve women forbidden to tell her men existed — all to prevent a prophecy that his grandson would kill him. Cian reached her anyway, smuggled in on an enchanted wind, and their son Lugh drove a sling-stone through Balor's eye.
Mythology & Lore
The Crystal Tower
Ethniu was the daughter of Balor of the Evil Eye, the fearsome king of the Fomorians. A druid's prophecy foretold that Balor would be killed by his own grandson. Determined to defy fate, Balor imprisoned Ethniu in a crystal tower on Tory Island off the northwest coast of Ireland, attended only by twelve women who were strictly forbidden to reveal to her that men existed in the world. Balor believed that by preventing Ethniu from ever encountering a man, no grandson could ever be born to threaten him, and the prophecy would be rendered void.
The Conception of Lugh
Balor's precautions were undone by his own actions. He stole the magical cow Glas Gaibhnenn from Cian mac Cáinte of the Tuatha Dé Danann. Seeking to recover the cow and avenge the theft, Cian enlisted the druidess Biróg, who carried him across the sea to Tory Island on an enchanted wind. Smuggled into the crystal tower past Balor's guards, Cian lay with Ethniu. She bore triplets, but Balor discovered the children and ordered them cast into the sea to drown. One child survived, rescued by Biróg, and this child was Lugh.
Fulfilment of Prophecy
Despite Balor's elaborate precautions, the prophecy was fulfilled at the Second Battle of Mag Tuired. Lugh faced his grandfather on the battlefield and slew him by casting a sling-stone through his single deadly eye, driving it out the back of his skull and into the Fomorian host.