InIrish mythology,Bodb Derg (Old Irish,pronounced[ˌboðβˈd̠ʲeɾɡ]) orBodhbh Dearg (Middle Irish andModern Irish,pronounced[ˌbˠoːwˈdʲaɾˠəɡ]) was a son ofEochaid Garb[1] or theDagda,[2][3] and the Dagda's successor as King of theTuatha Dé Danann.
The name Bodb could be a cognate of "bádhbh" as it has a similar pronunciation; Bodb Derg would then mean 'Red Crow'. Given the fluidity ofOld Irish scribal practice, the name of the female mythological characterBadb was occasionally spelled Bodb as well.[4]
Aengus asks for his brother Bodb's help in finding the woman of his dreams in"Aislinge Óenguso" (the Dream of Aengus). At the time, Bodb is king of thesíde ofMunster. Bodb successfully identifies the woman asCaer Ibormeith.[5]
Following the Tuatha Dé Danann's defeat in the battle ofTailtiu, Bodb is elected king of the Tuatha Dé Danann in the "Children of Lir", just as the Tuatha Dé are going underground to dwell in thesídhe. The principle justification given for Bodb's election is that he is the Dagda's eldest son. He subsequently fathered many deities. Bodb's election is recognised by all of his rivals, save onlyLir, who refuses him homage. Bodb, however, counsels his followers to forbear from punishing Lir; later, Bodb will successively offer two of his own daughters in marriage to Lir to placate him. Both marriages, however, end unhappily.[2]
In variants of the story, Manannan is named the high king over the Tuatha Dé along with Bodb Derg when the Tuatha Dé Danann descend into the sidhe; Manannan is called “chief of the kings” and owner of every sidhe and divides the sidhe mounds amongst the Tuatha Dé.[6]
As king of the Munstersíde withLén as hissmith, Bodb Sída ar Femen ('of the Mound on Femen') plays a role in an important prefatory tale toTáin Bó Cuailnge, for it is his swineherd who quarrels with that of the king of the Connachtsíde; the swineherds are later swallowed and reborn as the magical bullsDonn Cuailnge andFinnbennach, of which the former was the object of the great cattle-raid.[7]
In oneFenian tale, Bodb leads the Tuatha Dé Danann to the aid of theFianna at theBattle of Ventry.[8]