Féth fíada is a mist or veil inIrish mythology, which members of theTuatha Dé Danann use to enshroud themselves, rendering their presence invisible to human eyesight.[1]Féth denotes this mist in particular, andfíada originally meant "knower", then came to mean "lord, master, possessor".[2][3]
An example of usage occurs in theAltram Tige Dá Medar ("Fosterage of the House of Two Milk-Vessels"), whereManannán mac Lir makes an assignment to each member as to whichSidhe (fairy mound) they should dwell in, raising the feth fiada to conceal themselves from mortal men.[4][5]
In theLebor Gabála Érenn, one passage declares that the Tuatha Dé Danann came "without ships or barks, in clouds of fog [over the air, by their might of druidry]",
The miraculous powers of the feth Fiada have come to be ascribed to Christian saints.[6] An allusion to this is found inSaint Patrick's Breastplate – a hymn whose composition was attributed toSt. Patrick. The hymn is accompanied by a prose explanation of how it came to be created.
The high kingLóegaire mac Néill, with the will to prevent the saint and his band from coming toTara to spread the faith, sent out troops to find and intercept them. But then Patrick chanted this hymn, which caused his pursuers to mistake Patrick for deer and fawns.[7]
The hymn was given the title Fáeth Fiada, said to mean "Deer's Cry",[8] though the phrase manifestly derives from the magic mist féth fíada.[9][10]
The magic mist is also calledceo druidechta (Modern Irish:ceo draíochta[coːˈd̪ˠɾˠiːxt̪ˠə])[11] and an example of its usage can be found in theUlster Cycle taleFled Bricrinn ("The Feast of Bricriu").[12]
^"1 féth: A magic mist, veil, which renders those under it invisible (Cf. the Germ. Tarn- kappe) the secret of which was possessed by the Tuatha D.D.: " (eDIL)
^"fíada.. orig. a part. pres. = 'Knower' .. A lord, master, possessor: .. (eDIL) "
^Mackillop 1998, p.217. Lists various alternate spellings of féth fiada.
^Dobbs 1929, Altrom Tighe Da Medar, "in Feth Fiadha", p.192; tr. p.193 (also Feth Fiar, Fed Fiar)
^faíd "cry, outcry" + gen. of 2 fíad "Wild animals, game, esp. deer"eDIL
^Stokes & Strachan 1901, vol.2, p.xl (commentary) "VII. Patrick's Hymn... The titlefáeth fiada, is a misspelling of fóid (Cymr. gwaedd) fiada, and this is still further corrupted in thefeth fia of the Bok of Ballymote, 345b 26, where wizards are said to makefeth fia ('magical invisibility'), p.354- (prose and hymn, text and translation)
^eDIL: "1 féth:.. The name fáeth fiada (Hy vii pref → Thes. ii 354.10; fáed f.¤, Trip. 48.7 ) given to the hymn composed by St. Patrick .. is prob. the same expression".
