Nechtan is a figure inIrish mythology who is associated with aspring marking the source of theRiver Boyne, known as Nechtan's Well or the Well of Wisdom. He was the husband ofBoann, eponymous goddess of the Boyne. Nechtan is believed to be another name forNuada.[1]
According toGeorges Dumézil the nameNechtan is perhaps cognate with that of theRomano-British godNodens or theRoman god calledNeptunus and the Persian and Vedic gods sharing the nameApam Napat.[2]
The name could ultimately be derived from theProto-Indo-European root*nepot- "descendant, sister's son", or, alternatively, fromnebh- "damp, wet". Another etymology suggests thatNechtan is derived from Old-Irishnecht "clean, pure and white", with a root-neg "to wash", from IEneigu̯- "to wash"[3][4] As such, the name would be closely related mythological beings, who were dwelling near wells and springs: Englishneck (from Anglo-Saxonnicor), SwedishNäck, GermanNixe and Dutch nikker, meaning "river monster, water spirit", hence Old-Norsenykr "water spirit in the form of a horse".
He inhabited the otherworldly Síd Nechtain, the mythological form of Carbury Hill.[5] In theDindsenchas Nechtan is described as the husband ofBoann and the son ofNuadu.[6] Elsewhere in the Dindsenchas Nechtan is said to be the son ofLabraid or called "mac Namat".[7] Similarly in theBook of Invasions Nechtan is named along with his brother Caicher as the sons of Nama, sons of Eochu Garb, but Caicher is elsewhere in the same text named as the son of Nuada.[8]
Only Nechtan and his three cup-bearers named Flesc, Lam, and Luam were permitted to visit theTobar Segais or "Well of Wisdom" into which nine sacredhazel trees dropped their wisdom-bearing nuts.[7] In that well swam the Salmon of Wisdom, which ate the hazelnuts. Eating one of the salmon could in turn imbue a person with knowledge of all things.[9]
In theBook of Invasions Nechtan killed Cairpre and was in turn killed by Sigmall, the grandson ofMidir.[8]
Nechtan orNectan became a commonCeltic name and a number of historical or legendary figures bear it. Nechtan was a frequent name forPictish kings.[10]Nectan of Hartland, said to have lived in the 5th century AD, is the patron saint ofHartland, Devon. Some however argue that St. Nectan never existed as a historical person, but was instead a Christianized form of the god Nechtan.[11]
St Nectan's Kieve inSt Nectan's Glen nearTintagel,Cornwall is said to be named for St. Nectan - though this is a Victorian invention. The place was called Nathan's Cave in 1799.[12] and was named after a local landowner.[13]
The nameMacNaughton derives from "MacNeachdainn", meaning "Son of Nechtan."[citation needed]