Fomorians, A Race Of Giant Monstrous Beings
Wikimedia CommonsAn illustration of the Fomorians by John Duncan.
Much like the Titans of Greek mythology, the Fomorians were a race of monstrous, chaotic beings. Their rule was said to predate the arrival of the Tuatha Dé Danann, the gods of pre-Christian Ireland.
The Fomorians are often depicted as hideous giants. In stories, the Fomorians are the antithesis of order and beauty; they are darkness, destruction, and the powerful might of the untamed forces of nature.
According to some legends, the Fomorians were among the first supernatural races to inhabit Ireland, ruling the land with a merciless iron fist. Power-hungry and blood-thirsty, the Fomorians were known for their complete disregard for the well-being of other creatures.
These giants were the enemies of the Partholons, Ireland’s first settlers. According to Irish mythology, the Partholons eventually died of a plague created by the Fomorians. Years later, the legendary warrior Lord Nemed arrived to the island with his followers and found the Fomorians waiting for them. Though successful in early battles, Nemed’s people were eventually defeated, the survivors enslaved by the Fomorians.
However, the Fomorians’ reign came to a sudden end with the arrival of the Tuatha Dé Danann, a race of gods who sought to bring order and harmony to the land. They clashed with the Fomorians in a series of epic battles, culminating in a final showdown at the Second Battle of Mag Tuired. At last, the Tuatha Dé Danann, with their superior skill and magical abilities, triumphed over the Fomorians, banishing them to the depths of the ocean.
Despite their defeat, the Fomorians continued to haunt the collective memory of the Irish people. They are often invoked in stories and legends, serving as a reminder of the destructive nature of chaos and the importance of maintaining balance and order in the world.
