Dragon’s Mouth). If Aonghus Óg could identify her, it would be up to Cáer to decide if she wanted to go with him. Aonghus Óg identified Cáer; they went to his palace by the Boyne and lived together. Aonghus Óg was also foster father to Diarmuid Ua Duibhne (Of the Love Spot) and tried to save him and his lover Gráinne from the vengeance of Fionn Mac Cumhail by the use of magical devices. When Diarmuid was slain by a magic boar (actually the son of Aonghus Óg’s steward, Roc, by Diarmuid’s own mother), it was Aonghus Óg who placed his body on a gilded bier and transported it to his palace, where he was able to breathe a soul into it whenever he wanted a conversation with Diarmuid.

The second Aonghus, Aonghus of the Terrible Spear, was a chieftain of the Dési who killed Cellach, son of the High King Cormac Mac Art, with a spear and knocked out the eye of Cormac with its butt. This is the incident that results in “The Expulsion of the Dési.”

Among the other characters bearing the name Aonghus are Aonghus Bolg, an ancestor of the Firbolg, also regarded as an ancestor of the Dési; a son of the Bodb Dearg; Aonghus Mac Aedh Abrat, brother of the goddess Fand, who sang to Cúchulainn on his sickbed and cured him from his sickness; and, lastly, Aonghus Mac Lámh Gabuid, a warrior who challenged Cet of Connacht during the bragging contest in the tale of Mac Da Thó’s boar. He is described as tall and fair-haired. Cet cut off his father’s hand and this is why Aonghus challenged him.

Arannan

[I] A son of Milesius born in Spain. He climbed to the top of the mast of his ship as the Milesians were invading Ireland, fell into the sea, and was drowned.

Aranrhod

[W] Also given as Arianrod. Daughter of Don and sister of Gwydion. Math, son of Mathonwy, who always had to sleep with his feet resting in a maiden’s lap, “unless the turmoil of war prevent him.” Gilfaethwy had abducted his foot holder, Goewin, and married her, so Math was looking for a new maiden to fulfil this role. Gwydion suggested his sister. She is brought before Math and asked to step over his magic wand as a test of her virginity. As she does so, two boy children drop from her womb. Gwydion manages to pick up one child and conceal it in a chest. The other, however, is a yellow-haired boy who immediately leaps into the sea and takes on its nature, being known thenceforth as Dylan Eil Ton—Dylan, Son