Esus

A Gaulish god whom Lucan refers to as “uncouth Esus of the barbarous altars.” According to the Romans, sacrifices were made to Esus, the victims being suspended from trees and ritually wounded. Esus appears in the guise of a woodcutter on a relief dedicated to Jupiter, ca. a.d. 14–37, rediscovered in 1711 under the choir of the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris. A similar relief of the same period was found at Trèves.

Esyllt

[W] “Of the white neck.” More commonly given as Iseult or Isolt. See Trystan.

Étain

[I] There are several Étains in Irish myth, ranging from the wife of Ogma, daughter of Dian Cécht, to the daughter of Olc Acha the Smith, who is the mother of Cormac Mac Art. The most famous Étain was the daughter of Ailill of Echraidhe. Midir the Proud fell in love with her and asked his foster son, the love god Aonghus Óg, to make the arrangements. Aonghus Óg had to perform three tasks before Ailill allowed her to go to Midir. Fuamnach, Midir’s first wife, became jealous of Étain and turned her into several things, a pool, a worm, and then a fly, in order to destroy the marriage. She caused a strong wind that blew the fly away and, after seven years, she came to the palace of Aonghus Óg. The love god recognised Étain and went to fetch Midir. But Fuamnach sent another wind. Blown across the generations, the fly fell into the cup of the wife of Etar, a champion of Conchobhar Mac Nessa, and she drank it and became pregnant. The daughter was called Étain and she was married to the High King Eochaidh Airemh. Eventually Midir found her and returned her to the Otherworld. But Eochaidh forced Midir to give her up, and she returned to live with him and gave birth to a daughter, Étain Óig. It was Étain Óig who became the mother of Mess Buachalla.

Ethlinn

[I] Daughter of Balor of the Evil Eye. Because of a prophecy that he would be killed by his grandson, Balor confined her in a tower. However, Cian, the son of Dian Cécht, the god of medicine, manages to enter the tower. Ethlinn bears a son, whom Balor orders to be drowned. The child is saved and fostered by Manannán Mac Lir. The child is Lugh Lámhfada and he fulfils the prophecy by destroying Balor.

Ethné

[I] There are several women named Ethné in Irish mythology, among them the daughter of Roc, the steward of the love god