Dian Cecht

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In Irish mythology, Dian Cecht was a god of healing. He was the healer for the Tuatha Dé Danann and the father of Cian.

He blessed a well called Slane so that the Tuatha Dé could bathe in when wounded; they became healed and continued fighting. It would heal any wound but decapitation.

He made King Nuada's silver arm. Dian Cecht's son, Miach, replaced the silver arm with an arm of flesh and blood; Dian Cecht killed him out of professional envy.

Dian Cecht's healing powers were invoked in Ireland as late as the 8th century.

Etymology

According to Dr. John Koch at the University of Wales, The name ‘Diancecht’ may be derived from a Proto-Celtic compound lexeme such as *Dein-jikkā-φitus, which would have meant ‘quick-healing nourishment.’ The Brittonic form of this name would therefore have been similar to*Dēnīccāhitus. According to this theory, the compound would have developed in Old Irish as Diancecht before being later re-analysed as two separate words, as in the form Dian Cecht.


Template:Euro-myth-stubde:Dian Cecht fr:Diancecht ja:ディアン・ケヒト pl:Dian Cecht ro:Diancecht