Editing Lugh (section)

===Lugh's spear===
{{see also|Lúin of Celtchar}}
Lugh's spear ({{lang|ga|sleg}}), according to the text of [[The four jewels of the Tuatha Dé Danann|The Four Jewels of the Tuatha Dé Danann]], was said to be impossible to overcome,<ref>Hall, Vernam (1930) ed. tr., "The four jewels of the Tuatha Dé Danann", ''Zeitschrift für Celtische Philologie'' '''18''': 73–89. "No battle was maintained against the spear of Lug or against him who had it in his hand,"</ref> taken to Ireland from [[Gorias]] (or Findias).<ref name=lge-para305&315&357/>{{Refn|group="lower-alpha"|However, Vernam Hull edited a "Four Jewels" text which swaps weapons between owners in the attached verse portion, making it Lug's sword that came from Gorias. Something similar happens in the verse invoked in [[Geoffrey Keating]]'s ''History of Ireland'', and in Comyn ed. tr., Lugh's sword is from Gorias, Lugh's spear is from Findias (Lugh becomes owner of both).}}

Lugh obtained the Spear of Assal ({{langx|ga|links=no|Gae Assail}}) as fine ({{lang|ga|éric}}) imposed on the children of Tuirill Piccreo (or Biccreo), according to the short account in {{lang|ga|Lebor Gabála Érenn}}<ref name=lge-para305&315&357/> which adds that the incantation "Ibar ([[Taxus baccata|Yew]])" made the cast always hit its mark, and "Athibar (Re-Yew)" caused the spear to return.<ref name=lge-para319&poemLXV/>

In a full narrative version called {{lang|ga|[A]oidhe Chloinne Tuireann}} (The Fate of the Children of Tuireann),<ref>{{harvp|O'Curry|1863|pp=157–240}}, {{harvp|O'Duffy|1888}}, {{harvp|Cross|Slover|1936|pp=49–81}}</ref> from copies no earlier than the 17th century,<ref name=bruford/> Lugh demands the spear named ''Ar-éadbair'' or ''Areadbhair'' ([[Early Modern Irish]]: {{lang|ga|Aꞃéadḃaiꞃ}}) which belonged to Pisear, king of Persia. Areadbhair's tip had to be kept immersed in a pot of water to keep it from igniting, a property similar to the [[Lúin of Celtchar]]. This spear is also called "Slaughterer"<ref>Joyce, P. W. (Patrick Weston), 1827–1914, tr. "The Fate of the Children of Turenn; or, The Quest for the Eric-Fine", ''Old Celtic Romances''  [https://archive.org/details/oldcelticromance00joyciala/ (3rd ed., 1907) (reprint 1920)]</ref> in translation.

There is yet another name that Lugh's spear goes by: "A [yew] tree, the finest of the wood" (Early Modern Irish: {{lang|ga|eó bo háille d'ḟíoḋḃaiḃ}}),<ref>''The Fate of the Children of Tuireann'', {{harvp|O'Curry|1863|pp=204–205}}</ref> occurring in an inserted verse within ''The Fate of the Children of Tuireann''. "The famous yew of the wood" ({{lang|ga|ibar alai fhidbaidha}}) is also the name that Lugh's spear is given in a tract which alleges that it, the Lúin of Celtchar and the spear Crimall that blinded Cormac Mac Airt were one and the same weapon (tract in TCD MS 1336 (H 3. 17), col. 723, discussed in the [[Lúin of Celtchar|Lúin]] page).<ref>This tract was recapped by Hennessy (1889), in his {{URL|1=https://books.google.com/books?id=OooNAAAAYAAJ&pg=PR14 |2=introduction, p. xiv}}, to his edition of ''[[Mesca Ulad]]''. The tract occurs in the manuscript of TCD MS 1336 (H 3. 17) immediately after the ''h'' text of the [[Expulsion of the Déisi|Expulsion of the Déssi]], Kuno Meyer, ''Anecdota'', I, pp. 15–24.</ref>

Lugh's projectile weapon, whether a dart or missile, was envisioned to be symbolic of lightning-weapon.<ref>[[T. F. O'Rahilly|O'Rahilly, T. F.]] ''Early Irish History and Mythology'' (1946), pp. 60–65</ref>

Lugh's sling rod, named "Lugh's Chain", was the rainbow and the Milky Way, according to popular writer Charles Squire.{{sfnp|Squire|1905|p=62}} Squire adds that Lugh's spear which needed no wielding was alive and thirsted so for blood that only by steeping its head in a sleeping-draught of pounded fresh poppy leaves could it be kept at rest.{{sfnp|Squire|1905|p=62}} When a battle was near, it was drawn out; then it roared and struggled against its thongs, fire flashed from it, and it tore through the ranks of the enemy once slipped from the leash, never tired of slaying.{{sfnp|Squire|1905|p=62}}