Dearg-Due Frightening Female Demon And Tyrannical Abhartach Of Irish Folklore
Ellen Lloyd - AncientPages.com - People have always believed in vampires. This very old belief was deeply held in the Celtic culture and very widespread in ancient Europe. People believed in the existence of the "undead" who harm after the death of the living.
The ancient Celts had many deities, but as with most ancient cultures, they also feared evil forces and had many stories about them. One of the most frightening creatures, originally from Ireland and associated with the Celtic culture, is Dearg-due (or "Red Blood Sucker").
An ancient Irish vampire legend about Dearg-due is one of the most frequently told. Dearg-Due can be traced back to the place where she was buried, namely, near Strong bow’s Tower in Co. Waterford, Ireland.
She was a very beautiful young woman, the daughter of the local tribal chief. She fell in love with a local peasant, but this relationship was unacceptable to her father, who forced her to marry a much older, rich, and very abusive man, who treated her badly. The young woman committed suicide and was buried underneath Strongbow’s Tree in Waterford.
The legend says that one night - years after the burial - she rose from her grave and returned to the realm of the living. She decided to seek revenge on those who had ruined her life, namely her father and husband, by sucking their blood until they dropped dead. With revenge taken, the woman finally found her peace.
According to another version of this dark story, the woman took on the appearance of a frightening Dearg-Due, who rose usually grom the grave once a year to lure men from surrounding villages to their deaths, by using her charm and beauty.
The memory of this bloodthirsty creature goes long way back to the Celtic tribes, and to this day, Dearg-due is still a terrifying figure.
Abhartach - Tyrannic Undead Monster In Irish Beliefs
The blood-thirsty female vampire, Dearg-Due has a companion in Irish folklore; his name is Abhartach, one of the greatest villains living in ancient Irish beliefs.
The legend about this tyrant who enjoyed terrorizing people has still enough power to strike fear into many people who believe in his existence.
When he finally died, he became a Neamh-Mairbh, commonly known as one of the undead (also known as a revenant, a visible ghost or animate corpse, which was believed to rose from the grave to terrorize the living in his vicinity.
There are many stories of such creatures who arose in Western Europe (especially Great Britain and were later popularized by Anglo-Norman invading forces in Ireland, during the Middle Ages.
In old Irish Celtic mythology, they are called "neamh mairbh" who return from their graves to harass their surviving members of their families and neighbors.
Even as a dead man, Abhartach (also 'avartagh', Irish for a dwarf), no longer had just the power to kill, he could drain his victims of their blood.
His terror had no limits, but people, although they were terrified, they decided to fight back.
The sword was made of Yew wood and, as the legend says, it was driven through his heart. Then to make sure he was really dead, his once-loyal followers buried him upside down, and he was never heard of again. It is said that to this day, after nightfall, locals avoid the place where it happened - just in case.
Written by - Ellen Lloyd – AncientPages.com
Updated on April 6, 2024
Copyright © AncientPages.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part without the express written permission of AncientPages.com
Expand for referencesReferences:
More From Ancient Pages
-
Ten Ancient Jugs May Reveal The Location Of The Biblical Tabernacle
Archaeology | Jul 21, 2017
-
Has An Unknown Ancient ‘Israel Silk Road’ Been Discovered?
Archaeology | Jan 20, 2023
-
Why Do Old Norse Myths Endure In Popular Culture?
Featured Stories | Mar 16, 2023
-
Huge Number Of Intact, Painted Coffins In Shafts Of Egypt’s Saqqara Necropolis
Archaeology | Nov 13, 2020
-
Societies In Iberian Peninsula Deployed “Escape Economics” 4,000-Year-Old
Archaeology | Sep 28, 2022
-
Caribbean Silk Cotton Tree And Its Dangerous Spirits In Myths And Legends
Featured Stories | Jan 29, 2024
-
London’s Underground Rivers Were Deliberately Hidden
Featured Stories | Oct 8, 2018
-
The Pompeii Of The Fens: Ancient Village In Cambridgeshire Burned Down 3,000 Years Ago For Unknown Reasons
Archaeology | Jul 14, 2016
-
Story Of David And Goliath Linked To Horvat Qeiyafa In The Valley Of Elah, Israel
Archaeology | Feb 22, 2022
-
Rare Roman Mosaic Depicting The Adventures Of Greek Hero Achilles Discovered In Rutland, UK
Archaeology | Dec 4, 2021
-
Small Stone Carved With A Viking Ship May Be Oldest Picture Ever Found In Iceland
Archaeology | Jun 16, 2023
-
Does This Cathedral Offer Evidence Our Calendar Is ‘Missing’ 297 Years?
Featured Stories | May 6, 2022
-
On This Day In History: Battle Of Las Navas De Tolosa Was Fought – On July 16, 1212
News | Jul 16, 2016
-
Kikimora – Nightly Evil Female Spirit And Goddess Of Chickens In Slavic Beliefs
Featured Stories | Oct 22, 2018
-
Tracing Footsteps Of Giants In Africa – Obscure Past Of Mzoura Stones
Civilizations | Oct 18, 2015
-
On This Day In History: Grote Reber, Great Amateur Astronomer And Ham Radio Operator Born – On Dec 22, 1911
News | Dec 22, 2016
-
Mysterious Death Of Cambyses II – Natural, Suicide Or Assassination By Darius I The Great?
Featured Stories | Apr 21, 2021
-
Huge Ring Of Ancient Shafts Discovered Near Stonehenge
Archaeology | Jun 22, 2020
-
Stunning Images Of Shackleton’s Lost Ship Endurance Discovered Off The Coast Of Antarctica
Archaeology | Mar 9, 2022
-
On This Day In History: Nevada Became The 36th State In The USA – On Oct 31, 1864
News | Oct 31, 2016