Post #957
981
📖 Ancient Restoration To the ancient Irish there was a link between manual or verbal ability & supernatural power. The skill of the poet, smith & seer was considered to have magical potential. From the oldest text: 'the people of skill were gods [for them]' i.e. the Tuatha Dé,…
In medieval Ireland the category of people who exercised skill & knowledge were known as áes dána, or nemed ('sacral ones'). This included filid (poets) who were the equal of kings & clerics. The 'base nemed' were men of lesser skill: physicians, judges, smiths & harpists.