Bébinn

For the moon of Saturn named after Bébinn, see Bebhionn (moon).

Bébinn /bɛˈviːn/ AKA Bé Binn, is an early Irish name applied to a number of related and unrelated figures in Irish mythology. In some sources Bébhinn (old orthography: Béḃinn) is a goddess associated with birth and the sister of the river-goddess, Boann. Bébinn is also described as being an underworld goddess in both Irish and Welsh mythology, inhabiting either the Irish underworld Mag Mell or the Welsh Annwn, although it is unknown which is the original source.[1]

Etymology and variations

The name Bébinn seems to be a combination between medieval forms of the Irish Gaelic word for "woman", "bean" (pronounced "bahn"), and the adjective "melodious", "binn", literally translating to "melodious woman". Other versions of the name, such as Béfionn, instead pair "woman" with "fair". Variant forms include Bé Bind, Bé Find, Bé Binn, Bebhinn, Bébhinn, Bébhínn, Bébhionn, Bébind, Béfind and Béfionn. While it has also been Anglicized as Vivionn and Vivian, it is unrelated to the French or English names.[1] In eighteenth-century Scottish writer James Macpherson's epic Ossian poems, the name appears as Vevina.[2][3]

In mythology

Bébinn is alternately described as either the wife of Áed Alainn, a god, or Idath, a mortal man. She is mentioned in multiple sources as the mother of Connacht hero Fráech, the main character in the Táin Bó Fraích.[1] In the Fenian Cycle of Irish tales, Bébinn is "a beautiful giantess of aristocratic bearing" who seeks protection from the Fianna when an ugly giant pursues her. In other sources a Bébinn is mentioned as a daughter of Elcmar.[1]

The epithet Bé Find ("Fair Woman") is applied to the heroine Étaín by Midir in Tochmarc Étaíne (English: The Wooing of Étaín). The text includes a poem attributed to Midir, known as "A Bé Find in ragha lium". However, this poem may be an older composition unrelated to the Étaín story that was appended at a later time.[4]

In history

The name Bébinn and its variants is quite common in records from early Irish history, and was borne by historical as well as mythical figures, including a number of queens and abbesses. It was also the name High King Brian Boru's mother and one of his daughters.[1]

Bearers of the name

See also

External links

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 MacKillop, James (1998) A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. Oxford, Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-280120-1 p.37
  2. ↑ Sheard, K. M. (2011) Llewellyn's Complete Book of Names. Woodbury, Minnesota: Llewellyn Publications. p.96
  3. ↑ Yonge, Charlotte Mary (1863) History of Christian Names. London: Parker, Son, and Bourne.
  4. ↑ Mac Cana, Proinsias (1989) "Notes on the Combination of Prose and Verse in Early Irish Narrative". In Tranter, Stephen Norman; and Tristram, Hildegard L. C., Early Irish Literature: Media and Communication, p 140. Gunter Narr Verlag. ISBN 3-87808-391-2
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