Pronounced _Ecca_ or _Eohee_. Footnote 99: Gomme: _Ethnology in Folklore_, chap. III—“The Mythic Influence of a Conquered Race”. Footnote 100: Elton: _Origins of English History_, note to p. 136. Footnote 101: It has been contended that the Fenians were originally the gods or heroes of an aboriginal people in Ireland, the myths about them representing the pre-Celtic and pre-Aryan ideal, as the sagas of the Red Branch of Ulster embodied that of the Celtic Aryans. The question, however, is as yet far from being satisfactorily solved. Footnote 102: _The Coronation Stone_, by William Forbes Skene. Footnote 103: See _History and Antiquities of Tara Hill_. Footnote 104: Our authorities for the details of this war between the Tuatha Dé Danann and the Fir Bolgs are the opening verses of the Harleian MS. 5280, as translated by Stokes and De Jubainville, and Eugene O’Curry’s translations, in his _MS. Materials of Ancient Irish History_ and his _Manners and Customs of the Ancient Irish_, from a manuscript preserved at Trinity College, Dublin. Footnote 105: Now called Benlevi. Footnote 106: See Dr. James Fergusson: _Rude Stone Monuments_, pp. 177-180. Footnote 107: _Lough Corrib, Its Shores and Islands_, by Sir William R. Wilde, chap. VIII. Footnote 108: De Jubainville: _Cycle Mythologique Irlandais_, p. 156. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER VII THE RISE OF THE SUN-GOD[109] It was as a result of the loss of his hand in this battle with the Fir Bolgs that Nuada got his name of _Argetlám_, that is, the “Silver Handed”. For Diancecht, the physician of the Tuatha Dé Danann, made him an artificial hand of silver, so skilfully that it moved in all its joints, and was as strong and supple as a real one. But, good as it was of its sort, it was a blemish; and, according to Celtic custom, no maimed person could sit upon the throne. Nuada was deposed; and the Tuatha Dé Danann went into council to appoint a new king. They agreed that it would be a politic thing for them to conciliate the Fomors, the giants of the sea, and make an alliance with them. So they sent a message to Bress, the son of the Fomorian king, Elathan, asking him to come and rule over them. Bress accepted this offer; and they made a marriage between him and Brigit, the daughter of the Dagda. At the same time, Cian[110], the son of Diancecht, the physician of the Tuatha Dé Danann, married Ethniu, the daughter of the Fomor, Balor. Then Bress was made king, and endowed with lands and a palace; and he, on his part, gave hostages that he would abdicate if his rule ever became unpleasing to those who had elected him.