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Acolyte, v. 2, issue 4, whole no. 8, Fall 1944

NODENS DEPARTMENT - THE READERS 

   (The following information has been gleaned from the various letters received concerning Nodens. It is rather amusing to note that, though scores of complicated reference volumes ignore our Celtic friend, Webster's Unbridged turned out to give rather complete information. The following individuals contributed to this compilation: C.J. Fern, Jr., Fritz Leiber, Jr.; Burton Crane; Ray Karden; and Basil Davenport. the editors of the Acolyte wish to thank them and the other persons who wrote in on the subject.  --FTL-SDR.)
                ---oOo---
   Nodens is one of the Latin forms of the name of a Celtic-Gaulish god variouslt kown as Lludd, Ludd, Nudd, Nuada, Nuadu, and Nuada Argat-Lam (Nuada of the Silver Hand). (Other Latin forms of this name include: Nodons, Nodens, Nudens.) Nuada Argat-Lam, in the Irish Leabhar Gabhala (Book of the Invasions) was one of the kings of the Tuatha De Danann, the second race of demigods to possess Ireland. He lost his hand in battle and his skilled artificers made him a limb of silver after seven years work--hence the "Silver Hand" epithet.
   He was probably the equivalent of the Vrythonic Lludd, a god and/or mythical king and warrior of the ancient Britons. The name London is derived from him--Caer Ludd (lud's Fort) being the early form. This derivation would provide ample reason for HPL considering Nodens to be benevolent; how could he think anything else of the patron diety of the chief city of his beloved England?
   Moreover, the discrepency in the attributes accorded Nodens by HPL and Duranty can be explained by a contradiction in the Leabhar Gabhala. The 11th Century scholars who compiled this volume believed that all the mythical and historical races of Ireland were descended from the same stock which can be traced back to Adam through Japhet and Noah. In line with this, they first describe the Tuatha De Danann as "the most exalted representatives of the principle of benevolence and knowledge". A few pages later, however, they set down the ancient pagan tradition claiming that the Tuatha De Danann were or may have been demons. The almost insufferably repetitive Irish Mythological Cycle and Celtic Mythology of H. d'Arbois de Jubainville (Hodges-Figgis, Dublin, 1903) remarks only that "contradictions of this sort are not uncommon in the Books of the Invasions", and lets it go at that.
   The Tuatha De Danann were all adepts at the science of Goibniu or Druidism (magic). The old sagas tell of many magic battles between the Druids and the Firbolgs, the original race. Incidentally, the Irish name for Druidism was Maithis, interestingly close to Mati (another name for the Egyptian god Thoth). It may be noted that both Druidism and the Egyptian religion were cults of the dead.
   All this, however, still leaves untouched the question of the abyss (Nodens, Lord of the Great Abyss). Any information that may be discovered on this point will be appreciated.
   Another Machen reference to Nodens came to light in the course of the investigation. In The Great God Pan, near the end, there is given the following inscription, which was found on a pillar near the spot where Mary Vaughan was conceived, with Pan as the father: DEVOMNODENTI, FLAVIVSSENILISPOSSVIT, PROPTERNVPTIAS, QUASVIDITSVBVMBRA. This may be translated as: "To the Great God Nodens (the god of the Great Deep or Abyss) Flavious Senilis has erected this pillar on account of the marriage which he saw beneath the shade." This, it would seem, carries a definitely malevolent context. Davenport mentions Caerwent--Machen places the above pillar in a small museum in Caermaen.
                 -- 23 --

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NODENS DEPARTMENT - THE READERS (The following information has been gleaned from the various letters received concerning Nodens. It is rather amusing to note that, though scores of complicated reference volumes ignore our Celtic friend, Webster's Unbridged turned out to give rather complete information. The following individuals contributed to this compilation: C.J. Fern, Jr., Fritz Leiber, Jr.; Burton Crane; Ray Karden; and Basil Davenport. the editors of the Acolyte wish to thank them and the other persons who wrote in on the subject. --FTL-SDR.) ---oOo--- Nodens is one of the Latin forms of the name of a Celtic-Gaulish god variouslt kown as Lludd, Ludd, Nudd, Nuada, Nuadu, and Nuada Argat-Lam (Nuada of the Silver Hand). (Other Latin forms of this name include: Nodons, Nodens, Nudens.) Nuada Argat-Lam, in the Irish Leabhar Gabhala (Book of the Invasions) was one of the kings of the Tuatha De Danann, the second race of demigods to possess Ireland. He lost his hand in battle and his skilled artificers made him a limb of silver after seven years work--hence the "Silver Hand" epithet. He was probably the equivalent of the Vrythonic Lludd, a god and/or mythical king and warrior of the ancient Britons. The name London is derived from him--Caer Ludd (lud's Fort) being the early form. This derivation would provide ample reason for HPL considering Nodens to be benevolent; how could he think anything else of the patron diety of the chief city of his beloved England? Moreover, the discrepency in the attributes accorded Nodens by HPL and Duranty can be explained by a contradiction in the Leabhar Gabhala. The 11th Century scholars who compiled this volume believed that all the mythical and historical races of Ireland were descended from the same stock which can be traced back to Adam through Japhet and Noah. In line with this, they first describe the Tuatha De Danann as "the most exalted representatives of the principle of benevolence and knowledge". A few pages later, however, they set down the ancient pagan tradition claiming that the Tuatha De Danann were or may have been demons. The almost insufferably repetitive Irish Mythological Cycle and Celtic Mythology of H. d'Arbois de Jubainville (Hodges-Figgis, Dublin, 1903) remarks only that "contradictions of this sort are not uncommon in the Books of the Invasions", and lets it go at that. The Tuatha De Danann were all adepts at the science of Goibniu or Druidism (magic). The old sagas tell of many magic battles between the Druids and the Firbolgs, the original race. Incidentally, the Irish name for Druidism was Maithis, interestingly close to Mati (another name for the Egyptian god Thoth). It may be noted that both Druidism and the Egyptian religion were cults of the dead. All this, however, still leaves untouched the question of the abyss (Nodens, Lord of the Great Abyss). Any information that may be discovered on this point will be appreciated. Another Machen reference to Nodens came to light in the course of the investigation. In The Great God Pan, near the end, there is given the following inscription, which was found on a pillar near the spot where Mary Vaughan was conceived, with Pan as the father: DEVOMNODENTI, FLAVIVSSENILISPOSSVIT, PROPTERNVPTIAS, QUASVIDITSVBVMBRA. This may be translated as: "To the Great God Nodens (the god of the Great Deep or Abyss) Flavious Senilis has erected this pillar on account of the marriage which he saw beneath the shade." This, it would seem, carries a definitely malevolent context. Davenport mentions Caerwent--Machen places the above pillar in a small museum in Caermaen. -- 23 --