Emer. [I] The wife of Cuchulainn. She was the daughter of Forgall Manach. Their courtship was stormy and all was not "smooth" in their subsequent relationship, for Cuchulainn was loved by many women, including Fand, the wife of the sea god. Just before Cuchulainn's death at the Pillar Stone he had a vision of Emer's body being tossed from the flaming ramparts of Ernain Macha. He hurried to his fortress and found her alive and well-it was a warning of his own impending doom. Emer tried to persuade him to stay with her, but he set off on the road that would lead him to his doom.

Emrais. [W] Sometimes occurring as an alternative name for Snowdonia.

Enid. [W] The daughter of a chieftain fallen on evil days who is wooed by Geraint. He doubts her loyalty to him and treats her spitefully, but in bitter tests she proves her love and loyalty .She is best known to the English-speaking wotld in Tennyson's "Enid."

Englyn. [W] A Welsh verse in strict metre in three or four lines with one rhyme. Since the thirteenth centuty most englynion use the four-line system.

Eochaidh. [I] The name signifies "horse," and it is argued that the English word "jockey" comes from this word, which is pronounced "y'ockey." No less than fifteen major characters named Eochaidh appear in the Irish myths, including Eochaidh Mac Erc, a king of the Firbolg whose daughter was Tailtu and who was defeated by the De Danaan at the first battle of Magh Tuireadh. There was Eochaidh Airernh, the High King who outWitted Midir the Proud to retain his wife Etain, the daughter of Etar, journeying to the Otherworld to rescue her. Then there was Eochaidh Allmuir of the Desi, who fought seven battles with Cormac Mac Art before his clan was forced into exile because of the action of Aonghus of the Terrible Spear. There was also a king of leinster who married the daughter of the High King Tuathal Teachtmhaire (A.D. 130-160) ", but wanted to marry her younger sister. He pretended that his first wife had died and married; when the two sisters found out what had happened they died of shame. Tuathal went to war with Eochaidh and forced him to agree on an annual tribute called the Boramha.  To exact the tribute once in a reign was a point of honour with a High King. The last to do so was Brian (1002-1014), who became known as Brian Boramha, Anglicised as Brian Boru.

Eoghan. [I] There are four Eoghans who appear in Irish myths. One of them appears as a king of Connacht who is killed by Ulster warriors and buried on the Connacht border, facing Ulster, so that he could protect the kingdom from attack. The second is a king of Munster whose story resembles that of Art, There is Eoghan Mor, the true name of Mug or Mag Nuadat, king of Munster, who forced the High King Conn to split Ireland into two. He then ruled Mug's Half, the southern half of Ireland. He was eventually defeated and slain by Conn. The most famous was Eoghan Mac Durthacht, a champion of the Red Branch, who slew Naoise and his brothers at the request of Conchobhar Mac Nessa. Conchobhar gave him Deirdre, but she threw herself from his chariot and killed herself.

Epona. "The Divine Horse." One of the' more important Gaulish deities, winning favour with the cavalry of the Roman army stationed in Gaul. She may be cognate with Edain Echraidhe in Ireland. She is, in fact, the only Celtic goddess known to have been worshipped in Rome. [See "Le my the d'Epona," Henri Hubert, Melanges linguistiques offerts a M.J. Vendryes, Paris, 1925.]

Erechwydd. [W] Sometimes Yrechwydd. An unlocated kingdom in sixth century A.D. north Britain.

Eremon. [I] Sometimes given as Heremon. The first Milesian king of Ireland. He was the eldest of the surviving sons of Milesius. Amairgen the druid decreed that he should rule Ireland. His brother Eber refused to accept this and the brothers fought. Eremon slew Eber.

Ergyng. [W] Herefordshire, west of the Wye.

Eryri. [W] Snowdonia in Gwynedd.

Esus. A Gaulish god whom Lucan refers to as "uncouth Esus of the barbarous altars." According to the Romans, sacrifices were made to Esus, the victims being suspended from trees and ritually wounded. Esus appears in the guise of a woodcutter on a relief dedicated to Jupiter, ca. A.D. 14-37, rediscovered in 1711 under the choir of the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris. A similar relief of the same period was found at Treves.

Esyllt. [W] "Of the white neck." More commonly given as Iseult or Isolt. See Trystan.

Etain. [I] There are several Etains in Irish myth, ranging from the wife of Ogma, daughter of Dian cecht, to the daughter of Olc Acha the Smith, who is the mother of Cormac Mac Art. The most famous Etain was the daughter of Ailill of Echraidhe. Midir the Proud fell in love with her and asked his foster son, the love god Aonghus Og,to make the arrangements. Aonghus Og had to perform three tasks before Ailill allowed her to go to Midir. Fuamnach, Midir's first wife, became jealous of Etain and turned her into several things, a pool, a worm, and then a fly, in order to destroy the marriage. She caused a strong wind that blew the flyaway and, after seven years, she came to the palace of Aonghus Og. The love god recognised Etain and went to fetch Midir. But Fuamnach sent another wind. Blown across the generations, the fly fell into the cup of the wife of Etar, a champion of Conchobhar Mac Nessa, and she drank it and became pregnant. The daughter was called Etain and she was married to the High King Eochaidh Airemh. Eventually Midir found her and returned her to the Otherworld. But Eochaidh forced Midir to give her up, and she returned to live with him and gave birth to a daughter, Etain Oig. It was Etain Oig who became the mother of Mess Buachalla.

Ethlinn. [I] Daughter of Balor of the Evil Eye. Because of a prophecy that he would be killed by his grandson, Balor confined her in a tower. However, Cian, the son of Dian cecht, the god of medicine, manages to enter the tower. Ethlinn bears a son, whom Balor orders to be drowned. The child is saved and fostered by Manannan Mac Lir. The child is Lugh Lamhfada and he fulfils the prophecy by destroying Balor.

Ethne. [I] There are several women named Ethne in irish mythology, among them the daughter of Roc, the steward of the love god Aonghus Og. A De Danaan chieftain attempted to rape her, and as a result she became pure spirit. She lost her Veil of Invisibility, which not only hid De Danaans from mortals but gave them entrance into the world of immortality .Thus she was consigned to wander the earth listening to the sounds of the De Danaan kindred, disembodied voices in the air, searching for her in vain.

Ever Living Ones, The. A synonym for the gods of the Tuatha De Danaan.

Evnissyen. [W] See Efnisien.

Evrawc. [W] See Efrawc.

Ewais. [W] Sometimes Euas. A district in north Gwent.

Excalibur. See Caliburn.