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Irish Mythology Series: 1 - Abarta or Ábartach
ABARTA, which probably means ‘doer of deeds’, was, in Irish Mythology, a mischievous god. He was one of the TUATHA DE DANANN, who ruled Ireland until they were overcome by Milesians, war-like invaders from Spain. Driven underground , Abarta and his kin appear in Irish sagas more like heroic mortals than gods, although in the tale of his trick on the Fenian warriors there remains a strong trace of his original divinity.
Abarta offered himself as a servant to FINN MACCOOL, one of the foremost Irish heroes, and hereditary leader of the FIANNA. Abarta tried to serve Finn MacCool shortly after the hero had succeeded his father as leader of the band. As a gesture of goodwill, tricky Abarta presented the Fianna with a wild, grey horse. Only after great effort did the warriors manage to get a bridle on the animal., and then it refused to move even one hoof when mounted. It was not until fourteen warriors had climbed on its powerful back that it would stir at all. Once Abarta had mounted behind them, it broke immediately into a gallop, even pulling along a fifteenth warrior who was unable to let go of the horse’s tail. Abarta took them to the Otherworld, for that was the reason for his appearance on Earth.
This wonderful lans was thought by the Celts to be the home of the gods and goddesses, and the place where souls briefly rested before rebirth.
The rest of the Fianna , or Fenians , acquired a magic ship to give chase to Abarta’s steed. The best tracker among them was Finn MacCool’s assistant Foltor. He succeeded in navigating a course to the Otherworld for the rescue expedition. There Abarta was compelled to release the prisoners as well as to run back to Ireland himself holding on to the horses’ tail. Honour being satisfied, the Fenians agreed to a peace with Abarta
-Cotterell A, 2010. The Encylopedia of Mythology: Norse, Greek and Roman, Celtic. Anness Publishing, London. U.K.
