Lugh (Llew) of the Long Arm
11"x14"
Watercolor and Berol Prismacolor Pencils on Illustration board
Lugh or LLew, (pronounced Loo, ) means "light" or "shining" and although believed to be considered a deity of the sun by the ancient civilizations of the Celts, the Roman invaders associated him with their God Mercury due to his many skills. He is known as Lugh of the Long Arm, as he is he guardian of the magical spear of Gorias. Another of his magical weapons is the sling which he used to kill his terrible adversary Balor, by using the sling to drive Balors evil staring eye backwards in his skull, so that it stared down it's baneful magic upon Balors own armies.
Lugh is also known as Llew Llaw Gyffes "bright one of skillful hand" and his ancient festival day Lughnasadh circa August 1, was usually associated with the bountiful harvest of wheat , sports and games of skill. In one legend, he was refused entry to the city of Tara. as he was told that only someone who had skills that no one in the city possessed could gain entry. He challenged the keepers of the city with his many talents, wheelright, metal-worker, warrior, bard, magician, doctor, cupbearer, and more. He was told that all those skills were met by individual people within the city. He then asked if any one man possessed all of those skills, to which the reply was "No." This was how Lugh gained entrance to the city of Tara and came to serve as steward to the King Nuadha and rule after Nuadha lost his hand in battle.
In a story from the Mabinogion, Llew had a spell placed upon him by his mother Arianrhod, that he could not have a wife of the human race. Great magicians Gwydion, his uncle and Math magically made him a wife of flowers, Blodeuwedd which means flower face. While Llew was away she had fallen in love with another man. She then tricked Llew into showing her the only method by which he could be killed. She later had her lover Gronw Pebyr attack him in the manner described. According to legend, the spear only wounded Llew, who turned into an Eagle and soared away. Gwydion found Llew and changed him back, and he also transformed Blodeuwedd into an owl to live out her remaining days. Llew slayed Gronw Pebyr upon the same spot where he had fallen. With Llew now healed and restored, the land grew bountiful and prospered.