View source for Geas

{{short description|Mythological taboo or vow}}
{{About|the taboo in Irish mythology|the band|Geasa (band)|the surname|Geis (surname)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{one source|date=May 2024}}
{{Contains special characters|IPA}}
{{Wiktionary|geas|geis|geise|geasa|geasan}}
A '''''{{lang|ga|geis}}''''' or '''''{{lang|ga|geas}}''''' (pl. ''{{lang|ga|geasa}}'') is an [[Idiosyncrasy|idiosyncratic]] [[taboo]], whether of obligation or prohibition, similar to being under a [[vow]] or [[curse]], yet the observance of which can also bring power and blessings. It is also used to mean specifically a [[Spell (paranormal)|spell]] prohibiting some action. ''{{lang|ga|Geasa}}'' are common in Irish and Scottish folklore and mythology, as well as in modern English-language fantasy fiction.<ref>Michael Quinion, [http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-gei1.htm World Wide Words] (accessed 8 November 2010)</ref>

The word originates in [[Old Irish|Old Irish, also known as Old Gaelic]], and retains the same form in [[Irish language|Modern Irish]] ([[nominative]] singular ''{{lang|ga|geis}}'' {{IPA|/ɟɛʃ/|lang=ga}}, nom. plural ''{{lang|ga|geasa}} ''{{IPA|/ˈɟasˠə/|lang=ga}}; [[genitive]] sg. ''{{lang|ga|geise}}'' {{IPA|/ˈɟɛʃə/|lang=ga}}, gen. pl. ''{{lang|ga|geas}}'' {{IPA|/ɟasˠ/|lang=ga}}). In modern [[Scottish Gaelic]], the spelling has evolved in a slightly different direction (nom. sg. ''{{Lang|gd|geas}}'' {{IPA|/kʲes/|lang=gd}}, nom. pl. ''{{Lang|gd|geasan}}'', gen. sg. ''{{Lang|gd|geis}}'' or ''{{Lang|gd|geasa}}''). It has also been [[Loanword|borrowed]] into [[English language|English]] in both forms (sg. ''geas'' or ''geis'' {{IPA|/ɡɛʃ/|lang=en}} or {{IPA|/ˈɡi.əʃ/|lang=en}}, pl. ''geasa'')).

==In Irish mythology==
A ''{{lang|ga|geas|italic=no}}'' can be compared with a [[curse]] or, paradoxically, a gift. If someone under a ''{{lang|ga|geas|italic=no}}'' violates the associated taboo, the infractor will suffer dishonor or even death.  Conversely, the observing of one's ''{{lang|ga|geas|italic=no}}'' is believed to bring power. Often, women place ''{{lang|ga|geasa|italic=no}}'' upon men; in some cases, the woman turns out to be a [[goddess]] or other [[sovereignty]] figure.<ref name="MacKillop1">MacKillop, James (1998) ''A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology''. Oxford, Oxford University Press. {{ISBN|0-19-280120-1}} p.249</ref>

The ''{{lang|ga|geas|italic=no}}'' is often a key device in hero tales, such as that of [[Cúchulainn|Cú Chulainn]] in [[Irish mythology]]. Traditionally, the doom of heroes comes about due to their violation of their ''{{lang|ga|geas|italic=no}}'' either by accident or by having multiple ''{{lang|ga|geasa|italic=no}}'', which then come into conflict. For instance, Cú Chulainn has a ''{{lang|ga|geas|italic=no}}'' to never eat dog meat, and he is also bound by a ''{{lang|ga|geas|italic=no}}'' to eat any food offered to him by a woman. When a [[hag]] offers him dog meat, he has no way to emerge from the situation unscathed; this leads to his death.<ref name="MacKillop1"/><ref name="MacKillop2">MacKillop (1998) pp.115-117</ref>

In some cases, the placing of a ''{{lang|ga|geas|italic=no}}'' can lead to tragedy even when it is not violated. ''{{lang|ga|[[Aífe|Aoife]]|italic=no}}'' imposed three ''{{lang|ga|geasa|italic=no}}'' on [[Connla]], her son with Cú Chulainn: he cannot turn back once he starts his journey; he must not refuse a challenge; and he must never tell anyone his name. She then sent Connla, aged seven, to seek out his father, but he was a child of such extraordinary skill that he was seen as a threat after having defeated all Ulster heroes who met him. Because of the ''{{lang|ga|geas|italic=no}}'' placed on him by his mother, he refuses to identify himself, which leads to his own father, Cú Chulainn, killing him in single combat using the [[Gáe Bulg]] before recognising too late who he is. He then introduces his dying son to the men of Ulster as a fitting hero.

A ''{{lang|ga|geas|italic=no}}'' might appear beneficial by involving a [[prophecy]] that a person would die in a particular way so bizarre that they could then avoid their fate for many years.{{Citation needed|date=November 2007}} As with [[Conaire Mór]], though, in the tale of ''[[Togail Bruidne Dá Derga]]'', who strictly observed a number of ''{{lang|ga|geasa}}'', a small unconnected infraction can escalate to one's undoing. By initially making exceptions to crimes of stealing by his foster-brothers contravening ''fír flathemon'', the king's upholding of true judgement, things proceed until they deliberately contravene a ''{{lang|ga|geis|italic=no}}'' of Conaire's against marauding in his reign. Though he tries to rectify the situation by exiling them, his fate intervenes, so the remaining ''{{lang|ga|geasa|italic=no}}'' are involuntarily and accidentally broken one after the other with a sense of gathering doom that cannot be checked.

In the Irish saga of [[Conchobar mac Nessa]], the king is said to have the right to the first night with any marriageable woman and the right to sleep with the wife of anyone who hosted him. This is called the Geis of the king.<ref>[[Rudolf Thurneysen]]: ''Die irischen Helden- und Königssage bis zum 17. Jahrhundert''. Halle 1921, p. 394, 525</ref> Whether this right actually existed and was exercised by the Celts is not attested outside the sagas.<ref>Helmut Birkhan. ''Kelten. Versuch einer Gesamtdarstellung ihrer Kultur.'' p. 1091.</ref> It is similar to the ''{{Lang|fr|[[droit du seigneur]]}}'' of feudal Europe.

==Welsh mythology==
Considerable similarity exists between the [[Goidelic]] ''{{lang|ga|geasa|italic=no}}'' and the [[Brythonic languages|Brythonic]] ''{{Lang|cy|[[tynged]]}}''. This is not surprising given the close origins of many of the variants of [[Celtic mythology]].

For example, the Welsh hero {{Lang|cy|[[Lleu Llaw Gyffes]]|italic=no}} (in one version of his story) was destined to die neither "during the day or night, nor indoors or outdoors, neither riding nor walking, not clothed and not naked, nor by any weapon lawfully made." He was safe until his wife, {{Lang|cy|[[Blodeuwedd]]|italic=no}}, learning of these foretold conditions, convinced him to show her how he could theoretically be stepping out of a river onto a riverbank sheltered by a roof and put one foot on a goat, and so on, thus enabling the conditions that allowed him to be wounded.

==In popular culture==
{{See also|Irish mythology in popular culture}}
''{{lang|ga|Geas}}'', ''{{lang|ga|geis}}'' and derivative words and concepts have appeared in a variety of forms in popular culture.

In [[Terry Pratchett]]'s [[Discworld]] book series, there is a running homophonic gag centered on various characters having a broad misunderstanding of the words ''geis'' and ''geese''.

In ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End]]'', [[Governor]] [[Weatherby Swann]] was going to stab the heart of [[Davy Jones (Pirates of the Caribbean)|Davy Jones]], only for Jones to reveal that he cast a terrible geis upon his heart when he carved it from his body, that if someone stabs the heart then theirs will take its place. The line was cut from the film, but the geis remains in place as the [[curse]] of the ''[[Flying Dutchman]]''. With the help of [[Jack Sparrow]], [[Will Turner]] stabs the heart and becomes the new captain of the ''Dutchman''.<ref>[http://www.wordplayer.com/archives/PIRATES3.cover.html Wordplayer.com: WORDPLAY/Archives/Screenplay - PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S END by Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio]</ref><ref name="world">{{cite video | people = [[Gore Verbinski]] (director) | title = [[Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End]] | type = Film | publisher=[[Walt Disney Pictures]] |year=2007}}</ref>

Geasa are widely used in [[Charles Stross]]'s [[The_Laundry_Files|Laundry Files]] series, especially employed by The Laundry (Britain's secret government agency tasked with protecting the realm from supernatural threats) to enforce the loyalty and duty of its agents.

===Parallels in English literature===
Prohibitions and taboos similar to ''{{lang|ga|geasa|italic=no}}'' are also found in more recent [[English literature]], though they are not described as ''{{lang|ga|geasa|italic=no}}'' in those texts.  For example, in [[William Shakespeare]]'s play ''[[Macbeth]]'', the title character believes he is safe because "no man of woman born shall harm Macbeth". However, his nemesis [[Macduff (Macbeth)|Macduff]] was "from his mother's womb untimely ripp'd" (i.e., born by [[Caesarean section]]), and was therefore not "of woman born".

Another example is the Witch-King of Angmar from [[Tolkien's legendarium]], who has a ''{{lang|ga|geas|italic=no}}''-like prophecy described by the [[Elves in Middle-earth|Elven]] hero, [[Glorfindel]]: "Far off yet is his doom, and not by the hand of man shall he fall." The meaning is then quite literal, for the Witch-king eventually falls at the hands of [[Éowyn]] and [[Merry Brandybuck|Meriadoc]], one a shieldmaiden of [[Rohan, Middle-earth|Rohan]], and thus not a man but a woman, and the other a [[hobbit]], and thus not a Man as in species.

==References==
{{reflist}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.tairis.co.uk/values/gessi-and-buada/ |title=Gessi and Buada |website=tairis.co.uk |first=Annie |last=Loughlin |access-date=14 October 2017 |archive-date=6 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306233615/http://www.tairis.co.uk/values/gessi-and-buada/ |url-status=dead }}

==Further reading==
* Qiu Fangzhe, ‘[https://web.archive.org/web/20190517223639/http://st-annes-mcr.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/STAAR-2-2010-6.-Fangzhe.pdf ''Geis'', a Literary Motif in Early Irish Literature]’, ''St Anne's Academic Review'', 2 (2010), 13–16

{{Celtic mythology topics|state=collapsed}}
{{Celts|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Irish mythology]]
[[Category:Oaths]]
[[Category:Magic (supernatural)]]
[[Category:Taboo]]