smith

Metalworkers were held in high esteem in Celtic countries, often thought to possess healing powers. In the early Scottish Highlands a smith might hold his hammer over the sick or infirm to frighten away illness. Archaeological evidence points to the existence of the cult of the smith-god in Roman Britain, figures with distinctive hammer and tongs, perhaps borrowed from the Latin divinity Vulcan. Smithcraft was also often related to an interest in alchemy as well as to initiations into men's societies. Goibniu was the smith-god of the Tuatha Dé Danann. Old Irish gobae; Modern Irish gabha; Scottish Gaelic gobha; Manx gaaue; Welsh gof; Cornish gōf; Breton gov. See Miranda J. Green, Small Cult-Objects from Military Areas of Roman Britain, British Archaeology Reports (British Series), no. 52 (Oxford, 1978), 55–72. See also CULANN; CREDNE; GAIBLÍN; GLWYDDYN SAER; GOBBÁN SAOR; GOFANNON; LOAN MACLIBHUIN; LON MAC LÍOMTHA.