Ireland's OWN: Celtic Symbols

Salmon (Eo Feasa)

In Celtic mythology fish, and in particular, salmon, are associated with knowledge and sacred wells.

In Celtic mythology fish, and in particular, salmon, are associated with knowledge and sacred wells.
Salmon were consulted by Celtic heroes for their wisdom and forethought; and to eat a salmon, or Eo Feasa, was to gain immediate knowledge.
The Salmon supposedly gained its knowledge by consuming the nine hazel nuts of wisdom that fell into the Well of Segais, the primary source of all knowledge in Celtic lore.
The salmon is associated with prophecy and inspiration because of its instinct to find its distant spawning grounds.

The Salmon and Cú Chulainn

Cú Chulainn used the hero's salmon leap across the Pupils' Bridge to get Scáthach's stronghold in order to gain access to Scáthach's advanced knowledge of arms. Each leap in the land of sorcery brought Cú Chulainn to greater knowledge.

The Salmon and Finn

When Finn was an infant, his mother Muirna entrusted him to two bondswomen, a Druidess and a wise woman, who brought him up as their foster-son. Both acted as guardians, advisers and teachers of war craft.

In an episode relating to the young hero's growing supernatural powers, Finn went to learn the craft of poetry from Finnegas the Bard, and it was through him that Finn acquired the gifts of prophecy and wisdom. When the two initially met, Finnegas had just caught the Salmon of Knowledge, for whom he had been fishing for seven years in a pool. Finnegas put Finn in charge of cooking the salmon and, as he did so, the youth burned his thumb on the hot flesh. He sucked his thumb and thereby ingested all the salmon's knowledge.

Sources may include: The Celtic Book of the Dead by Caitlin Matthews; Celtic Cross Stitch by Anne Orr and Lesley Clark; Celtic Magic by DJ Conway; Celtic Myth and Magick by Edain McCoy; Celtic Wisdom by Caitlin and John Matthews; Personal knowledge/traditions; The Religion of the Ancient Celts by JA MacCulloch; The Secret Language of Symbols by David Fontana; and The World of the Druids by Miranda J Green.