Page:Origin and Growth of Religion (Rhys).djvu/390

374 a statement that he was the first king of Erinn to have torques of gold made for wearing round the neck, which is in Irish muin; in this reference to the gold torques or collars, we have probably the echo of a myth like that of Maine mac Durthacht's brooch. Further, Maine Mór was the mythic ancestor of the Hy-Many, whose prince was caught by Cúchulainn, on whom he avenged himself by adjuring him to find what had happened to the Sons of Dóel Dermait, a quest which involved the sun-hero in a visit to the other world. The name of Cúchulainn's captive was Echaid Rond, or E. of (the) Chains, so called from a seven-ounce chain or thread of gold which formed part of his head-gear. This may be regarded as another of the treasures associated with the Maini: we have thus no less than three, a brooch, a torque, and a chain, all perhaps originally characterized by the number nine in the tales to which they belonged. One more Maine may be mentioned: he is called Maine son of Niall of the Nine Hostages. Niall is fabled to have reigned over Ireland in the fifth century of our era, and to have conquered Britain, France and other lands; so his is a great name in Irish pedigrees, but it is probably altogether mythic, and to be equated with that of the Welsh Neol.