#Bechbretha

[stairnaheireann]

Bechbretha | Brehon Law on Beekeeping

In ancient Ireland, beekeeping was so important that there was a complete list of laws dedicated to beekeeping, called  ‘Bechbretha’, during the time of our Brehon laws. In the seventh century AD the laws were written down for the first time. Brehon law was administered by Brehons, or ‘brithem’ derived from the Irish ‘breitheamh’ meaning judge, the successors to Celtic druids. In many respects…

[jinxedwood]

Also, weird things I discovered while researching for my nanowrimo book.

Medieval Ireland was obsessed with bees and honey. So much so, there was an entire section added to the Brehon Laws, called Bechbretha (trans: bee judgements) So far, so good - interesting but not exactly astounding info. The Brehon Laws were extremely comprehensive, and covered everything from how and when to cut down a tree to the proper way to enter a mill. (Go and have a read - there are quite a few extracts to be found online - three different kinds of marriages, peoples, and ten different kinds of 'unions')

But the bit that took me by surprise was that Ireland didn't have bees before the 3rd century! They were an import! WTF? Apparently, sometime between the 3rd and 6th century someone (probably monks) imported them into the country but before then we were beeless.

No honey in ireland.

No mead.

How could I have not known this?

[somebogwitch]

Happy World Bee Day!

Bees were highly valued in early Ireland and even had its own law code, the Bechbretha or ‘bee-judgements’, which was a set of rules concerning beekeeping. Dating from the 7th century AD, this law text covered a diverse range of topics including ownership of swarms, theft of beehives and neighbours entitlements to honey. [Image description: a section of the medieval law text, which now forms part of Trinity Library, Dublin's collections]

Source: @irisharchaeology

[briery]

Bees were so important in Early Medieval Ireland that they had their own set of laws the ‘Bechbretha’. These judgements covered such topics as ownership of swarms, theft of bee-hives and neighbours’ entitlements to honey from a beekeeper.

[goblinlipgloss]

Jareth’s Eye, Brehon Law, and High Kingship: Or, Why Jareth is the Goblin King

It is uncertain when, exactly, the Brehon legal system began. Although some manuscripts have been found dating back to the fourteenth through sixteenth centuries, these manuscripts were based on much older texts. Some even from the seventh and eighth centuries! But long before even then, the spirit of Brehon Law existed in oral tradition, which would have been passed down from generation to generation in the centuries preceding even the oldest written texts. In Kelly’s A Guide to Early Irish Law, first published in 1988, it is stated that “many of the essentials of the early Irish legal system go back at least as far as the Common Celtic period (c. 1000 B.C.E.).” Many similarities can be found between Brehon Law and early Welsh law, as well as other Indo-European legal systems, but that’s another post for another day.

But what does any of that have to do with Labyrinth?

The answer lies in the Bechbretha, an Early Irish law within the Brehon system perhaps written (note that this does not mean originating) in the seventh century pertaining to beekeeping. It explains where at least some of Congal Cáech’s nicknames come from; back in the day, the Irish king was called ���squinting” or sometimes ��half blind,” which probably wouldn’t be much of a problem for today’s monarchs, few that they are. But in the 620s, which is when is reign is purported to have been, that would be a different story. Congal was supposed to have been stung in one eye by bees which, besides being incredibly painful, would have kept him out of the running for High King of Tara.

Side note: the wergild of the time demanded that the eye of the beekeeper’s son be put out in a similar manner as repayment. That beekeeper was Domnall mac Áedo, another king and father of the now half-blind boy. Congal and Domnall totally went to war, later.

Whether or not this story of Congal being blinded is true depends on a few things, one of them being how great PR was back in this time period. It’s entirely possible that Congal was passed over for another reason, and the potentially fake bee story is all that we have to explain it today.

But the fact remains that a High King could not be physically impaired in any way according to the laws of the time. Even mythology agrees with this; Nuada Airgetlám, first king of the mythical Tuatha Dé Danann, lost his arm in battle and was therefore deposed. He got a magical arm a little bit later, so he became High King again. No worries.

So not even the Tuatha Dé Danann, frequently conflated with the fae in modern works, were above the law requiring a king be unblemished. What, then, does that mean for Jareth?

Well, if we accept the common interpretation that he is one of the fae and/or Tuatha Dé Danann, then we have to wonder why he’s kicking it with the goblins. Plainly put, the goblins are repulsive little beasts, even if I happen to have a soft spot for them. A fae like Jareth probably does not want to spend the length of his considerably long life with nothing but screaming goblins for company. (This is ignoring, for now, the ones that are slightly more humanoid, like the guard at the end of the film, or Didymus, with his adherence to chivalric code.)

So, what’s he doing there? Presuming there are High Kings, why isn’t he one, if he has the power to bend time to his will and elaborately terrorize teenage girls? Why would he accept the title of Goblin King if, as can be argued, he actively dislikes his people? For this, we can turn back to Congal.

Congal’s only imperfection was in one of his eyes. Before that incident, he seems to have been perfectly accepted by his people and, according to some sources, in line to be High King of Tara. After the bee sting, he was still a king–there were at least three levels of kingship–but not the king. Just as we can say that Jareth is a king, but definitely not the king.

While we know the story behind Bowie’s anisocoria, we don’t necessarily know the story behind Jareth’s. Whether or not he was stung in the eye by a bee (enjoy that visual) is probably immaterial. What matters in this context is that, in the eyes of the law, he would be blemished and therefore incapable of being High King, or holding a monarchical title with any real power. And thus we have the Goblin King, forever angsty about his lot in life and dreaming about chucking goblins in the Bog.

Kelly, Fergus. (1988) A Guide to Early Irish Law. Early Irish Law Series, Vol. III. Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies.

[seachranaidhe]

Bechbretha: Brehon Law on Beekeeping

[stairnaheireann]

Bechbretha | Brehon Law on Beekeeping

Bechbretha | Brehon Law on Beekeeping

In ancient Ireland, beekeeping was so important that there was a complete list of laws dedicated to beekeeping, called  ‘Bechbretha’, during the time of our Brehon laws. In the seventh century AD the laws were written down for the first time. Brehon law was administered by Brehons, or ‘brithem’ derived from the Irish ‘breitheamh’ meaning judge, the successors to Celtic druids. In many respects…

[stairnaheireann]

Bechbretha | Brehon Law on Beekeeping

Bechbretha | Brehon Law on Beekeeping

In ancient Ireland, beekeeping was so important that there was a complete list of laws dedicated to beekeeping, called  ‘Bechbretha’, during the time of our Brehon laws. In the seventh century AD the laws were written down for the first time. Brehon law was administered by Brehons, or ‘brithem’ derived from the Irish ‘breitheamh’ meaning judge, the successors to Celtic druids. In many respects…

[stairnaheireann]

Bechbretha | Brehon Law on Beekeeping

Bechbretha | Brehon Law on Beekeeping

In ancient Ireland, beekeeping was so important that there was a complete list of laws dedicated to beekeeping, called  ‘Bechbretha’, during the time of our Brehon laws.

In the seventh century AD the laws were written down for the first time. Brehon law was administered by Brehons, or ‘brithem’ derived from the Irish ‘breitheamh’ meaning judge, the successors to Celtic druids. In many respects…

[stairnaheireann]

Bechbretha: Brehon Law on Beekeeping

Bechbretha: Brehon Law on Beekeeping

In ancient Ireland, beekeeping was so important that there was a complete list of laws dedicated to beekeeping, called  ‘Bechbretha’, during the time of our Brehon laws. In the seventh century AD the laws were written down for the first time. Brehon law was administered by Brehons, or ‘brithem’ derived from the Irish ‘breitheamh’ meaning judge, the successors to Celtic druids. In many respects…

[irisharchaeology]

This hexagonal/honeycomb-shaped pendant contains a depiction of a bee.

Bees were so important in Early Medieval Ireland that they had their own set of laws the 'Bechbretha'. These judgements covered such topics as ownership of swarms, theft of bee-hives and neighbours' entitlements to honey from a beekeeper.

Fashioned out of bronze, It’s available here: Bronze Bee Pendant 

[irisharchaeology]

This hexagonal/honeycomb-shaped pendant contains a depiction of a bee.

Bees were so important in Early Medieval Ireland that they had their own set of laws the 'Bechbretha'. These judgements covered such topics as ownership of swarms, theft of bee-hives and neighbours' entitlements to honey from a beekeeper.

Fashioned out of bronze, the pendant is available here:  Bronze Bee Pendant

[smokeyloki]

@bee-friend

Bees were so important in Early Medieval Ireland that they had their own set of laws the ‘Bechbretha’. These judgements covered such topics as ownership of swarms, theft of bee-hives and neighbours’ entitlements to honey from a beekeeper #WorldBeeDay

[stairnaheireann]

Bechbretha | Brehon Law on Beekeeping

Bechbretha | Brehon Law on Beekeeping

In ancient Ireland, beekeeping was so important that there was a complete list of laws dedicated to beekeeping, called  ‘Bechbretha’, during the time of our Brehon laws.

In the seventh century AD the laws were written down for the first time. Brehon law was administered by Brehons, or ‘brithem’ derived from the Irish ‘breitheamh’ meaning judge, the successors to Celtic druids. In many respects…

[irisharchaeology]

Bees were so important in Early Medieval Ireland that they had their own set of laws the 'Bechbretha'. These judgements covered such topics as ownership of swarms, theft of bee-hives and neighbours' entitlements to honey from a beekeeper #WorldBeeDay

[irisharchaeology]

Bees were so important in Early Medieval Ireland that they had their own set of laws the 'Bechbretha'. These judgements covered such topics as ownership of swarms, theft of bee-hives and neighbours' entitlements to honey from a beekeeper