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The Fomorians (, Modern (アイルランド語:Fomhóraigh)) are a supernatural race in Irish mythology. They are often portrayed as hostile and monstrous beings who come from the sea or underground. Later, they were portrayed as giants and sea raiders. They are enemies of Ireland's first settlers and opponents of the Tuatha Dé Danann,〔Carey, John. "Fomoiri", in ''The Celts: History, Life, and Culture''. Edited by John T. Koch. ABC-CLIO, 2012. p.355〕 the other supernatural race in Irish mythology. However, their relationship with the Tuath Dé is complex and some of their members intermarry and have children. The Fomorians have thus been likened to the jötnar of Norse mythology. The Fomorians seem to have been gods who represent the harmful or destructive powers of nature; personifications of chaos, darkness, death, blight and drought.〔MacCulloch, John Arnott. ''The Religion of the Ancient Celts''. The Floating Press, 2009. pp.80, 89, 91〕〔Smyth, Daragh. ''A Guide to Irish Mythology''. Irish Academic Press, 1996. p.74〕〔Sjoestedt, ''Gods and heroes of the Celts'', pp.4-5〕 The Tuath Dé, in contrast, seem to represent the gods of growth and civilization. It has also been suggested that the Fomorians derive from an older group of gods who were displaced by a newer group. ==Name== In Old and Middle Irish the race are usually called the ''Fomoire'' or ''Fomoiri'' (plural), and an individual member is called a ''Fomoir'' (singular). In Middle Irish they are also called the ''Fomóraiġ'' (plural) and a ''Fomórach'' (singular). This is spelt ''Fomhóraigh'' (plural) and ''Fomhórach'' (singular) in Modern Irish. In English they are often called the Fomorians, Fomori or Fomors. The etymology of the name is debated. The first part is now generally agreed to be the Old Irish ''fo'', meaning under, below, lower, beneath, nether, etc. The meaning of the second part is unclear. One suggestion is that it comes from the Old Irish ''mur'' (sea), and that the name thus means something like "the undersea ones".〔Rhys, ''Lectures on the origin and growth of religion'' (1888), p. 591.〕 This was the interpretation offered by some medieval Irish writers.〔O'Mulconry's Glossary in Dublin, TCD MS 1317, p. 42b, has "Fomoir .i. fo mhuir ut alii putant, ł a fomo flo ambiae fli acain a quo nominatunt." ''(Early Irish Glossaries Database )''.〕 Another suggestion is that it comes from ''mór'' (great/big) and means something like "the great under(world) ones", "the under(world) giants" or "the nether giants". A third suggestion, which has more support among scholars, is that it comes from a hypothetical Old Irish term for a demon or phantom, found in the name of The Morrígan and cognate with the archaic English word "mare" (which survives in "nightmare").〔Stokes, "Second Battle of Moytura." p. 128.〕〔Thurneysen, ''Die irische Helden- und Königsage bis zum siebzehnten Jahrhundert''. 2 vols. Halle: Max Niemeyer, 1921: 64.〕 The name would thus mean something like "under(world) demons" or "nether demons". Building on this, Marie-Louise Sjoestedt interprets the name as meaning "inferior" or "latent demons", saying the Fomorians are "like the powers of chaos, ever latent and hostile to cosmic order".〔 Donald Schlegel suggested that the Fomorians were Carthaginians who established a trading post on Ireland's west coast. He suggests the name ''Fomoraige'' comes from the name of the Carthaginian god ''Pumay'' combined with the Old Irish suffix ''-raige'', and thus means "people of Pumay".〔Schlegel, Donald M. (2002); ''Reweaving the Tapestry of Ancient Ulster''. Clogher Record. p.27〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Fomorians」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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