Dagda

**Dagda** is a minor supporting character in the *Divine Comedy*.

He is the chief of the Tuatha Dé Danann, the husband of Morrigan and the father of their three children Tyr, Brigid, and Sif. Though gruff in appearance, Dagda stood out as an oafish god in both demeanor and attire. In contrast to his more stern and grim wife, Dagda was extroverted, boisterous, and eccentric, making him beloved by all including other foreign gods.

## History

### Background

Dagda is the head of the Tuatha Dé Danann, the Celtic pantheon of gods, and was one of the first gods to be born from the Giants Jørgan and Illus. Unlike most other pantheons, the Dagda wanted no part in the Gigantomachy - the war between the gods and giants - and instead fled to uninhabited lands. However, despite his attempts to avoid such conflicts, it never truly left him or his compatriots as they would be assaulted by the Fomorian giants who made their home on a land that would come to be known as Ireland. Dagda attempted to initiate more peaceful solutions but the tensions and passive-aggressiveness could not placate the two factions. As a result, he was forced to rid the island of the Fomorians.

As the centuries passed, Dagda would oversee the activities of his fellow gods and was even humble enough to allow their descendants to go out into the world and make their own pantheon which became the Daoine Sídhe, the fairy race. He strived to fill the hearts and minds of his fellow gods and beloved followers with joy and comfort to where he became beloved by almost all the gods for his hospitality and his excellent skills as a party host. At some point, he met and fell in love with Morrigan, an emissary raven of Death, and while initially avoiding him she soon return the feelings of attraction. With Dagda, Morrigan became the queen of the Tuatha Dé Danann and birthed his three children; Tyr, Brigid, and Sif.

## Personality

Dagda is depicted as an easygoing and affable god. He is shown to be a very kind deiy and is very friendly, getting along with others quite well. He is the polar opposite of his wife in that he doesn't stick to or adhere to tradition as strictly as her and enjoys having fun with his children.

He has a good sense of humor which he passed on to Brigid, such as when they both mock the Balor's sons attempts at shooting arrows. While he is fun-loving and easygoing, often playing around with his children rather than bringing them up to be royalty,he is also still an extremely wise ruler and knows when to be serious. The Dagda is also not above holding grudges as he has a heated and very tense relationship with Odin, the king of the Norse gods, as he was responsible for Tyr losing his hand.

He treasures his children deeply to where he was initially picky about who they end up marrying but has mellowed down and gave his children more freedom and rights about who they want to marry. This also makes him quite insightful about one's character. Examples are of when he could tell that Lucious Validus, despite being the Antichrist, was a better fit as Brigid's boyfriend and later husband than Bres who simply wishes to marry Brigid for the sole purpose of having the Fomorians rule over the Tuatha Dé Danann. This also applied to Thor being a suitable husband for his daughter Sif for despite the Thunder God's reputation and being the son of Odin whom he detests he could tell Thor was a good man.

## Trivia

* He is based on the god of the same name found in Irish mythology. One of the Tuatha Dé Danann, the Dagda is portrayed as a father-figure, king, and druid. He is associated with fertility, agriculture, manliness and strength, as well as magic, druidry and wisdom. He can control life and death, the weather and crops, as well as time and the seasons.
* He is "party bros" with Dionysus and Thor.
* Angel calls Dagda the "grandaddy of dad bods" for his protruding belly that compliments his gruff yet handsome appearance. A trait he shares with Dionysus and Thor.