In Celtic mythology, the term "Rootmen" typically refers to the Fomorians (or Fomori), an ancient semi-divine race said to be the first inhabitants of Ireland. While they are often described as giants or monstrous beings, their name and nature are deeply tied to the "roots" of the land and primeval forces.
Key Characteristics of the Fomorians
- Primeval Origins: They represent the chaotic and wild powers of nature—such as the sea, the storm, and the earth—that existed before the arrival of the more ordered gods, the Tuatha Dé Danann.
- Physical Appearance: They are frequently depicted as physically deformed or monstrous. One of their most famous leaders was Balor of the Evil Eye, a giant whose single eye could kill anything it gazed upon.
- Relationship with Other Gods: Despite being enemies, the Fomorians and the Tuatha Dé Danann were closely linked through marriage and bloodlines. For example, the god Lugh was half-Fomorian, as his grandfather was Balor.
- Cosmic Conflict: Their battles with the Tuatha Dé Danann mirror Indo-European myths of gods fighting titans (like Olympians vs. Titans).
- Defeat: Defeated at the Second Battle of Mag Tuired, symbolizing the triumph of order and culture over chaos.
Comparison to Other "Nature" Entities
In a broader folkloric context, "Rootmen" can sometimes be confused with or relate to other forest-dwelling spirits:
- Tree-folk and Wild Men: Legends like that of Myrddin Wyllt (the original Merlin) describe a "wild man of the woods" who lives among the roots and trees of the forest, gaining prophetic powers.
- Fairies of the Earth: Various spirits known as the Aos Sí (or Sídhe) were said to live underground in mounds, often viewed as the original "people of the earth" after being defeated by humans.