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Saltair na rann ‘The Psalter of verses’

  • Middle Irish
  • verse
  • Irish religious texts
Middle Irish verse composition giving accounts of biblical history, from the time of Creation to the resurrection of Christ. It is divided into 150 cantos of varying lengths, ranging from just 3 quatrains to as many as 138.
Author
A case has been made in favour of Airbertach mac Cosse Dobráin,(1)n. 1 Gearóid Mac Eoin, ‘The date and authorship of Saltair na Rann’, Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie 28 (1960–1961). whereas James Carney disputes this, favouring an earlier date for the collection.(2)n. 2 James P. Carney, ‘The dating of early Irish verse texts, 500–1100’, Éigse 19 (1982–1983).
Manuscripts
Language
  • Middle Irish
Form
verse (primary)
Length
Number of stanzas: 1947
Textual relationships
Related: Deichdúan na h-eisséirgeDeichdúan na h-eisséirge

A group of ten Middle Irish poems on the week before Judgment Day, which is found as an addition at the end of Saltair na rann.

Gabriel lim i nDomhnaighibhGabriel lim i nDomhnaighibh

An early Irish metrical prayer (8 st.) seeking the protection and support of the archangels, one for each day of the week.

Irish glossary from TCD 1337, pp. 623-628Irish glossary from TCD 1337, pp. 623-628Medieval Irish glossary in TCD 1337, pp. 623-628. Many of the entries are known from other works and learned compilations, such as Sanas Cormaic.Scél saltrach na rannScél saltrach na rann

A prose redaction of the Middle Irish biblical poem Saltair na rann. Myles Dillon distinguishes between two main recensions of the tract, which are most fully represented by the (incomplete) versions in the Leabhar Breac and the Book of Uí Maine respectively. The first section in the Leabhar Breac, covering the narratives from Creation to Adam and Eve, has no extant counterpart in the the Book of Uí Maine. (There is also a prose summary corresponding to the first section. It is found as a commentary to the note on place (locc) in the Pseudo-historical prologue to the Senchas Már).

Associated items
Saltair na rann/1 Mo rí-se rí nime náirSaltair na rann/1 Mo rí-se rí nime náir

The opening poem or canto (84qq) in the Middle Irish series of poems known as Saltair na rann. It deals with the universe and its creation, drawing on biblical narrative as well as other sources.

Classification

Irish religious textsIrish religious texts
...

Subjects

cosmogony and cosmologymythological motifs
cosmogony and cosmology
id. 26703
#
Line numbers
First line
Number of quatrains
1.
ll. 1-336
Mo rí-se rí nime nair
84qq
2.
ll. 337-656
Ri do-rigni riched reil
80qq
3.
ll. 657-832
Rí do-rósat na noí ngrád
44qq
4.
ll. 833-868
Mo rí rígda ós cach thur
9qq
5.
ll. 869-957
Rí do-rigni carcair cain
23qq
6.
ll. 961-1080
Rí do-rigni Pardus mblaith
120qq
7.
ll. 1081-1104
Rí ro ráde aithesc nglan
6qq
8.
ll. 1105-1292
Ba formtech Díabul de sin
47qq
9.
ll. 1293-1440
Ó shunn dúaid Eua fo leith
37qq
10.
ll. 1441-1468
Rí ro rádi éraim nglan
7qq
11.
ll. 1469-2020
Rí do-ridnacht talam tlacht
138qq
12.
ll. 2021-2388
Saegul Ádaim nírbo gair
92qq
13.
ll. 2389-2416
Rí ro rádi fri síl Seth
7qq
14.
ll. 2417-2440
Rí ro ráide athesc n-án
6qq
15.
ll. 2441-2480
Cluinte a Noe noíthig cen lén
10qq
16.
ll. 2481-2512
Rí ro ráidi fri Noe nár
8qq
17.
ll. 2513-2540
Rí tharlaic sruthlind snámaig
7qq
18.
ll. 2541-2564
Rí sáer rodo sás co glé
6qq
19.
ll. 2565-2600
Foídis Noe in colum nglan
9qq
20.
ll. 2601-2632
Tarrasaír ba tromm ind árcc
8qq
21.
ll. 2633-2672
Rí do-ridnacht bith mbuidech
10qq
22.
ll. 2673-2692
Slúag síl Ádaim aidbli druing
5qq
23.
ll. 2693-2736
Ro-genair fer maith combúaid
11qq
24.
ll. 2737-2780
Ro chomarléicset iar sain
11qq
25.
ll. 2781-2816
Rí ro char Abel na n-íath
9qq
26.
ll. 2817-3080
Rí do-rat d'Abram in sin
66qq
27.
ll. 3081-3164
Do-rarngert Iacob co glan
21qq
28.
ll. 3165-3224
Rí co noebi ós cach threib
15qq
29.
ll. 3225-3376
Do-arfás fís foromm cert
38qq
30.
ll. 3377-3436
Rí tria rath do-raiga ó chéin
15qq
31.
ll. 3437-3420
Isin dara blíadain lúad ngrinn
21qq
32.
ll. 3421-3532
Ro-attlaig Iacób án
3qq
33.
ll. 3533-3660
Do-rígset comairli cóir
32qq
34.
ll. 3661-3692
Ó shunn at-bath Ioseph án
8qq
35.
ll. 3693-3716
Ro-génair Moísi mod nglé
6qq
36.
ll. 3717-3752
Cot-ránic lá forsin maig
9qq
37.
ll. 3753-3788
Ro bátar ann caínig cain
9qq
38.
ll. 3789-3812
Báe lathi Moysi i-mmuig
6qq
39.
ll. 3813-3840
Rí do-rat fleisc mbláith mbalnai
7qq
40.
ll. 3841-3868
Ráidid Moísi fiad cach clainn
7qq
41.
ll. 3869-3896
Ba h-úamnach Forainn am-ne
7qq
42.
ll. 3897-3928
Rí ro ráid fri Moísi cotrén
8qq
43.
ll. 3929-3944
Rí do-rat mór ndígal trén
4qq
44.
ll. 3945-4028
Ro-s-léicset dílmain úadaib
21qq
45.
ll. 4029-4048
Rí tuc claind n-Israhél ass
5qq
46.
ll. 4049-4088
Batar buidig do Día dron
10qq
47.
ll. 4089-4108
Do-árfas gním n-ingnad dóib
5qq
48.
ll. 4109-4136
An h-ed robaí Moísi ist shléib
7qq
49.
ll. 4137-4156
For-fhócart Moísi fo nert
5qq
50.
ll. 4157-4184
Do-tharraid teidm dúairc dóib
7qq
51.
ll. 4185-4428
Rí ro-ráide friu cen lén
61qq
52.
ll. 4429-4456
Rí ro ráid friu athesc n-úag
7qq
53.
ll. 4457-4480
Ba formtech iar sain in slóg
6qq
54.
ll. 4481-4500
Ráidid Moísi frisin slúag
5qq
55.
ll. 4501-4540
Ro-cluned cách clu cen geis
10qq
56.
ll. 4541-4572
Ba mertnech Moísi mod n-úag
8qq
57.
ll. 4573-4596
Isna sabbótib saeraib
6qq
58.
ll. 4597-4620
For-congrad Moísi maith mór
6qq
59.
ll. 4621-4636
Rí ros bíath iar n-urd ríagla
4qq
60.
ll. 4637-4648
Maire ingen Ammrai áin
3qq
61.
ll. 4649-4676
Ó shunn ro-siacht in slúag
7qq
62.
ll. 4677-4696
Gabsat a Coimdid do tháir
5qq
63.
ll. 4697-4716
Iar sin ro h-imchlóe in scél
5qq
64.
ll. 4717-4744
Iar sin tarmairt mo Dia dil
7qq
65.
ll. 4745-4776
Do-chuáid a clú for cach leith
8qq
66.
ll. 4777-4816
Foídit h-úadib Bálam mbras
10qq
67.
ll. 4817-4840
Rí ro-s h-éitte rí ro-s bíath
6qq
68.
ll. 4841-4872
Clunid mo thimna do léir
32qq
69.
ll. 4873-4928
Orddaigid in n-eclais n-úaig
14qq
70.
ll. 4929-4980
Rádid Moísi menicc dóib
13qq
71.
ll. 4981-5004
Lín a fer fír ferdais feirg
6qq
72.
ll. 5005-5048
Rí ro oirdnistar mac Nún
11qq
73.
ll. 5049-5076
Rí ro-das lín do bríg brais
7qq
74.
ll. 5077-5120
Tinólsat tor tólach talc
11qq
75.
ll. 5121-5164
Ro raind Essu airdirc scél
11qq
76.
ll. 5165-5200
Treb Iuda treb Semeóin séim
9qq
77.
ll. 5201-5256
Rí do-s-fúargaib tria nert
14qq
78.
ll. 5257-5276
Rí ro-das sáer úas cech múr
20qq
79.
ll. 5277-5312
Ó shunn ro scarsat gním glé
9qq
80.
ll. 5313-5328
Bretha do Gedeón glan glic
4qq
81.
ll. 5329-5368
Génair do threib Dán delm dein
10qq
82.
ll. 5369-5392
Génair gein airmitnech án
6qq
83.
ll. 5393-5472
Ba h-úallach for Dagán dían
20qq
84.
ll. 5473-5512
Ó shunn do-rúacht ind árcc úag
10qq
85.
ll. 5513-5552
Ohél Abía erctha búaid
10qq
86.
ll. 5553-5580
Nás rí Ammón aurdairc rád
7qq
87.
ll. 5581-5608
Coscur n-aili trén túargaib
7qq
88.
ll. 5609-5640
Fecht do-deochatar ó tír
8qq
89.
ll. 5641-5668
Rí ro ráid fri Samúel súg
7qq
90.
ll. 5669-5688
Ba debthach fri Saul slán
5qq
91.
ll. 5689-5728
In Rí dos-fuc sech in slóg
10qq
92.
ll. 5729-5748
Ro thinólsat slúagad sír
5qq
93.
ll. 5749-5780
Tucsat leó trénfher n-írach
8qq
94.
ll. 5781-5800
Giabdar ilarda int shlúaig
5qq
95.
ll. 5801-5824
Do-deochaid Dauíd am-ne
6qq
96.
ll. 5825-5860
Regat-sa ar Dauíd cen lén
9qq
97.
ll. 5861-5880
Luid cen lúrig láthar ndein
5qq
98.
ll. 5881-5900
At-rachtatar na dá shlúag
5qq
99.
ll. 5901-5928
Ó shunn ro-mebaid in cath
7qq
100.
ll. 5929-6052
Do-rigénsatar síd slán
31qq
101.
ll. 6053-6104
Baí Dauíd 's a druim fri fraig
13qq
102.
ll. 6105-6164
Do-rigni Dauíd deilm n-án
15qq
103.
ll. 6165-6248
Luid ass Dauíd tólaib rath
21qq
104.
ll. 6249-6264
Saul iar selaib fri sním
4qq
105.
ll. 6265-6336
Bóe Dauíd ré mór fo leith
18qq
106.
ll. 6337-6384
Sephi níptar seccle slóg
12qq
107.
ll. 6385-6400
Do-lluid Dauíd dána dúr
4qq
108.
ll. 6401-6472
Céin bae Dauíd díchmaig dil
18qq
109.
ll. 6473-6516
Saúl sírach slaide slúaig
11qq
110.
ll. 6517-6528
Bátar oc Saúl mac Ciss
3qq
111.
ll. 6529-6544
Síl Saúil snímaich fri srén
4qq
112.
ll. 6545-6556
Bae dígal deithbir do ráith
3qq
113.
ll. 6557-6612
Ro gab Dauíd tóla nglé
14qq
114.
ll. 6613-6632
Tinólsat dáil derb cen lén
5qq
115.
ll. 6633-6656
Trícha blíadna cen baes bríg
6qq
116.
ll. 6657-6696
Túargabad lais líth cen lén
10qq
117.
ll. 6697-6764
Dauíd co trethnaib tor trell
17qq
118.
ll. 6765-6792
Tinólsat deimni teclai
7qq
119.
ll. 6793-6808
Ro thraeth na túatha díana
4qq
120.
ll. 6809-6836
Ór fhaíded Iób ba trúag scél
7qq
121.
ll. 6837-6864
Fergach fris Fíadu féidm n-úag
7qq
122.
ll. 6865-6892
Ro-s n-ort int-angel co snéid
7qq
123.
ll. 6893-6936
Do-rodiúsaig Día a mac
11qq
124.
ll. 6937-6996
Dia tánic Dauíd an-dess
15qq
125.
ll. 6997-7028
Rogab Solam srethaib slúag
8qq
126.
ll. 7029-7044
Is leis ro thurcbad o lár
4qq
127.
ll. 7045-7060
Ó adrad ind ídail áin
4qq
128.
ll. 7061-7076
Rí dorat dígail deilm n-úag
4qq
129.
ll. 7077-7092
Iar n-écaib Hirobúam ráin
4qq
130.
ll. 7093-7108
Rogab rígi réim n-achtach
4qq
131.
ll. 7109-7140
Rí do-rúargaib Héle fáith
8qq
132.
ll. 7141-7164
Rí ruc Héle ós cech rót
6qq
133.
ll. 7165-7192
Dia mbennach Helesius lór
7qq
134.
ll. 7193-7216
Rí do-ráraic dóib mór slúag
6qq
135.
ll. 7217-7252
Rí tarlaic in líc ó chéin
9qq
136.
ll. 7253-7272
Rí ro eirn dóib dál tria rath
5qq
137.
ll. 7273-7296
Rí thuc dóib ilar luba
6qq
138.
ll. 7297-7424
Rí ro saer Abel cen táir
32qq
139.
ll. 7425-7444
Rí ro roen romaib cen meth
5qq
140.
ll. 7445-7464
Rí do-sn-úargaib ós cech íath
5qq
141.
ll. 7465-7484
Rí ro saer Sarra co mbúaid
5qq
142.
ll. 7485-7500
Macc Zacháir sainshercc int shlúaig
4qq
143.
ll. 7501-7528
Rí do-raíga rúathar nglé
7qq
144.
ll. 7529-7572
Rí ro-génair ní bine
11qq
145.
ll. 7573-7600
Rí ró aen rothroisc co glé
7qq
146.
ll. 7601-7632
Rí ro bennach mellach búaid
8qq
147.
ll. 7633-7668
Rí cos' tuctha dá galar
9qq
148.
ll. 7669-7696
Rí ro irscart is ro glan
7qq
149.
ll. 7697-7732
Rí do-rigne tria chéill nglain
9qq
150.
ll. 7733-7788
Rí secht nime Rí talman
14qq

Sources

Notes

1.
Gearóid Mac Eoin, ‘The date and authorship of Saltair na Rann’, Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie 28 (1960–1961).
2.
James P. Carney, ‘The dating of early Irish verse texts, 500–1100’, Éigse 19 (1982–1983).

Primary sources Text editions and/or modern translations – in whole or in part – along with publications containing additions and corrections, if known. Diplomatic editions, facsimiles and digital image reproductions of the manuscripts are not always listed here but may be found in entries for the relevant manuscripts. For historical purposes, early editions, transcriptions and translations are not excluded, even if their reliability does not meet modern standards.

[ed.] Stokes, Whitley [ed.], Saltair na rann: a collection of early Middle Irish poems, Anecdota Oxoniensia, Mediaeval and Modern Series, 1.3, Oxford: Clarendon, 1883.
Celtic Digital Initiative: <link> CELT – edition: <link> Internet Archive: <link> Internet Archive – originally from Google Books: <link>, <link>, <link>
[rev.] Stokes, Whitley, “Emendation of Saltair na rann”, The Academy 24 (1883): 31–32.
[ed.] [tr.] Greene, David [ed. and tr.], Saltair na rann, Online: School of Celtic Studies, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 2007–. URL: <https://www.dias.ie/celt/celt-publications-2/celt-saltair-na-rann/>.
[ed.] [tr.] Greene, David, and Fergus Kelly, The Irish Adam and Eve story from Saltair na Rann, 2 vols, vol. 1, Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1976.
[tr.] Carey, John, King of Mysteries: early Irish religious writings, 2nd ed., Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2000.
97–124 Cantos 1-3 only.
[tr.] Hull, Eleanor, The poem-boek of the Gael: translations from Irish Gaelic poetry into English prose and verse, Chicago, 1913.
Internet Archive: <link>
2–50 Select poems in translation.
[ed.] [tr.] Heist, William W., The fifteen signs before Doomsday, East Lansing, Michigan: Michigan State College Press, 1952.  

Contents: Preface -- Saltair na rann [edition and translation of verses CLIII-CLXII] -- I. The legend -- II. Previous study of the legend -- III. The sources proposed by Nölle and Grau -- IV. The chief early groups -- V. The later development -- VI. Conclusions -- Appendix A. Versions of the Fifteen Signs Annotated -- Appendix B. Versions not used in this study -- Bibliography -- Index.

HathiTrust: <link>
1–21

Verses CLIII-CLXII.

Secondary sources (select)

Carney, James P., “The dating of early Irish verse texts, 500–1100”, Éigse 19 (1982–1983): 177–216.
Mac Eoin, Gearóid, “Observations on Saltair na rann”, Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie 39 (1982): 1–28.
Murdoch, Brian O., The Irish Adam and Eve story from Saltair na Rann, 2 vols, vol. 2, Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1976.  
Commentary to volume 1 (text and translation).
Mac Eoin, Gearóid, “The date and authorship of Saltair na Rann”, Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie 28 (1960–1961): 51–67.
web page identifiers
Contributors
C. A., Dennis Groenewegen
Page created
April 2011, last updated: January 2024
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