Claíomh Solais

[u/AnimatorFluid]

This is a subject that doesn't create a lot of traffic in regards to interest but has always fascinated me!

The legendary sword of the god Nuada Airgetlamh, a sword that has influenced infinite others such as the caladbolg.

I'm currently working on a depiction of Nuada and was interested in peoples opinions on what they personally think he and his great sword would look like.

Also any facts or information is always appreciated ❤️

[u/Steve_ad]

Well, the first thing is that Claíomh Solais isn't the name of a particular sword. It's a motif that is applied to swords in Irish & Scottish mythology & folklore. It means "sword of light" or "Shining Sword"& it applies to any sword with a light property. The concept appears in about 40 tales from various settings & associated with many figures. Where it doesn't appear is in any story relating to Nuada.

Nuada's sword is called the Sword of Nuada!

We have 3 sources for the 4 treasures of the Tuatha De Danann: The Book of Invasions; The Second Battle of Mag Turied; & the aptly named, The Jewels of the Tuatha De Danann or The Four Treasures. Some details vary, but the 4 treasures & their properties are consistent. The Dagda's Cauldron, The Sword of Nuada, The Spear of Lug, & Lia Fail.

The Sword of Nuada has the properties that when it wounds someone, they die & when it is drawn against someone, it is irresistible (which is a lovely vague statement). It has nothing to do with light in any source.

Caladbolg is also not a Claíomh Solais, in one scene in Tain Bo Cuailnge Fergus swing the sword in what is described as "in the arc of a rainbow." It doesn't light up like a rainbow. He's literally chopping the top off a mountain, the arc of his swing is so big that it crosses the sky like a rainbow. It is symbolism for the size of his swing, not a reference to light in any way

The only reason that popular mythology has associated Nuada with a Claíomh Solais is also from Tain Bo Cuailnge. Among the treasures owned by Conchobar is an item called "Nuada's Cannail, a very bright torch." Cannail translates as "candle, " & some people have interpreted this as a sword, though there's nothing specific in the text that proves the theory. It is a list of "famous" weapons & armament, so it does make some sense that it could be a weapon of some sort, but it also could just be a special torch or candle.

*I put famous in quotes there because some of the items aren't known from any other sources.

So, in short, the Sword of Nuada is just the Sword of Nuada. Neither it nor Caladbolg are a Claíomh Solais & those two swords have nothing to do with each other. Even if Nuada's Cannail was a sword, there's no reason to think it is the same sword, plenty of gods & heroes wielded more than one magic weapon.

A few related points:

You could argue for a relationship between Caladbolg & Caledwlch, the Welsh name for Excalibur. Those two names are cognates

Cu Chulainn's sword Cruaidin Catutchenn is a Claíomh Solais & at a stretch, the spear that Lug recovers during the Fate of the Sons of Turenn (which is not the Spear of Lug) could also fit the motif.