River Gods of Ireland

[Pixel Eater]

I'm not sure if I'm on the correct forum but does anyone know about the River Gods statues on the side of the Custom House? Were they from Irish mythology or were they simply a fabricated by the architect for decoration?

I know they refer to the main rivers in Ireland, the main figure Anna Livia is also on O'Connell Bridge. Does anyone know which God refers to which river?

Any information would be helpful. Thanks in advance.

[Mellor]

My first instinct (after reading the title) was that this should of been posted in the mythology forum. But on second thought its probably better here. The mythology regulars would still be interested imo.

It's been a while since I read anything on it, but from memory, I think you might be getting mixed up between statues, maybe not but i'll give a run down on the lot. The statues on the pediment and dome (top section) are various gods and symbols of related to the function of the custom house, from both Ireland, ancient greece and rome.

The coat of arms is strange as instead of being the royal coat of arms (it was a crown property at the time it was built and Ireland had no parliament) it is the harp flanked by the lion and the unicorn.



The the pediment (lower triangle shape) is Hibernia (the Latin name and personification of Ireland), along with Britannia (ditto for Britain except Scotland) and with Neptune (roman god of the sea, the custom house mainly dealt with sea trade in those days)

The four figures along the top are Neptune (roman god of the sea), Mercury (roman messanger to the gods and also roman god of trade and merchants), and personifications of Industry and Plenty (i'm not sure how to exactly class these two, they have different names in most cultures)

As for the rivers, its the keystones that are attributed to them, by a sculptor Edward Smyth. I'm not sure how many there are exactly, but apparently;

Originally Posted by archiseek.com

The sculptures that most associate with the Custom House are the keystones of riverine heads personifying the Atlantic, and the rivers Bann, Barrow, Blackwater, Boyne, Erne, Foyle, Lagan, Lee, Liffey, Nore, Shannon, Slaney and the Suir.

So not really traditional gods as such, but personifications of the river themselves. For example, Anna Livia is the personification of the Liffey. Can anybody confirm if there are 14 keystone heads?

This is an example of one.

[defence forces]

I never heard of river gods on the custom house. As far as I was concerned it is neo classical arch, however I do know that they're were river gods in Arklow mainly celtic/viking. Later it mixed with catholic superstition but it's gone hundreds of years, I could be wrong on that one but I remember hearing about it. Now what I do know is that on the the island of manx the people there either named the rivers after gods or that the rivers themselves were gods. dont quote me on any of this as its all third hand information.

[ilkhanid]

Here is a link to them(minus the Liffey and another). Yes, it is fourteen.

http://www.flickr.com/search/?ss=2&w...ouse%22&m=text

[Mellor]

Originally Posted by ilkhanid

Here is a link to them(minus the Liffey and another). Yes, it is fourteen.

http://www.flickr.com/search/?ss=2&w...ouse%22&m=text

Thanks for that link. (are they yours?)
In that case I'm confidant that they are the rivers listed above. Identifying each would be a test for most scholars.

The missing ones are the Blackwater and the Liffey (the only female)

Here they are so:
The Boyne (date on the head is 1689)


The Shannon ( has a W trident on its head, possibly signifies the west)


The Bann


The Suir


The Atlantic (has a W also)


The slaney


The Lagan


The Nore


The Erne


The Lee


The Barrow


The Foyle

[defence forces]

I have always studied that building in good detail and o'connell bridge are you quite sure that these are river gods? I mean the W actually is a refernce to a crown or trident as you have mentioned and each of the pictures show. besides it would make more sense that these are indeed of classical Greek and Roman myths? nice photos by the way.

[Mellor]

Originally Posted by defence forces

I have always studied that building in good detail and o'connell bridge are you quite sure that these are river gods? I mean the W actually is a refernce to a crown or trident as you have mentioned and each of the pictures show. besides it would make more sense that these are indeed of classical Greek and Roman myths? nice photos by the way.

They aren't gods in my opinion, merely personifications of the river (the difference is small but there). I am pretty sure that they are not greek or roman gods. I'd love to know what he based the statues on, as they are quite unique.

There are many Greek and Roman used, but normally as full statues.

[Darlughda]

There is a theory or tradition within mythology that claim the river gods overtook the original goddess/feminine divinity, so for each of the gods carved out, there was originally a forgotten older name for the original deity of each and every river.

[Mellor]

There probably was (or is), but due to the passing of time, they are not known to us in the same way as Anna Livia. Even the internet appears to be lacking this information, no doubt it the somewhere is a ducty book on a shelf.

[Darlughda]

v interesting pictures.

I can't remember have the rhymes I once learnt about Irish rivers, but there is a fair bit on the internet regarding Boann of The Boyne, and the three sisters, the barrow, the noir and the suir.

But that is mythology stuff for sure, OP is it the Irish mythlogical influences on Edward Smyth you mean?

[ilkhanid]

Yes, the pictures are mine, Mellor. Thanks very much for integrating my pictures into the page. My camera is undergoing repair at the moment,but I intend to get the missing two up as soon as possible.
Since the Romans were never here they are not really Gods as such, but Smyth must have been imagining Irish rivers in the context of Classical mythology.

[Richiecats]

I have been fascinated by the design of the keystone faces of the river gods at Custom House in Dublin, since I first saw them.

I found that www.askaboutireland.ie have fantastic images of most of the fourteen (see example) unfortunately four are missing, being The Boyne, Erne, Lee & Liffey.

If any one knows where you can find good quality images of the four missing ones, I would like to hear. While the originals are great the centuries have taken there toll, so photographs of them on the building is not what I am after.

Feel free to post any information about the stones or the river gods in general.

Also if any one can tell where I can get hold of the River gods poster that would be cool.

[snickerpuss]

Thread Merge!

[Mellor]

As a related issue, I was in a bar in Melbourne on tuesday, and in the bathroom, all 14 of these mascarons are printed on the tiles areound the walls, they are idenical to the custom house and each has the name below

[Richiecats]

If you go in to that bar in Melbourne again, maybe you could have a chat with the owner while drinking your beer as to where he got the tiles. Guess it would be a bit funny taking pictures of them as, given there location.

I have seen a cool poster of all the river gods, but searching on the internet can not find one for sale. Any one seen for sale.