Banshee, Good or Evil? | Polymerize

The angel of the dead appears...

In modern world, Banshee usually imagined as a mysterious scary woman ghost because the legend from Ireland or Scotland. The legend tells that Banshee born from the soul of a murdered woman, or a woman that died after she gave birth. But this image is far different from Banshee’s history that is not cruel and scary.

The name ‘Banshee’ predicted come from Ireland, it is ‘bean sidhe’ or ‘bean si’ that means ‘a woman from the elf world’. Meanwhile, in Scottish Gaelic, ‘Banshee’ means ‘people of peace’. In Ireland mythology, Banshee is woman soul who gave warning about the dead (also familiar with ‘the dead messenger’). Some of theolophist and Celtic Christians even believe that Banshee is an angel who fall and trapped in the earth. But, her role as the death goddess makes her seems scary like a ghost. There is a lot of tale that tell the way Banshee give the dead message to someone. One of the tale is that if Banshee appearing herself in a house, then a member of a family who lives in that house will be dead soon. Another tale is that Banshee give message through a dead song she sung with her voice or another woman with her possession.

This creature supposed to have a close relationship with some Ireland nobles, like O’Gradys, O’Neills, O’Briens, O’Connors, and Kavanaghs. If a member of that family leave and then dead, Banshee will sing a sad song around their house. Usually, Banshee sing precisely at the moment someone death. And if there is more than one Banshee who sing, that means the dead man is someone heroic or a saint. The sing depends on the relationship between Banshee and the dead men. If their relationship is good, then the song Banshee sung is soft and gentle song. But is Banshee hate that dead man, then the song will have a stronger pitch (but still calm and scary) or Banshee even make a loud and terrible cry. The legend says that if the dead men is die on a war, Banshee will appearing herself at river near the dead men’s house to wash their bloody clothes. And if someone notice Banshee and give her a nice greeting, she will tell the dead men’s name. Banshee even can grant that man wish. But, legend says that is very difficult to make Banshee happy, you must be someone clever and mastering music and poetry to do that.

Banshee usually appears as woman with long hair. She very like her own hair and comb it frequently with a silver comb. The locals believe that if you found a silver and expensive looking comb and you touch or even take it, Banshee will make fun of you (it even turn into fatal tragedy). Because the locals believe that comb is Banshee’s and it is willfully placed there.

Many Irelands also have many places believed to be places where Banshee gathered, like a temple near Dunluce Palace. Even O’Neills family give their Banshee a name, it is ‘Maeveen’. If a member of O’Neills family dead, Maeveen will appear near O’Neills castle as an old woman wearing a very long white dress. At Dublin, August 6, 1801, when Lord Rossmore (the leader of UK’s military in Ireland) dead, his friend, Sir Jonah Barrington hears a melody outside his window. And half an hour after that, he hears some soft voices whispered ‘Rossmore’ name thrice. And that moment is exactly the moment Lord Rossmore die!

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