In Celtic Tradition

In Celtic Tradition: ANGUS MAC ÓG was the golden-haired ‘young son’ of the Irish gods. He is widely accepted the Irish counterpart to Continental Celtic divinity Apollo Maponos. Apollonian gods had to do with clear vision and Apollo Maponus, as a divine youth and hunter, may have embodied a notion of the untainted, pristine vision of youngsters and keen-eyed huntsmen. Because Angus Óg displaced his father, some commentators have suggested that he might be the counterpart of Zeus in displacing Cronus but the analogy is probably closer to the relationship between Zeus and Apollo, who interpreted the will of his father to the oracles. Other forms of his name are Angus mac Óc, Angus mac Ócc, Angus mac-ind-Óg, Angus Óengus Óc, Angus of the Brug. See Françoise Le Roux, ‘Le Rêve d'Oengus’, Ogam, 18 (1966), 132–50. Christian -J. Guyonvarc'h, ‘Le Rêve d'Oengus’, ibid. 117–31. Angus Óg has been a popular figure with Anglo-Irish writers. See W. B. Yeats, ‘The Song of the Wandering Aengus’ (1897) and ‘The Harp of Aengus’ (1900); Liam O'Flaherty, The Ecstasy of Angus (1931). In James Stephens's The Crock of Gold (1912), Angus Óg, calling himself ‘Love’ and ‘Infinite Joy’, contends with the Greek Pan for the favour of the young heroine; see also Stephens's In the Land of Youth (1924).