Salmon of Knowledge

Celtic Mythology:

The SALMON OF KNOWLEDGE swam from the profound depths of the sea and up the source-waters of the River Boyne. And so Finn Mac Cumhaill went on to learn poetry from Finegas, a poet that was living at the Boinn, for the poets thought it was always on the brink of water poetry was revealed to them. And he did not give him his own name, but he took the name of Deimne. Seven years, now, Finegas had stopped at the Boinn, watching the salmon, for it was in the prophecy that he would eat the salmon of knowledge that would come there, and that he would have all knowledge after. And when at the last the salmon of knowledge came, he brought it to where Finn was, and bade him to roast it, but he bade him not to eat any of it. And when Finn brought him the salmon after a while he said:
"Did you eat any of it at all, boy?"
"I did not," said Finn; "but I burned my thumb putting down a blister that rose on the skin, and after that, I put my thumb in my mouth."
"What is your name, boy?" said Finegas.
"Deimne," said he.
"It is not, but it is Finn your name is, and it is to you and not to myself the salmon was given in the prophecy."
With that he gave Finn the whole of the salmon, and from that time Finn had the knowledge that came from the nuts of the nine hazels of wisdom that grow beside the well that is below the sea.