Who is Bile, and what is his roll in Celtic/Irish Druid Mythology?
Bile was one of the Milesian leaders who invaded Éire, according to the Lebor Gabála (Book of Invasions). As a possible deity his orgins are shrouded in confusion. Some suggest he was a god of the underworld, but more recent scholarship has overturned this opinion. Unlearned pagan authors suggest Bile is another name for Bel or Belenos-but this is not true. And still others link him to Dis Pater, which may be more likely, but suggests he was a Gaulish deity. In Irish tradition the ‘bile’ was a tribal tree, usually growing at the royal seat of the tribe, from which the chief’s staff of office (sceptre, wand or stave) was carved. The bile may have symbolized the meeting or blending of the tribal sky god and earth goddess (of sovereignty) but this is speculative at best.
