Home › Glossary › Letter B

Bith

Mythology
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Son of Noah in Irish pseudo-history, ancestor of the first Irish settlers

Detailed Definition
Bith is part of medieval Irish origin myths that blend Biblical and native lore. He died in the Flood but is said to have sent a daughter to Ireland beforehand. Poets use Bith to explore themes of exile, divine punishment, and the mythic foundations of Irish identity, bridging Christian and pre-Christian narratives.
Example
Example in poetry:
Bith is a son of Noah in pseudo-historical Irish texts like Lebor Gabála; He is sometimes listed among early settlers of Ireland before the Milesians; Though not a poetic figure per se, Bith appears in genealogical verse; His inclusion shows medieval attempts to align Irish myth with biblical history; Poets reference Bith to trace mythical lineages and foundational migrations; He represents the intersection of Christian and native mythmaking in medieval Ireland.
Additional Notes
Bith is a son of Noah in the pseudo-historical Lebor Gabála Érenn, representing medieval Ireland’s attempt to integrate biblical and native mythologies. He is listed among early settlers who fail to survive, symbolizing transient or illegitimate claims to the land. Though not poetic, Bith appears in genealogical verse that constructs Ireland’s mythic timeline. Students should understand him as part of the “mytho-historical” layering in medieval texts—where Christian chronology overlays indigenous origin stories. His inclusion reveals how scribes reconciled faith with folklore.
Also Known As
Bith son of Noah The Forgotten Settler The Pre-Milesian The Lost Patriarch
Skip to main content