Nuadas

Nuadas refers to figures named Nuada in Irish mythology, most prominently Nuada Airgetlám, or Nuada of the Silver Hand, who is described as a king of the Tuatha Dé Danann in the Mythological Cycle.

In the principal tales, Nuada loses an arm in battle, and because the kingship of the Tuatha Dé Danann is traditionally vested in a ruler who is whole and unblemished, he loses his kingship. The craft of the silver hand prosthesis is then undertaken by the skilled smiths of the tribe, and with the silver arm Nuada is able to resume his role as king. The epithet Airgetlám, meaning “silver hand,” is closely associated with him and serves to distinguish him from other figures named Nuada in later retellings.

Nuada’s story appears in key sources such as the Cath Maige Tuireadh (The Battle of Magh Tuireadh) and the Lebor Gabála Érenn (The Book of the Taken or The Book of Invasions), where it is used to illustrate themes of legitimate kingship, ritual purity, and the interplay between sovereignty and craftsmanship. The tale is often cited in discussions of symbolic kingship and the debt owed to artisans or smiths in the restoration of rightful rule.

In modern contexts, the name Nuada has been adopted in various works of fiction and media, drawing on the mythic figure for character names, organizations, or place names. These contemporary uses reflect the enduring influence of the Nuada story while remaining distinct from the ancient narrative.