Tuirbéláhh

General introduction

The complex of Tuirbéláhh belongs to the Priestresses of Tán Nám and is the only building associated with that cult. The complex is located not too far from Smuin, the third largest city of Nuat Duinis Talou in its very North. Smuin is wedged between the Ipindi Mountains and the forest where the 'Snamait Tu'eit' (Duinis 'Éch for 'enemy in the North' is located, a kingdom of suadleyn. The name has become eponymous with the area of the forest. This mix of mountains and forest offers the perfect place for a mystery cult.

Nestled into a number of groves in valleys and gorges adjacent to oneanother, the Tuirbéláhh is made up of a number of buildings: meeting houses, prayer houses, meditation halls and platforms, sacrificial altars and a number of shrines or enshrined landmarks. To accomodate either the personell living there or new initiates or women on a pilgrimage, functional architecture such as bathhouses or kitchens exist as well.

Structure and history

The Tuirbéláhh was originally one main hall in a spot where a gorge widens. It was accompanied by a dormitory, a bathhouse, an agricultural compound and an inner sanctum to Fhohhigrén. As the cult grew, more facilities had to be installed. As of late, several hundred women travel to the Tuirbéláhh each month. For bigger festivities, it might well be around almost five hundred women for a single tirlas (a time span of 3 days) or an entire week. Thus neighbouring stretches of valleys or gorges were integrated into the original building plan. Nowadays, the original dormitory is reserved for the cult leaders permanently living there. Initiates, who spend some time there for training or women who live there permanently or long term without being part of the leading priestresses live in a living complex left of the original gorge in a system of small cellas, that were either worked into the stone walls there or built atop and around these cellas with either natural boulders and a locally sourced form of natural cement that has been deposited here from the many flowing rivulets.

Over the course of the centuries, additional buildings were added, with a growing emphasis to divide the short term staying visitors, initiates and refugee women from the cult leaders. Also the religious focus has shifted towards a more encompassing model. On the other hand, revering Fhohhigrén has become a major task of a part of the leaders. An institution called Tán 'Áfhídral was introduced shortly after the establishment of Tuirbéláhh. It is a hearthfire in the second inner sanctum, which was also erected in honour of Fhohhigrén. This fire is kept going at all times, as the name (endless flame) implies. It is a fire in a hearth where food for sacrifices or other religious activities like initiations or communing with Fhohhigrén is prepared. Also water for cleansing rituals is boiled here before use.

As a new addition, to ensure cleanliness among the people present, new washing spaces and bathhouses have been erected. This includes a storage house, where the arriving individuals change out of their worldly clothes and receive a gown to wear on the premises. The gowns also show the relative rank of the members. Newcomers have to wash their feet, hands and face at one of the washing cells, where natural spring water has been directed to. After this initial cleaning they proceed to a normal bath house to clean themselves entirely with warm water. Only then can they enter the area.

Significance

It is unknown how many Duiniken women exactly are part of this movement, but while the rest of this mystery cult is held exclusively out in nature and the Tuirbéláhh is the only building complex carrying out a massive part of activities crucial to the cult, its importance cannot be underestimated. Every woman entering the cult of the Priestresses of Tán Nám has to visit the Tuirbéláhh to receive teachings and get initiated. Also to rise in the ranks, regular visits for further instruction are necessary. Furthermore the Tuirbéláhh has become a shelter for women in need. Some women are coming on their own behalf, while others are sought out by a recruiting subdivision of the cult, called Sáladeires (Duinis 'Éch for: 'seekers').

Type

Temple / Religious complex