| abstract | - A Tathlum is by one description a sling-stone and by others a "concrete ball" such as the ancient Irish warriors used sometimes to make out of the brains of dead enemies hardened with lime. Regardless of it's origin it was always something that was thrown or hurdled through the air. A Tathlum is something that more then likely comes to us from Irish Celtic legend. In particularly the Tathlum comes into play concerning legends about the Fomor king, Balor. Balor had one eye and to look upon that eye would cause instant death. At the battle of Magh Tuiredh Balor's grandson Lugh, led the clan of Tuatha against the Fomorians. It was during this battle that Lugh killed Balor with a Tathlum shot from a sling which drove Balor's eye out the back of his head, where it continued to wreak its deadly power on the Fomorian army.
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