Irish Cuchulainn sagas

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

The Irish sagas of Cuchulain tell about one of the most famous heroes of this people. This is the central character of the so-called Ulad cycle. So in the scientific literature are called medieval Irish works. The main place of their action is the residence of King Conchobar. In this article, we will talk about this famous folk hero, as well as how he became a character in modern literature.

Bird attacks

The Irish sagas begin with the birth of a hero, when birds swooped down on the lands of the Ulads, devouring everything. To save themselves, the Ulads equipped 9 chariots, on which they went hunting. The leader of the detachment was the ruler Conchobar with his sister Dekhtire.

The night finds them in pursuit. Looking for shelter, they find a lonely house. Those who come are greeted by husband and wife. Surprisingly, they all fit inside, having found plenty of blankets and food. After they settle down for the night, a handsome young man comesincredibly tall. He states that it's dinner time and everything the guests have eaten before has been just an appetizer. Sated and drunk, they begin to have fun. At this time, the husband asks to help his wife, who is just giving birth in the next room. A boy is born. When the Ulads wake up in the morning, they cannot find their owners, houses, or birds. They return home with the newborn.

Birth of a Hero

Raising a child under Dekhtir. A summary of the Irish sagas will allow you to find out the main events of this medieval epic without even reading them.

At adolescence, the boy falls ill and dies. Dekhtire does not eat or drink anything for three days, and then a strong thirst attacks her. But she cannot drink, because it constantly seems to her that a small animal is trying to jump from a cup into her mouth, which no one else notices. Having seized the moment, the animal nevertheless sneaks into her mouth, after which she falls asleep until the next day.

In her dream she sees an unknown man who claims that she conceived from him. It turns out that he created the birds and the house, took the form of a boy, and then an animal that entered her body. Dehtire really got pregnant.

No one knows from whom she conceived. They even begin to suspect her brother Conchobar. He gives her as a wife for Su altam. She is ashamed to rise on the bed, being pregnant. So she starts beating her thighs and back until she feels like she's free of the fetus. So Dehtire regains her virginity.

After that, shebecomes pregnant from Su altam, giving birth to a son the size of a 3-year-old child. This is how the Irish sagas describe the birth of Cuchulainn. According to legend, Luga, the god of light, became his father.

True, at birth the hero is called Setanta. As a child, he performs many feats. Myths about them are similar to the legends about Hercules. For example, Cuchulainn gets his name after defeating the blacksmith's monstrous dog. And then he is engaged in guarding the house until the puppy of the killed dog has grown.

Disease

A summary of the Irish Cuchulain sagas will allow you to quickly recall the main events of this epic when preparing for a test or exam.

Ulads gather for Samhain. Everyone arrives for the celebration, except Cuchulain's adoptive father Fergus and Conal's foster brother. Therefore, the main character does not want to start the celebrations without them. While everyone is waiting, the most beautiful birds appear. Women want to get them and start arguing over whose husband can get such beauty.

One of the women in the Irish sagas asks to get Cuchulain birds. He captures the birds, dividing them among all comers. Each receives two individuals, except for his beloved Inguba, who was left without a gift.

Soon, two more birds appear over the lake, connected by a golden chain. The Irish Cuchulainn sagas describe how the hero rushes after them. He is warned that a mysterious power is hidden in them, but the young man does not listen to anyone. Having pierced the bird's wing with an arrow, he falls asleep. In a dream, he sees women who beat him with whips. When he wakes up, he realizesthat he is sick and cannot get out of bed for a year.

The secret of recovery

Exactly one year later, in the Irish sagas "Legends of the Green Island" it is told how a man appears who says that the daughters of Ayda Arbat Fand and Liban will be able to cure Cuchulain. Only their father needs help to deal with the enemies.

Kukhulin meets Liban, who reveals that her sister is in love with him. Long is sent as an envoy to the country of Aida. When he returns, he claims that he saw many beautiful women, and Fand was the best. Cuchulain after this story gets out of bed, goes to the stone, which had his vision. There he actually meets Liban and goes to help her father.

Decisive Battle

The Irish epic is very interesting with extraordinary stories. In the Irish sagas, it is stated that the enemy army turned out to be innumerable. Cuchulain advises Liban's husband Labride to leave, and in the morning he kills the leader of the opponents when he washes near the stream.

In the ensuing battle, the enemies manage to rout. To subdue Cuchulain's rage, three vats of cold water are poured over him. After that, he spends the night with Fand.

Having returned, he soon again goes to meet the girl, but his wife Emer finds out about it. The woman wants to stab her rival, but Cuchulain does not let her do it. Emer falls into grief, and the stricken hero stays with her, promising never to leave her again.

Fand returns to her husband who left her,when he learned that she fell in love with Cuchulainn. Upon learning of this, Cuchulainn goes to the mountains, where he lives as an ascetic without food or water. Only the druids manage to drug him with the drink of oblivion and bring him home.

New exploits

Kuchulin is going to the next battle. Some women do not let him go, while others, on the contrary, reproach him, accusing him of not wanting to defend his country. On the eve of the campaign, the goddess of war breaks the hero's chariot, as she knows that he will not return home. But Cuchulainn sets out anyway.

On the road, he meets old women who roast the dog. Cuchulainn is sworn not to refuse food from any hearth and not to eat dog meat. The old women notice him and invite him to the table. The hero eats dog meat with his left hand, but still loses its former strength.

Death

The leader of the enemies, Erk, has conceived a trick. All troops gather in the wall, and spellcasters and warriors stand at the corners. Cuchulainn enters the fray, destroying most of the army.

The caster calls him to separate the fighting, and then asks for a spear. Cuchulain agrees, rooted in stinginess. One of the opponents throws it at the hero, but Loig is killed.

On the other flank, Cuchulain sees the fighting warriors again. The caster again asks him for a spear, threatening to disgrace all the Ulads. Erk throws it at the hero, but hits the horse, which runs into the Gray Lake.

For the third time, Cuchulain separates the warriors and gives the spear to the caster under the threat of dishonoring his family with avarice. Now throws him into the hero Lugaid,hitting right on target. Mortally wounded asks permission to swim in the Black Lake. When he returns, he ties himself to a stone so as not to die sitting or lying down. But all the same, the warriors do not dare to approach him, waiting for the birds to land on Cuchulain's shoulders. After that, they cut off his head.

When Conal the Victorious learns of Cuchulain's death, he sets off in the wake of the enemy army to take revenge. With Lugaid, they agree on a duel. During the fight, Conal wounds his opponent with a spear, but the fight still continues for a whole day. Only when Konal's horse rips out a piece of meat from Lugaid's body is his head cut off. Returning home, the Ulads do not arrange celebrations, believing that all honors should belong to Cuchulain.

Modern interpretations

The popularity of the sagas continues in our time. For example, the main character is at the center of the story in the fantasy novel "Vikings. Irish Saga" by James Nelson.

In this work, the protagonist of the Viking Thorgrim Nightwolf loses his ship. In order to return to his homeland, he is hired into the squad of Arnbjorn together with his son Harald. While the warriors are dividing the booty, the protagonist is homesick, where his bride Brigit is waiting for him. He still does not know that she is already expecting a child from him, as well as support in ascending the throne. This captivating novel tries to take on the plots of medieval tales and legends, captivating readers in the same way.