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Long after Cuchulainn and his followers died, a new group of heroes emerged in Ireland. In this next cycle of myths, supposedly set in the third century a.d., the central character is a man named Fionn Mac Cumaill. The Anglicized version of his name, which is slightly more well known, is Finn Mac Cool. The stories surrounding Finn and the Fianna, a band of warriors who followed Finn, are collectively called the Fenian cycle. Like Cuchulainn and the Champions of the Red Branch, Finn and the men...
The Milesian Invasion
In Spain, a man named Bregon built a very tall watchtower. Bregon's son, Ith, liked to climb the tower and look out over the sea. One very clear winter's day, he noticed a land he had never seen before. Ith decided he wanted to explore it further, so he set sail with ninety warriors for the strange new land. The land Ith had seen was, of course, Ireland. At that time, there were three Danaan kings Mac Cuill, Mac Cecht, and Mac Greine who ruled Ireland. As Ith landed, he noticed the three rulers...
Pwyll Head of Hades
Pwyll was ruler of Dyfed, located in the southwest corner of what is now Wales. One day, Pwyll left his capital with a group of his men to go hunting in a far-off region called Glynn Cuch. Pwyll blew his horn and released his hounds to begin the hunt. In a short time, he got separated from his companions. The lord followed the sound of his hounds. As he did so, he heard another pack of hounds, not his own, advancing toward him. At a clearing in the forest, Pwyll saw his hounds chasing the other...
EXPERT COMMENTARY Dvc
As in the myths of any culture, the stories of the Mabinogi offer insight into the social codes and customs by which people were expected to abide. In terms of gender roles, for example, men are usually depicted as hunters, warriors, and landowners, while women are seen as symbols of fertility and the home. As scholar Roberta Valente illustrates, however, these traditional gender roles are actually reversed in the story of Gwydion and Aranrhod. Aranrhod defies the norms by being a powerful,...
Olwen
Perhaps the best-known legacy that Celtic mythology has left the world is the body of literature surrounding the great King Arthur. Stories of Arthur and his famous knights have fascinated audiences for centuries. The sagas have served as the inspiration for countless poems, books, plays, and even movies. The Arthurian legends with which most people are familiar, however, bear little resemblance to the original Welsh myths. The Celtic Arthurian stories are generally considered to have...
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Knv
Q Why did Setanta become known as Cuchulainn A After killing Culann's prized hound, Setanta not only offered to train a puppy to replace the dog, but to fulfill the dog's role himself until the pup was ready. From then on, he was known as Cuchulainn, which means Culann's hound. Q What were the six gifts that women were judged by and how many of these did Emer possess A The gifts women were judged by were beauty, voice, sweet speech, needlework, wisdom, and chastity. Emer possessed all six of...
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Egl
A Math could only live if his feet rested upon the lap of a virgin. Q How did Gwydion and Lleu trick Aranrhod into coming to their boat A Gwydion and Lleu disguised themselves as leather craftsmen. They deliberately sized Aranrhod's shoes incorrectly so she would have to come to the boat herself to have her feet measured. Q What is Lleu's full name and what does it mean A Lleu's full name is Lleu Llaw Gyffes. It means lion with the steady hand. Q What is the worst curse that Aranrhod lays upon...
Gwydion And Aranrhod
The other tradition of Celtic mythology stems not from Irish roots, but from Welsh ones. The name Welsh was given to the British Celts by the Anglo-Saxons who first invaded the area in the fifth century. The word means foreigners, which is ironic considering the Welsh were the native inhabitants.1 Sadly, fewer stories from the Welsh tradition have survived than from that of the Irish. The majority of the Welsh literature has been preserved in two fourteenth-century manuscripts The White Book of...
Gwydion and Aranrhod 1
Math, a Welsh god of great wealth, was burdened by a very unusual curse he could only live if his feet were resting on a virgin's lap. When his original virgin foot-holder was abducted, Math was forced to look for a new one. Gwydion, God of illusion and magic, as well as of poetry and science, was Math's good friend. He suggested his sister, Aranrhod, for the job. Aranrhod was very honored that she was being considered. She went before Math in order for him to test her. As it turned out, she...
Setanta Mythology
Like most countries, ancient Ireland was divided into different geographical areas, in this case known as provinces. One of the more famous of these provinces is Ulster, located on the northernmost end of the island. Ulster still exists in Ireland today and comprises part of what is known as Northern Ireland. The stories surrounding this province are known collectively as the Red Branch or Ulster Cycle. The Red Branch myths were recorded sometime in the twelfth century, but it is believed that...