I'm Cuckoo for Cúchulainn!

[vovat]

Faith an' begorrah! With St. Patty's Day arrivin' soon, I'm after lookin' into the mythology of the Emerald Isle. And no, I'm not going to write this entire entry in that fake brogue, but I be after thinkin' it would make for a good beginning. So let's take a look at that legendary lad Cúchulainn. His birth name was actually Sétanta, but he took his better-known name after killing a watchdog at the age of seven and taking its place (the name literally means "hound of Culainn"). He is described as short of stature, with three different colors of hair, seven fingers on each hand, seven toes on each foot, and seven pupils in each eye. You know, I think I could get used to the extra digits, but those extra pupils would probably creep me out. Cúchulainn was famous as a fighter, having trained under the Scottish warrior woman Scáthach, and became the leader of the Red Branch Knights of Ulster. In true berserker spirit, he underwent both emotional and physical changes while in the heat of battle, basically becoming a monster. He could only be turned back to normal by having his head dunked three times in cold water.

Cúchulainn's most famous role in Irish mythology was his role in the Táin Bó Cúailnge, or Cattle Raid of Cooley. Queen Medb (or Maeve) of Connaught was jealous of her husband's immortal white bull, so she determined to capture his brown counterpart from Ulster. Most of the warriors in Ulster were suffering from a curse brought on by the goddess Macha, so it fell to Cúchulainn to single-handedly fight off Medb's army, which he did quite well, despite being only seventeen at the time. Medb eventually did steal the bull, but he went crazy, killed the white bull (I guess he wasn't quite as immortal as advertised) and a whole bunch of people before his heart gave out. Medb later sought revenge against Cúchulainn, and raised an army to fight against him. He was done in when one of Medb's Druids killed him with his own spear.

Interestingly enough, Cúchulainn is the subject of two songs on Black Francis' most recent record, Svn Fngrs, the songs in question being "Seven Fingers" and "When They Come to Murder Me." Also, the Táin Bó Cúailnge is the subject of an epic song by the Decemberists, known simply as "The Tain." I'm sure the hero is smiling from the Isles of the Blessed (or wherever he is now) to know that he's still being celebrated in song in the twenty-first century.

Comments

[vilajunkie.livejournal.com]

As to Cuchulainn's battle-frenzy, don't forget that the only way he paused was by viewing naked ladies run in front of him. Out of shame or embarrassment I suppose. Anyway, when the first two pots of water were put in front of him the water boiled and the pots broke.

Queen Medb and her husband King Ailill appear in the cattle raid of another Irish hero, Fraoch, who was said to be half-mortal and half-Tuatha (fairy). Ailill was the antagonist in that one.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

As to Cuchulainn's battle-frenzy, don't forget that the only way he paused was by viewing naked ladies run in front of him.

He was quite the man's man, wasn't he? I wonder if they had to be live women, or if, say, a Playboy centerfold would have sufficed. {g}

Queen Medb and her husband King Ailill appear in the cattle raid of another Irish hero

Those Irish monarchs certainly had bovine lust! But not in the same way as the Cretans, fortunately.