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Connla
Connla or Conlaoch is a character in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, the son of the Ulster champion Cú Chulainn and the Scottish warrior woman Aífe. He was raised alone by his mother in Scotland. He appears in the story '' Aided Óenfhir Aífe'' (''The Tragic Death of Aífe's Only Son''), a pre-tale to the great epic ''Táin Bó Cúailnge''. Story Connla was the son of Cú Chulainn and Aífe Ardgeimm, identified in this text as the sister of his teacher Scáthach. Leaving to return to Ireland, Cú Chulainn gives Aífe a token, a gold thumb-ring, telling her that when his son is old enough to wear it, he should be sent to Ireland. However, he imposes three ''geasa'' or prohibitions on him. Connla cannot turn back once he starts his journey, he must not refuse a challenge, and must never tell anyone his name. Connla comes ashore at Tracht Eisi, where he practises his martial feats. The Ulaid, observing these, recognise his skill as a warrior, and Conchobar observes tha ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cú Chulainn
Cú Chulainn ( ), called the Hound of Ulster ( Irish: ''Cú Uladh''), is a warrior hero and demigod in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, as well as in Scottish and Manx folklore. He is believed to be an incarnation of the Irish god Lugh, who is also his father. His mother is the mortal Deichtine, sister of king Conchobar mac Nessa. Born Sétanta, he gained his better-known name as a child, after killing Culann's fierce guard dog in self defence and offering to take its place until a replacement could be reared, hence he became the "Hound (''cú'') of Culann". He was trained in martial arts by Scáthach, who gave him the spear Gáe Bulg. It was prophesied that his great deeds would give him everlasting fame, but that his life would be short. At the age of seventeen he defends Ulster single-handedly against the armies of queen Medb of Connacht in the famous '' Táin Bó Cúailnge'' ("Cattle Raid of Cooley"). He is known for his terrifying battle frenzy (''ríastrad' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Aided Óenfhir Aífe
''Aided Óenfhir Aífe'' ( en, The Death of Aífe's Only Son) is a story from the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. It is a sequel to ''Tochmarc Emire'' ( en, The Wooing of Emer), in which the Ulaid hero Cú Chulainn, while training in arms overseas, left the warrior princess Aífe pregnant. In ''Aided Óefhir Aífe'' their son Connla, at the age of seven, comes to Ireland in search of his father, following instructions that Cú Chulainn had left him not to identify himself. When he arrives on the Irish coast in a bronze boat with golden oars, Connla's prowess alarms the Ulaid. The persuasive Condere mac Echach fails to convince him to turn away, and the hero Conall Cernach is overcome by him. Finally Cú Chulainn, despite the suspicions of his wife Emer that the boy is his own son, fights him and kills him with the Gáe Bulg, a barbed spear the use of which the warrior woman Scáthach taught only to him. Finally, the grief-stricken Cú Chulainn recognises Connla as his son. The te ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yellow Book Of Lecan
The Yellow Book of Lecan (YBL; Irish: ''Leabhar Buidhe Leacáin''), or TCD MS 1318 (''olim'' H 2.16), is a late medieval Irish manuscript. It contains much of the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, besides other material. It is held in the Library of Trinity College Dublin. Overview The manuscript is written on vellum and contains 344 columns of text. The first 289 were written by 1391; the remainder were written by 1401. It is written in Middle Irish. Lecan was the site of the Mac Fhirbhisigh school of poetry in the territory of Tír Fhíacrach Múaidhe, now ''Lackan'' in Kilglass parish, County Sligo (). The manuscript is currently housed at Trinity College Dublin. It should not be confused with the '' Great Book of Lecan''. The book contains nearly the whole of the Ulster Cycle, including a partial version of the ''Táin Bó Cúailnge'' which is a compilation of two or more earlier versions, indicated by the number of duplicated episodes and references to other versions ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Scáthach
Scáthach () or Sgàthach ( gd, Sgàthach an Eilean Sgitheanach) is a figure in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. She is a legendary Scottish warrior woman and martial arts teacher who trains the legendary Ulster hero Cú Chulainn in the arts of combat. Texts describe her homeland as Scotland (''Alpeach''); she is especially associated with the Isle of Skye, where her residence '' Dún Scáith'' ("Fortress of Shadows") stands. She is called "the Shadow" and "Warrior Maid" and is the rival and sister of Aífe, both of whom are daughters of Árd-Greimne of Lethra. Appearances Scáthach's instruction of the young hero Cú Chulainn notably appears in '' Tochmarc Emire'' (''The Wooing of Emer''), an early Irish foretale to the great epic ''Táin Bó Cúailnge''. Here, Cú Chulainn is honour-bound to perform a number of tasks before he is found worthy to marry his beloved Emer, daughter of the chieftain Forgall Monach. The tale survives in two recensions: a short version writt ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Geis
A ' or ' (pl. ') is an idiosyncratic taboo, whether of obligation or prohibition, similar to being under a vow or curse, yet the observance of which can also bring power and blessings. It is also used to mean specifically a spell prohibiting some action. ' are common in Irish and Scottish folklore and mythology, as well as in modern English-language fantasy fiction. The word originates in Old Irish, also known as Old Gaelic, and retains the same form in Modern Irish (nominative singular ' , nom. plural '' ''; genitive sg. ' , gen. pl. ' ). In modern Scottish Gaelic, the spelling has evolved in a slightly different direction (nom. sg. ' , nom. pl. ', gen. sg. ' or '). It has also been borrowed into English in both forms (sg. ''geas'' or ''geis'' or , pl. ''geasa'')). In Irish mythology A ' can be compared with a curse, or paradoxically, a gift. If someone under a ' violates the associated taboo, the infractor will suffer dishonor or even death. Conversely, the observing of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ulster Cycle
The Ulster Cycle ( ga, an Rúraíocht), formerly known as the Red Branch Cycle, is a body of medieval Irish heroic legends and sagas of the Ulaid. It is set far in the past, in what is now eastern Ulster and northern Leinster, particularly counties Armagh, Down and Louth. It focuses on the mythical Ulster king Conchobar mac Nessa and his court at Emain Macha, the hero Cú Chulainn, and their conflict with the Connachta and queen Medb. The longest and most important tale is the epic '' Táin Bó Cúailnge'' (Cattle Raid of Cooley). The Ulster Cycle is one of the four 'cycles' of Irish mythology and legend, along with the Mythological Cycle, the Fianna Cycle and the Kings' Cycle. Ulster Cycle stories The Ulster Cycle stories are set in and around the reign of King Conchobar mac Nessa, who rules the Ulaid from Emain Macha (now Navan Fort near Armagh). The most prominent hero of the cycle is Conchobar's nephew, Cú Chulainn. The Ulaid are most often in conflict with the Con ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Aífe
(Old Irish), spelled () in Modern Irish, is a character from the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. She appears in the sagas '' Tochmarc Emire'' ("the wooing of Emer") and '' Aided Óenfhir Aífe'' ("the death of Aífe's only son"). In ''Tochmarc Emire'' she lives east of a land called ''Alpi'', usually understood to mean Alba (Scotland), where she is at war with a rival woman warrior, Scáthach.Kuno Meyer (ed.)"Tochmarc Emire la Coinculaind (Harleian 5280, fo. 27a)" ''Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie'', Halle an der Saale, Max Niemeyer volume 3, 1901, pp. 229–263. In ''Aided Óenfhir Aífe'' she lives in Letha (the Armorican peninsula), and is Scáthach's sister as well as rival – they are both daughters of Árd-Greimne of Lethra.Kuno Meyer (ed. & trans.), "The Death of Conla", ''Ériu'' 1, 1904, pp. 113–121. Appearances In ''Tochmarc Emire'' the Ulaid hero Cú Chulainn has come to train in arms under Scáthach when a battle breaks against Aífe. Scáthach, fearful o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gáe Bulg
The ''Gáe Bulg'' () (also ''Gáe Bulga'', ''Gáe Bolg'', ''Gáe Bolga''), meaning "spear of mortal pain/death", "gapped/notched spear", or "belly spear", was the name of the spear of Cúchulainn in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. It was given to him by his martial arts teacher, the warrior woman Scáthach, and its technique was taught only to him. It was made from the bone of a sea monster, the Curruid, that had died while fighting another sea monster, the Coinchenn. Although some sources make it out to be simply a particularly deadly spear, others—notably the Book of Leinster—state that it could only be used under very specialized, ritual conditions: In other versions of the legend, the spear had seven heads, each with seven barbs. In the '' Táin Bó Cuailnge'', Cúchulainn received the spear after training with the great warrior mistress Scáthach in Alba. She taught him and his foster-brother, Ferdiad, everything the same, except she taught the Gáe Bulg feat onl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Circe
Circe (; grc, , ) is an enchantress and a minor goddess in ancient Greek mythology and religion. She is either a daughter of the Titan Helios and the Oceanid nymph Perse or the goddess Hecate and Aeëtes. Circe was renowned for her vast knowledge of potions and herbs. Through the use of these and a magic wand or staff, she would transform her enemies, or those who offended her, into animals. The best known of her legends is told in Homer's ''Odyssey'' when Odysseus visits her island of Aeaea on the way back from the Trojan War and she changes most of his crew into swine. He manages to persuade her to return them to human shape, lives with her for a year and has sons by her, including Latinus and Telegonus. Her ability to change others into animals is further highlighted by the story of Picus, an Italian king whom she turns into a woodpecker for resisting her advances. Another story tells of her falling in love with the sea-god Glaucus, who prefers the nymph Sc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pashupatastra
The ''Pashupatastra'' ( IAST: Pāśupatāstra, Sanskrit: पाशुपतास्त्र; the weapon of Pashupati, an epithet of Shiva) is an astra, a celestial missile, affiliated to the Hindu deity Shiva, as well as Kali and Adi Parashakti, which can be discharged by the mind, the eyes, words, or a bow. Description Never to be used against lesser enemies or by lesser warriors, the Pashupatastra is capable of destroying creation and vanquishing all beings. In the Mahabharata, Arjuna, and in the Ramayana, only the sage Vishvamitra and Rama possessed the Pashupatastra. It is one of the six ''Mantramukta'' weapons that cannot be resisted. Literature Mahabharata After the battle at the Khandava forest, Indra had promised Arjuna to give him all his weapons, as a boon for matching him in battle, with the requirement that Shiva should be appeased by him. Following the advice of Krishna to undertake a '' tapasya'' to attain this divine weapon, Arjuna left his brother ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mahabharata
The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; sa, महाभारतम्, ', ) is one of the two major Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epics of ancient India in Hinduism, the other being the ''Ramayana, Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the struggle between two groups of cousins in the Kurukshetra War and the fates of the Kaurava and the Pandava, Pāṇḍava princes and their successors. It also contains Hindu philosophy, philosophical and devotional material, such as a discussion of the four "goals of life" or ''purusharthas, puruṣārtha'' (12.161). Among the principal works and stories in the ''Mahābhārata'' are the ''Bhagavad Gita'', the story of Damayanti, the story of Shakuntala, the story of Pururava and Urvashi, the story of Savitri and Satyavan, the story of Kacha (sage), Kacha and Devayani, the story of Rishyasringa and an abbreviated version of the ''Ramayana, Rāmāyaṇa'', often considered as works in their own right. Traditionally, the authorship of the ''M ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Arjuna
Arjuna (Sanskrit: अर्जुन, ), also known as Partha and Dhananjaya, is a character in several ancient Hindu texts, and specifically one of the major characters of the Indian epic Mahabharata. In the epic, he is the third among Pandavas, the five sons of Pandu. The family formed part of the royal line of the Kuru Kingdom. In the Mahabharata War, Arjuna was a key warrior from the Pandava side and slew many warriors including Karna and Bhisma. Before the beginning of the war, his mentor, Krishna, gave him the supreme knowledge of Bhagavad Gita to overcome his moral dilemmas. Arjuna was born when Indra, the god of rain, blessed Kunti and Pandu with a son. From childhood, Arjuna was a brilliant student and was favoured by his beloved teacher, Drona. Arjuna is depicted as a skilled archer, winning the hands of Draupadi, who married the five brothers because of Kunti's misunderstanding and Mahadeva boons. Arjuna is twice exiled, first for breaking a pact with his brothers; ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
