PR in Celtic Mythology. Children's fairy tales online What is the glorious Kuchulin before us

Daria Shtatnova

Cuchulainn

Summary of the myth

"Invincible Cuchulainn". A. N. Fantalov, 1999

Cuchulainn ("Culann's dog") - an invincible warrior, a hero, the central character of many sagas, whose hot temper often caused grief to himself and those around him. Cuchulainn's mother was Dekhtire, the granddaughter of the god of love Aongus.

According to the myth, a fly flew into his mother's cup at a wedding feast, and Dekhtire accidentally swallowed it. The girl was attacked by a deep sleep; she dreamed of the sun god Lug, who demanded that she, along with fifty relatives, turn into birds and follow him into the other world.

Three years later, a flock of flamboyant plumage birds returned to Emine Mahu, the capital of Ulster. Residents began to shoot at them with slings, but could not hit any. It was decided to catch the birds at night, when they fell asleep. Suddenly, instead of birds, the warriors found fifty women, and among them Dekhtire, sleeping in a wonderful hut.

Dekhtire brought with her the gift of the other world - a son named Setanta. Sualtam Mak Roth, her husband, was so happy to find a wife again that he adopted a boy, the future hero of Cuchulainn, whom Dekhtire's father, the druid Katbad, once predicted the glory of a great warrior.

From childhood, Setanta willingly studied the art of war, but few people noticed how strong and brave the boy was. Late for the party that the Ulster blacksmith Culann threw in honor of King Conchobar Mac Ness, the young hero at the very gate was attacked by a ferocious dog and was able to escape death by crushing his head. The owner grieved at the loss of his faithful guard, and Setanta volunteered to serve in the place of the dog until a replacement was found. Culann declined the offer, but since then Setanta has been given a new name - Cuchulainn, "Culann's dog."

Despite Katbad's warning that a short life was destined for those who would go into the first battle on a certain day, Cuchulainn soon took up arms against Ulster's enemies, the demigods Foyle, Fannel and Tuachell, as well as against their many minions. In this battle, Cú Chulainn entered his terrifying battle rage for the first time.

Returning to Emine Mahu in a chariot, hung with the bloody heads of enemies, Cuchulainn, still in a state of fighting rage, began to circle around the fortress and challenge everyone in a row. Fortunately, the hero was stopped by the Queen of Ulster, Mugain. She sent one hundred and fifty women to meet him, carrying three huge tubs of water. Cuchulainn allowed them to sink him into the water. The first tub simply exploded, in the second the water boiled, and in the third it just got very hot. So they reassured the young hero, who for the first time knew the taste of blood.

Cúchulainn took a fancy to Emer, the daughter of the treacherous ruler Fogall, who advised him to learn combat prowess and wisdom from the wonderful mentors Skatha, Uatah and Aife from the land of shadows. Skatagh taught the hero his famous combat jump, but fearing for the life of Cuchulainn, she asked him not to challenge her sister Aife to a duel.

However, Cuchulainn managed to defeat the warrior maiden and spend the night with her. Leaving, the hero left a ring for Aife.

Years later, when their son Konleich grew up, he went to Ulster to measure strength with the heroes there. Hot and dexterous, he easily dealt with Conall, Cuchulainn's foster brother, who, without heeding his wife's advice, also accepted the challenge of the brave youth. Fate, however, ordered the son to fall at the hands of his father.

Cuchulainn fought a mighty young stranger.

The gold ring on Konlaih's finger, given by Cuchulainn to his mother, revealed to the hero the name of his own son too late.

Cuchulainn rose to fame as an invincible warrior when he defended Ulster from Queen Medb. Deprived of the support of the death goddess Morrigan, after rejecting her love, Cuchulainn received a terrible wound in the stomach that even Lug, his father, could not heal. He died standing, tied to a sacred stone. And immediately Morrigan, the goddess of war and death, in the guise of a raven, sat on his shoulder, and the enemies cut off Cuchulainn's head and right hand, leaving the body to the vultures. All Ulster mourned the loss of a defender.

Images and symbols of myth

In the mythology of the Irish Celts cuchulainn's name has become synonymous with the glorious warrior. There are many legends about him, which are sometimes intertwined with each other.

He is believed to be the son of Dekhtira, but in all likelihood not from her lawful husband, Sualtam. Most likely, he was the son of Lug, although some ancient authors claim that in fact his father was Conchobar Mac Nessa. As a child, he bore the name Setanta.

Fly in antiquity it was considered one of the symbols of the soul. Many myths tell about souls in the form of flies that seek to enter a woman's body in order to regain human form. The Celtic hero Cuchulainn was conceived when his mother-to-be swallowed him in the guise of a fly.

Transformations, the change in appearance is a favorite motif of Celtic mythology and the religious beliefs of the Celts, reflecting their belief in the immortality of the soul. The deities could freely assume any form. Gods and goddesses with supernatural powers could transform people into any creatures, most often animals, usually as punishment. Sometimes the act of transformation is the result of jealousy or envy on the part of the deity.

Birds - heavenly messengers, symbols of freedom and transcendence, symbols of a spirit freed from earthly bonds and communicating with heavenly forces. Returning to earth, they bring the message of the gods - divinations and instructions. Birds aid mortals on their spiritual and earthly journeys.

Traditionally crows associated with darkness and darkness, as well as with the gift of prophecy. So, in the literary monuments of the Irish Celts, the raven often has a prophetic gift. In addition, the raven was associated with the battlefield; he was pictured flying over rivers of blood, shouting prophecies about the outcome of the battle.

In the mythology of the Celts The other world - the name of the place where the souls of people go after death to be reborn. The other world is an integral part of the views of the Celts, who recognized the immortality of the soul. It was not only the land of the dead, but also the land of eternal youth, the land of bliss, the real promised land. However, to mere mortals who visited there and returned alive, including the famous Cuchulainn, she appeared to be her dark side, and they saw all kinds of monsters and other nightmares there.

In the culture of the Celts druid served as a priest. The very name "druid" comes, according to researchers, from drus, the ancient name for oak - a tree dedicated to the druids themselves. In addition to their primary function as a priest, the Druids were teachers, poets, philosophers, soothsayers, and judges. The Druids were the most influential force in Celtic society. They were distinguished by enormous education in all fields of knowledge, and the training of a druid usually lasted for at least twenty years.

Chariots were of great importance to the Celts, especially on the battlefield. They played an equally important role as a religious and ritual vehicle; for example, goddesses are often depicted as racing in a chariot. To prove how significant a role chariots played for the Celts, it suffices to cite the fact that the deceased representatives of the nobility of the Celtic society were often laid on the funeral pyre along with chariots, carts or carts.

Water in the era of the Celts, as well as in later times, it was considered a source of healing power. Altars and altars were erected near springs and springs, which were attributed to all kinds of healing properties. This connection of water with the healing powers of nature itself has been preserved much longer than the Celtic civilization existed.

Ring as a closed circle symbolizes integrity and unity. It has no beginning or end, therefore it is often associated with eternity and infinity. Its central opening is the place for the passage of heavenly power, divine breath. The ring symbolizes a bond, union or vow. That is why the wedding ring is used to denote the eternal union of two hearts, as a sign of marital fidelity, family balance.

Sacred stones - stones that have become the object of ritual worship. Belief in sacred stones is present in the religious beliefs of different peoples. Each of these stones has its own original legend.

Communication tools for creating images and symbols

“Cuchulainn flies in his chariot,
and he cuts the infantry with sickles! "

Cuchulainn is the protagonist of the Irish epic. The Irish are a people of Celtic origin. In the middle of the 1st millennium BC. Celtic tribes inhabited a significant part of Europe, in the VI century BC. they conquered the British Isles, conquering the local Pictish tribe. Subsequently, under the onslaught of the Germans and Romans, the Celts were pushed back to the southwest of the British Isles. The island of Ireland became the largest center of Celtic culture. In the pagan era, the keepers of ancient traditions in Ireland were druid priests. After the introduction of Christianity, in the 5th century, the Druids disappeared (and, as popular rumor claimed, they disappeared in the literal sense of the word: they mysteriously disappeared into thin air), and their role largely passed to the Phylids - the so-called magicians, poets-singers and soothsayers. It is known that in the 5th century in Ireland, special schools of filials began to appear, supported by public funds. Education in such schools lasted twelve years, students had to learn and memorize more than a thousand ancient poems, legends, magic spells. The interest in such knowledge was extremely high, at times up to a third of the Irish population studied in such schools. The Philids preserved and improved the ancient legends orally, and the Christian Irish monks, being literate, over time began to write down folk legends about gods and heroes.

In the 9th century, Ireland, like most European countries, was subjected to devastating raids by Danish and Norse Vikings. National traditions are an important part of the national culture, therefore the Irish, as the greatest value, saved ancient manuscripts from enemies. The most educated monks and secular writers diligently collected these manuscripts together. In the 9th century, scattered legends that existed in various versions were brought into a harmonious system, combined into cycles. The most significant part of the Irish epic is the cycle of the Cuchulainn sagas, which includes about a hundred legends. The oldest manuscript containing legends about Cuchulainn - "The Book of the Brown Cow", named after the material from which it was bound, was written around 1100, but the origin of these legends most likely dates back to the 6th-7th centuries. The Cú Chulainn sagas are partly historical. The time of their action, according to tradition, is attributed to the turn of our era. According to legend, Ireland was then divided into five kingdoms: Ulad, Leinster, Connacht, Munster and Meade. Cuchulainn was Ulad's hero. In the Irish historical annals, compiled in the 8th - 9th centuries, even the exact dates of the life of Cuchulainn are indicated (34 BC - 2 AD), but most experts consider the information contained in these annals, "conditional historical ", that is, relating to the field of legends. Nevertheless, in the sagas about Cuchulainn there are also quite reliable signs of the era of the turn of our era. Detailed descriptions of weapons, combat techniques, clothing, adornments, utensils contained in the sagas are confirmed by both the stories of ancient authors and archaeological finds. In the north of Ireland, a few kilometers from the modern city of Armagh, there are traces of the fortifications of Emine Mahi - the capital of Ulad. Although the Cúchulainn sagas were formed mainly in the Christian era, they contain many pagan motives, elements of the mythology of the ancient Celts. So, Cuchulainn is the son of Lug - the god of light, arts and crafts, and he himself is endowed with magical abilities. Often in sagas, fantastic creatures appear - sids, some of them are friendly, others are hostile to the heroes. Most likely, in the image of Cuchulainn, several historical and mythological characters have merged together, personifying valor, nobility and other traits of a national character in the popular consciousness. The cycle of legends about Cuchulainn opens with the saga of his birth.

The social meaning of the myth

Celtic myths and legends are known to every person, if not in the originals, then in the form of retellings and fairy tales. Most European fairy tales are based on plots from Celtic myths. Legends about King Arthur and the wizard Merlin, myths about Queen Mab, tales of the exploits of Cuchulainn and Finn, stories about Lear's children, love stories of Tristan and Isolde inspired Shakespeare and Pushkin, Yates, Wordsworth, Tennyson, Tolkien and many other classics of world literature ...

Celtic myths reflect the rich spiritual world of the ancient Celts, their beliefs and ideas about gods, other worlds, life after death, world order and the laws of the universe.

In the Celtic mythology that has survived to this day, myths about gods and legends about real historical characters are linked into a single plot. Bright Celtic paganism, intertwining with Christian mysticism, turns into wonderful legends about the worlds left in the distant past, about the mysterious wizard Merlin, about insidious wizards and sorceresses, about the valiant exploits of glorious knights, about battles with the dark forces of other worlds, about the amazing travels of saints husbands, about disappearing castles, about the Grail, which only a pure soul can find. About that shining and alluring island in the fog, which we may be destined to find. About the fire that was kindled in the hearth of the old castle by a kind wizard, with whom we have been waiting for so many hundreds of years.

Sources

http://www.celtica.ru/content/blogcategory/169/326/

http://www.legendarnogo.net/evropa/kyhylin.htm

http://tzone.kulichki.com/anomal/mif/kelt_mif.html

http://www.bibliotekar.ru/encCelt/

http://www.godsbay.ru/celts/cuchulainn.html

Myths, legends and traditions of the Celts, - M .: Tsentrpoligraf, 2004

Stranger, we advise you to read the tale "The Fight of Cúchulainn with Ferdiad (Irish Tale)" to yourself and your children, this is a wonderful work created by our ancestors. Inspiration of everyday objects and nature, creates colorful and mesmerizing pictures of the world around, making them mysterious and mysterious. Devotion, friendship and self-sacrifice and other positive feelings overcome all opposing them: anger, deceit, lies and hypocrisy. Probably due to the inviolability of human qualities in time, all moral teachings, morality and problems remain relevant at all times and eras. The plot is simple and old as the world, but each new generation finds in it something that is relevant and useful for itself. Diminutive descriptions of nature are often used in works, making the picture that appears even more intense. Often in children's works, the personality traits of the hero, his resistance to evil, constantly trying to knock the good fellow off the right path, become central. The fairy tale "Fight of Cuchulainn with Ferdiad (Irish Tale)" is certainly useful to read online for free, it will bring up only good and useful qualities and concepts in your child.

A hero of heroes, a glorious warrior of the ancient Ulster, the first among the warriors of the Red Branch of King Conchobar, a fearless Ulad dog - that is how his friends and enemies called Cuchulainn. And there was only one more warrior in the five kingdoms of ancient Ireland, or, as they said then, in Erine, who could compare with Cuchulainn in courage and martial art. It was Ferdiad, son of Damon.
These two glorious heroes - Cuchulainn and Ferdiad - were named brothers and friends. They grew up together, trained together in the techniques of fighting strength and courage from the formidable warrior Scathach on the Isle of Skye. There they spent their youth, there they knew love and matured, from there, hand in hand went on feats of arms to foreign, distant countries.
Their devotion and faithful friendship sealed the blood shed in many dangerous battles, battles and battles. But it so happened that, angry with the evil and treacherous King Conchobar, Ferdiad, along with other soldiers of the Red Branch, left Ulster and went to serve the proud and cruel Connacht queen Mav.
It was at that time that Mav decided to go to war against the kingdom of Ulster. She had long wanted to show the king of the Ulad Konchobar that he was not the strongest king in Erin.
She gathered all her glorious warriors, and herself led them north to Ulster. She chose the time for the war - King Conchobar and his soldiers were overcome by a serious illness. This happened to them at the beginning of each winter - as a punishment for the fact that once King Conchobar made fun of the war goddess Maha.
And when all the Ulad warriors were exhausted from illness, Queen Mav left Connacht and approached with her army to the very border of Ulster - to the North Pass.
Learning that the mighty army of Queen Maw was marching to Ulster, Cuchulainn sent his charioteer Loig to the goddess Maha with a great request that she remove her curse from the Ulads. And while the forces had not yet returned to them, Cuchulainn alone went out to defend the North Pass from the enemy.
The curse of the goddess Mahi did not touch him: when this misfortune just happened to the Ulads, Cuchulainn had not yet been born.
Not a day went by that fewer than a hundred of Queen Maw's warriors fell by Cuchulainn's hand. No wonder there was a glory about him as a hero of heroes, a fearless fighter, a winner in many battles.
Moreover, at night Cuchulainn imperceptibly crept up to the very camp of the proud queen and with stones, accurately thrown from a sling, scattered all her guards. So no one had peace from him, not only during the day, but also at night.
Then Queen Maw decided to send messengers and ambassadors to Cuchulainn. Messengers ran from her to Cuchulainn's tent and back, relaying her questions and his answers. And it was decided between them that Queen Mav would no longer advance to Ulster by a forced march, but would send one warrior to Cuchulainn every day to meet in a glorious duel. They agreed that while he would fight in a duel, she could go forward with her army, but as soon as her soldier was killed — if that happened — she would stop until the next day.
“I'd rather lose one warrior a day than a hundred,” thought the insidious Mav.
But day after day went by, and Cuchulainn killed her best warriors one after the other in an honest duel. And the day came when Queen Mav did not know who else could fight and withstand the battle with Cuchulainn.
She had to convene a large council of Erin's husbands. Erin's husbands began to think and, on reflection, agreed on one thing:
- Ferdiad, son of Damon! For in battle, in battle and in battle, he alone is equal to the bravest hero Cúchulainn. Together they grew up, together they learned the techniques of combat strength and courage from the formidable Skatha.
- Good choice! - the queen approved.
And they sent messengers and ambassadors for Ferdiad. But Ferdyad refused, rejected, sent back the messengers and ambassadors of the queen. He did not go to her call, for he knew what they wanted from him: that he would enter into single combat with his dear friend, his named brother and adviser.

Then Mav sent druids and evil singers to Ferdiad to sing him three numb songs and three evil spells - for shame, mockery and contempt - if Ferdiad refuses to come to her.
This time Ferdiad went, for it seemed to him easier to fall from the spear of strength, dexterity and courage than from the arrows of shame, shame and reproach.
Mav herself went out to meet him and received him with honor and greetings. Then she summoned her leaders and commanders and ordered them to arrange a feast in honor of Ferdiad.
At the table Ferdiad sat on her right hand. And on the other hand, next to him, Mav put her daughter Fyndabair and told her to pour the best wines for the hero so that his goblet would never remain empty.
Ferdiad quickly became tipsy and amused. Then the queen began to praise his courage, courage and heroic deeds and promised him untold riches, new lands and her daughter Findabair as a wife if he entered into single combat with Cuchulainn.
Those gathered at the table loudly greeted the Queen's words.
Everyone except Ferdiad.
He sat alone in silence. It was bitter for him even to think about a fight with his friend, comrade and brother-in-law. He said to the queen:
“Your gifts are truly generous and beautiful, proud Mav! But I am not worthy of them. I will never accept them as a reward for a fight with my dear friend Cuchulainn.
He also said this to the queen:
And our hearts beat side by side, And in the woods we fought side by side, On the bed alone we slept side by side, Charter, exhausted in a fierce battle ...
And then Mav understood that such devotion and love could not be destroyed by flattery or bribery. And she conceived a different plan.
When Ferdiad finished the song about the dangerous deeds they were doing together with Cuchulainn, she, pretending not to hear what he had just said, turned to her soldiers and advisers and calmly remarked:
“Perhaps now I’m ready to believe what I said about Ferdiad Cuchulainn.
- What did Cuchulainn say about me? Ferdiad asked.
“He said you were too cautious and careful to oppose him in a duel,” Mav replied.
Ferdiad was seized with anger, and he exclaimed:
“Cuchulainn shouldn't have said that about me! He could not, in all honesty, say that at least once I was a coward or showed a lack of courage in our common affairs. By my glorious weapon, tomorrow at dawn I will be the first to challenge him to the battle that I so hate!
And without adding another word, Ferdiad, sad, returned to his tent.
That night there was no music or songs among the faithful warriors of Ferdiad. They saw how their boss and master returned from the royal feast, and conducted a conversation in a whisper, anxiously asking each other what would happen. They knew that Ferdiad was skillful and fearless in battle, but they knew that Cú Chulainn was equally skillful and equally fearless.
How could they not know that when two such fearless heroes meet in an honest duel, one of them is destined to die!
Ferdiad rested until dawn, and then ordered to harness the chariot - he wanted to appear at the battle site before Ku-hulin.
The driver brought out the horses, harnessed the chariot and returned to the tent to Ferdiad. He tried to persuade his master not to go into battle against Cuchulainn. Ferdiad did not hide from him how difficult it was for him to oppose his brother, but if he gave his word to Queen Mav, he would hold him back:
It would be better if he did not give her a word!
Sadness and anger did not leave Ferdiad thinking about it. He came to the tent of the Ulad warriors and, raising his voice, said loudly so that everyone could hear:
- Better to me to perish at the hands of the glorious Cuchulainn than him from me! And if Cuchulainn falls by my hand, Queen Maw and many of her glorious warriors will not live. This is the fault of the promise she snatched from me when I was drunk and cheerful at her feast. Trust me!
Then Ferdiad got on the chariot and rushed to the ford across the river to the place of the duel. There he forced the driver to unharness the horses and, having dismantled the chariot, ordered to put up a tent for himself and cover it with skins. The earth was covered with rugs, pillows were thrown, and Ferdiad went to bed before Cuchulainn arrived.
And while he slept, Fergus, loyal to Cúchulainn, secretly left the tent of the Connacht soldiers and went to Cúchulainn to tell him with whom he was to fight in the coming day.
- I swear on my life, - R. exclaimed Cuchulainn, having heard this news, - this is not the kind of conversation I would like to have with my friend and brother! Not out of fear of him, but out of love and tender affection. But since it happened so, it is better for me to die by the hand of this glorious warrior than by him from me!
And Cuchulainn went to bed and slept for a long time. He did not want to get up early, so that the Connacht soldiers would not say that he could not sleep from fear of Ferdiad. The sun was already high when he finally got on his chariot and rode across the river to the ford to the place of the duel.
Ferdiad was already waiting for him, and as soon as Cuchulainn got off the chariot he greeted his friend.
“Ah, Ferdiad,” Cuchulainn told him sadly, “I used to believe that you welcomed me as a friend. But now this faith is gone! How could you trade our friendship for the false promises of a perfidious woman?
Stung by Cú Chulainn's reproaches, Ferdiad exclaimed:
- Isn't our conversation too long? It's time for our spears to talk!
And now, having drawn closer, the glorious warriors began to throw light spears at each other. Like bees on a clear summer day, sharp darts flew between the enemies, and the sun burned on their wings - tips.
They fought in this way all day, changing weapons from time to time. But both in defense and in attack, their art was equal, and no matter what weapon they chose, it was never stained with their blood. When night fell, they decided that the fight was over for today and it was time to rest.
Throwing their weapons to their charioteers, the brave warriors threw themselves on each other's necks and kissed each other tenderly three times.
Then the drivers prepared beds of fresh reed for them, for each on his own bank of the river: for Ferdiad on the south, for Cuchulainn on the north.
Messengers rode up from Ulster and brought Cúchulainn medicinal herbs and medicines to raise his strength and relieve his weary body from pain and fatigue. Cuchulainn divided all herbs and all medicines equally and sent half to Ferdiad.
And the Connacht soldiers brought food and drink from the camp for Ferdiad. Ferdiad also divided everything equally and sent half to Cuchulainn.
Their horses spent the night in the same corral, and the drivers - together at the same fire.
The next morning, as soon as the sun was shining, the soldiers met again at the ford. This time they fought in chariots, using heavy spears. The battle went on all day, and everyone received many brutal blows before night fell and they decided to take a break. This time both were so badly wounded that birds could fly into their wounds on one side and fly out on the other.
But that night, their horses spent in the same corral, and the drivers - together at the same fire.
When the next morning they met at the ford in order to continue the duel, Cúchulainn saw that Ferdiad was not what he had been before: and his gaze became gloomy, and he could no longer hold straight, but walked hunched over, barely dragging his feet.
A great sadness gripped Cuchulainn. He wade across the river and, approaching Ferdiad, said to him:
- My friend, comrade and brother, remember how we loved each other, how we shed blood together in fierce battles, battles and battles. Listen to your little brother: give up martial arts at the ford!
To this, Ferdiad lowered his head so as not to look into the eyes of Cú Chulainn, and said with sadness that he could not break his word given to Queen Mav in an evil moment, and would fight Cúchulainn until one of them won.
This time they chose weapons together and the battle began.
Throughout the long day, in complete silence, they threw heavy spears, knocked down with sharp swords, chopped, stabbed, cut and delivered direct blows. Only a dark evening forced them to end the single combat.
In the same silent manner they threw down their weapons to their charioteers and, without embracing, without saying a kind word to each other, gloomily dispersed to their tents.
Their horses spent that night in different corrals, and their drivers, each at his own fire.
Early in the morning Ferdiad got up first and donned his toughest, heaviest, impenetrable battle armor to defend himself against the terrible horned spear - the Ga-Bulga, for which Cuchulainn was famous in his duel at the ford.
Soon Cuchulainn went to the river, and the battle flared up, fierce and merciless.
The blows of their spears were so strong that the shields of the fighters caved inward. The noise of their battle was so great that it frightened all the demons of the sky and made them fly in the air with loud screams. So heavy was the tread of the soldiers that they drove the river from the banks.
The evening was already approaching when Ferdiad, with an unexpected attack, severely wounded Cuchulainn, thrusting his sword into his body up to the hilt, and blood poured from the wound and flooded the ford.

Cuchulainn didn’t have time to answer, and Ferdiad, following the first blow, struck the second and third.
Only then did Cúchulainn shout to his driver Loigu to give the horned spear to Ha-Bulg. Taking aim, he threw it with two toes, and Ga-Bulga, breaking through the heavy armor of Ferdiad, mortally struck him.
- So the end has come for me, my Cuchulainn, - said Ferdiad and collapse to the ground.
Seeing how his friend and named brother fell to the ground, Cuchulainn threw away his terrible weapon and rushed to Ferdiad. He bent over him, lifted him in his arms and carefully carried him across the ford to the northern side of the river - the side of glorious settlements. He did not want to leave a friend of his young years, his named brother, a companion in formidable battles on the land of enemies, on the southern bank of the river.
Cuchulainn lowered Ferdiad to the ground, bent over him and began to mourn him bitterly. Forgotten in grief and not thinking about the danger, Cuchulainn sat for a long time next to his murdered friend, until his driver Loig advised him to get away from the ford, where the insidious warriors of Queen Maw could attack him at any moment.
At the words of Loig, Cuchulainn slowly raised his head and said quietly, sadly:
- My friend Loig, know and remember: from now on, any battle, any battle or battle will seem to me to be an empty joke, fun, a toy after a duel with my dear Ferdiad.
And Cuchulainn put together such a song, mourning his murdered friend:

In the teachings of the Skathah we were close -
The formidable mentor of young years
Together we went through the science of victories ...

In games, fun we were near
Until you met death at the ford.

In fierce battles we fought side by side
And to everyone there was a shield from Skatagh as a gift -
For the first success, for the sure blow ...
And at the ford you met death.

In games, fun we were near

My dear friend, my beacon, my brother,
Thunderstorm of heroes, glorious hero,
Without fear, you went into the last battle ...
And at the ford you met death.

In games, fun we were near
Until you met death at the ford,

O lion, ferocious, fierce and wise,
About the sea shaft that hits the shore,
Sweeping everything out of the way, you went forward ...
And at the ford you met death.

In games, fun we were near
Until you met death at the ford,

My beloved friend, the brave Ferdiad,
All deaths are yours alone.
Yesterday you were a high mountain.
Today at the ford you met death.

Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and ARC

Tavrichesky National University named after V. I. Vernadsky

Faculty of Slavic Philology and Journalism

Department of Russian Language and Literature

Homework # 1

in the discipline "History of Foreign Literature"

Completed:

Groups no.

Checked:

Doctor of Philosophy, prof. M. A. Novikova

Review

To work number 1

In the discipline "History of Foreign Literature"

Quest completed completely

The design of the Assignment corresponds to the GOST of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine completely

Final grade on the content of the Assignment - rank B (85)

The final mark on the design of the Task - rank B (85)

The total assessment of the Tasks of all work No. 1 - rank B

Reviewer:

Group: 1RA

KUKHULIN

(Irish. Si Chulainn, "Culann's dog"), in the Irish mythoepic tradition a hero, the central character of numerous sagas of the so-called. Ulad (Ulster) cycle. Tradition dates the feats of K. to the time of the reign of Konchobar in Eminem Mach, the capital of Ulad (the turn of our era). Despite the pronounced heroic atmosphere of the narratives of this cycle and the debated historicity of its central characters, most of them (primarily K. himself) are closely associated with mythology. The son of the god Lug and the mortal Dekhtira (according to another version, the incest fruit of Konchobor and his sister Dekhtira), K. at an early age differs in the usual for the Irish epic hero "childish deeds", the central of which was the murder of the monstrous dog blacksmith Culann (name K. - The hero received "Culann's Dog" instead of the former Setant after he volunteered to replace the dog he had killed as a watchman). Having taken up arms at the age of seven, K. learned combat prowess and wisdom from the wonderful mentors Skatha, Uatah and Aife (from Aife he had a son Konlaih, who later fought unrecognized with K. and fell by his hand). K., who fell in love with Sidu Fand, penetrates into the other world of Manannan's son Lera. He heroically confronts the troops of the four provinces of Ireland ("Abduction of the bull from Qualnge"); here the fantastic elements of the image of K. stand out vividly - his ability for miraculous transformations, possession of magical techniques, etc. K. heroically fights against enemies who only with the help of magic manage to achieve victory over him (challenge K. to single combat when all other settlements are defeated a magical disease; they force him to break the vows - "geis" lying on K., with the help of magic, as a result of which he loses part of his strength, a horse, a spear); pierced to death by enemies with his own spear, he dies standing, tied himself to a sacred stone (saga "Death of K.").

Leagues .; Ivanov V.V., The origin of the name Kuchulin, in collection: Problems of comparative philology, M.-L., 1964; Tain Bo Cualnge from the book of Leinster, ed. by C. O "Rahilly, Dublin, 1970; D" Arbols de Jubalnvllle H., Étude sur Ie Táin, "Revue Celtique., 1907, v. 28, No. 1.S. V. Shkunaev. (Source: "Myths of the peoples of the world.")

Cuchulainn

In the mythology of the Irish Celts, the name Cuchulainn has become synonymous with a glorious warrior. There are many legends about him, which are sometimes intertwined with each other. So, it is believed that he was the son of Dekhtira, but, in all likelihood, not from her lawful husband, Sualtam. Most likely he was the son of Lug, although some ancient authors claim that in fact his father was Conchobar Mac Nessa. As a child, he bore the name Setanta. While married to Emer, Cuchulainn had a history of infatuation with other women. One of them was Fand. According to legend, he rejected Morrigan's ardent passion and harassment, for which he deserved her vicious hatred (see head; see also chapter 12 and chapter 13).

(Source: "Celtic mythology. Encyclopedia." Translated from English by S. Golova and A. Golova, Eksmo, 2002.)

The real name of Cuchulainn's hero is Setanta. Once, when Setanta was still a child, a huge dog belonging to the blacksmith Culann rushed at him and almost tore him to pieces. But Setanta strangled him with his bare hands, and everyone saw how strong this boy was. Culann was furious at the loss of his watchdog. Setanta was ready to guard the good of the blacksmith himself, until the blacksmith found a replacement for the dog. Culann did not take him as a watchman, but Setanta has since been nicknamed Cú Chulainn - "Culann's dog."

Cúchulainn was only seven years old when he accidentally heard the words of a druid: "The warriors who fight today will gain glory, but die young." Without a moment's doubt, Cuchulainn took up arms. He single-handedly fought a whole horde of enemies!

Cuchulainn traveled to the underworld to learn martial arts from the warrior princess. His magic sword began to inflict only mortal wounds. His chariot was able to become invisible. Sometimes Cú Chulainn was gripped by a military fury. Woe to the one who meets on his way - he did not spare either enemies or friends! When Cuchulainn was wounded in battle, the goddess of war appeared to him in the guise of a raven and announced that his death was near. But he tied himself to the sacred stone and fought until the last moment and met death standing.

The hero's biography would be incomplete without the history of heroic matchmaking and marriage to a beautiful girl. This is described in the Saga "Matchmaking to Emer". All the women of Ulad were in love with Cuchulainn, which, of course, did not please the men. Therefore, the Ulads decided to find a girl whom Cuchulainn would agree to marry, "for they were sure that a man who would have a wife would less seduce their daughters and arouse love in their wives." Marriage is also a stage of initiation - a young man becomes a married man. King Conchobar sent nine husbands to all the regions of Ireland to inquire if there was in any castle or village a king's daughter or other sovereign person to whom Cuchulainn would want to marry. But exactly one year later, all the messengers returned with nothing.

Then Cuchulainn found himself a bride. It was Emer, daughter of Forgall the Monk. “Of all the girls in Ireland, she was the only one worthy of Cú Chulainn to marry her. For she possessed six gifts: the gift of beauty, the gift of singing, the gift of sweet speech, the gift of sewing, the gift of wisdom, the gift of purity. Cuchulainn said that he would not take a girl other than his equal in age, in appearance, in origin, in intelligence and dexterity, and that at the same time she would be the best craftswoman in sewing of all girls in Ireland. And since Emer was the only girl who satisfied these conditions, Cuchulainn chose her from all to marry her. "

Father Emer Forgall the Monk was the nephew of the sea god Tetra, the king of the Fomorians, whose fortress was located in Brega and was called Luglokhta Loga (Gardens of the Luga). Cuchulainn spoke about his journey there allegorically: he said that he spent the night "in the house of a man grazing herds on the plain of Tetra", then he drove "between two wooded mountains" and further "from the sea cover through the great secret of the Tribes of the goddess Danu and along the foam two horses of Emine, through the Morrigan garden, along the ridge of the great pig, between God and the prophet, along the spinal cord of Fedelm's wife, between a boar and a boar, along the banks of the horses of Dea, between the king of Anad and his servant, to Monquile, which is at the four corners of the world, on the great crime and the remnants of the great feast, between the large and small cauldron to the gardens of Lug and, finally, to the daughters of Tetra's nephew, the king of the Fomorians. " Thus, the journey of the hero-groom from Ulad to Brega becomes a ritual journey to the Other World.

On this fantastic journey, Cú Chulainn appeared before Emer and her friends on the playground and impressed the girls with his beauty and gorgeous attire. “He is wearing a beautiful scarlet shirt with five folds, fastened at the collar, on his white chest, with a buckle with overlaid gold; his chest, heaving, beats with full blows against the buckle. Above is a cloak, white with woven threads, red and fiery gold. Seven dragon stones in the depths of his eyes. Two blue-white, like blood red cheeks, puffing up, throw out sparks and flames. A ray of love burns in his gaze. His eyebrows are black as coal. On his thigh is a sword with a golden hilt. Attached to the copper side of the chariot is a blood-red spear with a sharp, ardent tip on a wooden, well-aligned shaft. On his shoulders is a scarlet shield with a silver border, adorned with golden images of animals. "

On the last day of the battle, the heroes began the so-called "game of ford": Cuchulainn jumped from his edge of the ford directly at Ferdiad to cut off his head over the side of the shield. Ferdiad shook him off the shield, and Cuchulainn flew away from him to his side of the ford. And so it was repeated several times. This technique did not bring success to Cuchulainn, because Ferdiad was superior to him in stature and strength. But then a wonderful distortion happened to Cuchulainn: “... he swelled up and expanded like an inflated bubble; he became like a terrible, formidable, multi-colored, wonderful bow, and the growth of a brave fighter became great, like that of the Fomorians, far exceeding the growth of Ferdiad. "

Then the heroes switched to close combat: “The fighters came together so closely in the battle that their heads were at the top, their legs below, and in the middle, behind the sides and above the shields of their shields, their hands. So closely they came together in a fight that their shields burst and cracked from the sides to the middle. So closely they came together in battle that their spears bent, twisted and chipped. They came together so closely that demons and werewolves, the spirits of earth and air, let out a cry from their shields, sword hilts and spearheads. They came together so closely that they ousted the river from its bed and bed, and where there was a ford, they could have made a bed for the king and queen, for there was not a drop of water here, apart from the one that, pressing and trampling, the soldiers squeezed out from the ground. " The end of the terrible battle came when Cuchulainn asked his charioteer to give him a "horned spear" (ga bulga). This spear left one wound, but hid thirty notches, and it was impossible to pull it out without cutting the meat around. Cuchulainn threw this terrible spear, it pierced the strong armor of Ferdiad and struck the hero to death.

Jumping over the ford in one leap, Cuchulainn found himself at the body of the dead Ferdiad. He moved it along with the weapon to the north side, so as not to leave it on the south, among the opponents. When Cuchulainn lowered him to the ground and looked into the face of the dead Ferdiad, the light dimmed in his eyes, weakness attacked him, and he fainted. When he wakes up, Cuchulainn begins his beautiful lament for Ferdiad:

For betrayal, O Ferdiad,

Your death is a hundred times more bitter to me!

You died. I'm alive. Our lot is

We will not meet forever and ever!

When we lived on the eastern edge

At Skathah, learning to win in battle,

It seemed that we would always be friends

Until the day of the Last Judgment!

Your beautiful appearance was sweet to me:

Gentle cheeks the color of fire,

The blue clarity of your eyes

Nobility of posture, wisdom of speech!

Images and symbols of myth

In the mythology of the Irish Celts, the name Cuchulainn has become synonymous with a glorious warrior. There are many legends about him, which are sometimes intertwined with each other.

The fly in antiquity was considered one of the symbols of the soul. Many myths tell about souls in the form of flies that seek to enter a woman's body in order to regain human form. The Celtic hero Cuchulainn was conceived when his mother-to-be swallowed him in the guise of a fly.

Transformation, change in appearance is a favorite motif of Celtic mythology and the religious beliefs of the Celts, reflecting their belief in the immortality of the soul. The deities could freely assume any form. Gods and goddesses with supernatural powers could transform people into any creature, most often animals, usually as punishment. Sometimes the act of transformation is the result of jealousy or envy on the part of the deity.

Birds are heavenly messengers, symbols of freedom and transcendence, symbols of a spirit freed from earthly bonds and communicating with heavenly forces. Returning to earth, they bring the message of the gods - divinations and instructions. Birds assist mortals on their spiritual and earthly journeys.

Traditionally, crows were associated with darkness and darkness, as well as with the gift of prophecy. So, in the literary monuments of the Irish Celts, the raven often has a prophetic gift. In addition, the raven was associated with the battlefield; he was depicted flying over rivers of blood, shouting prophecies about the outcome of the battle.

In Celtic mythology, the Otherworld is the name of the place where the souls of people go after death in order to be reborn. The other world is an integral part of the views of the Celts, who recognized the immortality of the soul. It was not only a land of the dead, but also a land of eternal youth, a land of bliss, a real promised land. However, to mere mortals who visited there and returned alive, including the famous Cuchulainn, she appeared to be her dark side, and they saw all kinds of monsters and other nightmares there.

In the culture of the Celts, the druid served as a priest. The very name "druid" comes, according to researchers, from drus, the ancient name for oak - a tree dedicated to the druids themselves. In addition to their primary function as a priest, the Druids were teachers, poets, philosophers, soothsayers, and judges. The Druids were the most influential force in Celtic society. They were distinguished by enormous education in all fields of knowledge, and the training of a druid usually lasted for at least twenty years.

Chariots were of great importance to the Celts, especially on the battlefield. They played an equally important role as a religious and ritual vehicle; for example, goddesses are often depicted as racing in a chariot. To prove how significant a role chariots played for the Celts, it suffices to cite the fact that the deceased representatives of the nobility of the Celtic society were often laid on the funeral pyre along with chariots, carts or carts.

Water in the era of the Celts, as well as in later times, was considered a source of healing power. Altars and altars were erected near springs and springs, which were attributed to all kinds of healing properties. This connection of water with the healing powers of nature itself has been preserved much longer than the Celtic civilization existed.

The ring as a closed circle symbolizes integrity and unity. It has no beginning or end, therefore it is often associated with eternity and infinity. Its central opening is the place for the passage of heavenly power, divine breath. The ring symbolizes a bond, union or vow. That is why the wedding ring is used to signify the eternal union of two hearts, as a sign of marital fidelity, family balance.

Sacred stones are stones that have become the object of ritual worship. Belief in sacred stones is present in the religious beliefs of different peoples. Each of these stones has its own original legend.

Cuchulainn ("Culann's dog"), in Irish mythology, an invincible warrior, a hero, the central character of many sagas, whose hot temper often caused grief to himself and those around him. Cuchulainn's mother was Dekhtire, the granddaughter of the god of love Aongus. At the wedding feast, a fly flew into her cup, and Dekhtire accidentally swallowed it. The girl was attacked by a deep sleep; she dreamed of the sun god Lug, who demanded that she, along with fifty relatives, turn into birds and follow him into the other world. Three years later, a flock of flamboyant plumage birds returned to Emine Mahu, the capital of Ulster. Residents began to shoot at them with slings, but could not hit any. It was decided to catch the birds at night, when they fell asleep. Suddenly, instead of birds, the warriors found fifty women, including Dekhtire, sleeping in a wonderful hut. Dekhtire brought with her the gift of the other world - a son named Setanta. Sualtam Mak Roth, her husband, was so happy to find a wife again that he adopted a boy, the future hero of Cuchulainn, whom Dekhtire's father, the druid Katbad, once predicted the glory of a great warrior. From childhood, Setanta willingly studied the art of war, but few people noticed how strong and brave the boy was. Late for the party that the Ulster blacksmith Culann threw in honor of King Conchobar Mac Ness, the young hero at the very gate was attacked by a ferocious dog and was able to escape death by crushing his head. The owner grieved at the loss of his faithful guard, and Setanta volunteered to serve in the place of the dog until a replacement was found. Culann rejected the offer, but since then Setanta has received a new name - Cuchulainn, "Culann's dog". Despite Katbad's warning that a short life is destined for those who go into the first battle on a certain day, Cuchulainn soon took up arms against the enemies of Ulster, the demigods Foyle, Fannel and Tuachell, as well as against their many henchmen. In this battle, Cú Chulainn entered his terrifying battle rage for the first time. Returning to Emine Mahu in a chariot, hung with the bloody heads of enemies, Cuchulainn, still in a state of fighting rage, began to circle around the fortress and challenge everyone in a row. Fortunately, the hero was stopped by the Queen of Ulster, Mugain. She sent one hundred and fifty women to meet him, carrying three huge tubs of water. Cuchulainn allowed them to sink him into the water. The first tub simply exploded, in the second the water boiled, and in the third it just got very hot. So they reassured the young hero, who for the first time knew the taste of blood. Cúchulainn took a fancy to Emer, the daughter of the treacherous lord Fogall, who advised him to learn combat prowess and wisdom from the wonderful mentors Skatha, Uatah and Aife from the land of shadows. Skatagh taught the hero his famous combat jump, but fearing for the life of Cuchulainn, she asked him not to challenge her sister Aife to a duel. However, Cuchulainn managed to defeat the warrior maiden and spend the night with her. Leaving, the hero left a ring for Aife. Years later, when their son Konleich grew up, he went to Ulster to measure strength with the heroes there. Hot and dexterous, he easily dealt with Conall, Cuchulainn's foster brother, who, without heeding his wife's advice, also accepted the challenge of the brave young man. Fate, however, ordered the son to fall at the hands of his father. Cuchulainn fought a mighty young stranger. The gold ring on Konleich's finger, presented by Cuchulainn to his mother, revealed the hero's own son's name too late. Cuchulainn rose to fame as an invincible warrior when he defended Ulster from Queen Medb. Deprived of the support of the death goddess Morrigan, after rejecting her love, Cuchulainn received a terrible wound in the stomach, which even Lug, his father, could not heal. He died standing, tied to a sacred stone. And immediately Morrigan, the goddess of war and death, in the guise of a raven, sat on his shoulder, and the enemies cut off Cuchulainn's head and right hand, leaving the body to the vultures. All Ulster mourned the loss of a defender.

Cuchulainn ("Culann's dog") is an invincible warrior, a hero, the central character of many sagas, whose hot temper often caused grief to himself and those around him. Cuchulainn's mother was Dekhtire, the granddaughter of the god of love Aongus.

According to the myth, at the wedding feast a fly flew into his mother's cup, and Dekhtire accidentally swallowed it. The girl was attacked by a deep sleep; she dreamed of the sun god Lug, who demanded that she, along with fifty relatives, turn into birds and follow him into the other world.

From childhood, Setanta willingly studied the art of war, but few people noticed how strong and brave the boy was. Late for the party that the Ulster blacksmith Culann threw in honor of King Conchobar Mac Ness, the young hero at the very gate was attacked by a ferocious dog and was able to escape death by crushing his head. The owner grieved at the loss of his faithful guard, and Setanta volunteered to serve in the place of the dog until a replacement was found. Culann rejected the offer, but since then Setanta has received a new name - Cuchulainn, "Culann's dog".

Despite Katbad's warning that a short life is destined for those who go into the first battle on a certain day, Cuchulainn soon took up arms against the enemies of Ulster, the demigods Foyle, Fannel and Tuachell, as well as against their many henchmen. In this battle, Cú Chulainn entered his terrifying battle rage for the first time.

Cúchulainn took a fancy to Emer, the daughter of the treacherous lord Fogall, who advised him to learn combat prowess and wisdom from the wonderful mentors Skatha, Uatah and Aife from the land of shadows. Skatagh taught the hero his famous combat jump, but fearing for the life of Cuchulainn, she asked him not to challenge her sister Aife to a duel.

However, Cuchulainn managed to defeat the warrior maiden and spend the night with her. Leaving, the hero left a ring for Aife.

Years later, when their son Konleich grew up, he went to Ulster to measure strength with the heroes there. Hot and dexterous, he easily dealt with Conall, Cuchulainn's foster brother, who, without heeding his wife's advice, also accepted the challenge of the brave young man. Fate, however, ordered the son to fall at the hands of his father.

Cuchulainn fought a mighty young stranger.

The gold ring on Konleich's finger, presented by Cuchulainn to his mother, revealed the hero's own son's name too late.

Cuchulainn rose to fame as an invincible warrior when he defended Ulster from Queen Medb. Deprived of the support of the death goddess Morrigan, after rejecting her love, Cuchulainn received a terrible wound in the stomach, which even Lug, his father, could not heal. He died standing, tied to a sacred stone. And immediately Morrigan, the goddess of war and death, in the guise of a raven, sat on his shoulder, and the enemies cut off Cuchulainn's head and right hand, leaving the body to the vultures. All Ulster mourned the loss of a defender.

Cuchulainn ("Culann's dog") is a famous hero of Irish myths, he was the central character in the sagas of the so-called Ulad (Ulster, Ulster) cycle.

Cuchulainn is a native of the Ardrig site on the Mage Muirtemna. According to various versions, he is the son of the god of light Lug and Dekhtire, the granddaughter of the god of love Aongus, according to another version, he is the fruit of the incest of Konchobor and his sister Dekhtire. Adopted son of Fergus.

According to legend, Cuchulainn lived during the reign of Conchobar in Eminem Mach, that is, at the turn of the century. e. Many characters in this cycle were supposedly historical figures, including Cuchulainn himself, but his image acquired many magical features. From the list of the rulers, approximate conclusions were made about the age of the hero: he was born in 34 BC. BC, at the age of 7 he took up arms, at the age of 17 he fought with the enemies in "Abduction", at the age of 27 he died.

In childhood, he showed typical deeds for the hero. In particular, in order not to be late for the feast in honor of his uncle Conchobar, he kills the monstrous dog of the blacksmith Culann, after which he guards the house until the puppy of the killed dog grows up. Thanks to this, the hero gets his name and one of the geis, before that he was known under the name "Setanta".

Once he heard a prediction that he who took up arms on this day would be the greatest warrior, but would not live long, Cuchulainn tricked him into getting a weapon into his own hands on that day.

The described appearance of the hero emphasizes his unusualness: he has 7 fingers on his hands and feet, 7 pupils in his eyes, and in each of them there are seven precious stones. There are four dimples on the cheeks: blue, purple, green and yellow. He had fifty light-yellow strands on his head. (In another skeleton it is said: "There were seven pupils in the eyes of the young man - three in one and four in the other ...").

When Cuchulainn became a young man, the women and girls of Ireland began to fall in love with him for his beauty and exploits. At the insistence of the Ulads, he decided to marry, but the father of Emer, the girl to whom he wooed, demanded that he perform a number of difficult tasks, hoping that Cuchulainn would die. Cuchulainn, however, emerged victorious from all trials and married. During this dangerous matchmaking, Cuchulainn traveled to Scotland, where he learned the subtleties of the martial art.

Cuchulainn became the lover of Uatah, daughter of his mentor Scathach; the sister of the mentor Aife bore him a son, Konlaih. When Konleich grew up, he went to Ireland to look for his father, whose name he did not know. They met, fought, not recognizing each other, and the father killed his son.

Cuchulainn rose to fame as an invincible warrior when he defended Ulster from Queen Medb.

Bricren's Feast describes how Cuchulainn competed with other heroes of the Ulad. He surpassed them all in courage, accepting the challenge of the wizard Kuroi (Ku Roi), who offered the one who wanted to chop off his head on the condition that later, if he could, he would do the same with the enemy. Cuchulainn chopped off Kuroi's head, which immediately grew back, and then laid his head on the block, but Kuroi announced that this was only a test of his courage.

Cuchulainn, who fell in love with the Sidu Fand, penetrates into the other world of Manannan's son Lera. He heroically confronts the troops of the four provinces of Ireland ("Abduction of the bull from Qualnge"); here the fantastic elements of Cuchulainn's image are vividly expressed - his ability to miraculous transformations, possession of magical techniques, etc.

Morrigan rejects the love of the death goddess and after that loses her support. Violates a number of gays, loses his weapon (the Philids who meet demand his weapon as a gift, threatening to denounce him otherwise in songs, Cuchulainn "gives" them weapons, piercing them, but leaving the weapons in their bodies). Pierced to death by enemies with his own spear, he dies standing, tied himself to a sacred stone. And immediately Morrigan, the goddess of war and death, in the guise of a raven, sat on his shoulder, and the enemies cut off Cúchulainn's head and right hand, leaving the body to the vultures (the Death of Cúchulainn saga). All Ulster mourned the loss of a defender.

If a continuous, coherent story about the life of Cúchulainn was not created, then the episodic sagas about him are so consistent with each other that one can compose his legendary biography from them. Usually, the tale of the miraculous birth of Cú Chulainn is followed by tales of his childhood. As a child, he surpassed all his peers in strength and agility. When he was six years old, an incident happened to him that explains his nickname. Konchobar and all his warriors went to a feast arranged by the blacksmith Kulan. The boy, left at home, got out and wanted to join the feasting. In the courtyard of the Kulan, he was attacked by the owner's watchdog, distinguished by such strength and ferocity that a whole detachment of soldiers could not cope with it. But the boy threw a stone from a sling into his mouth, piercing the dog through and through, and he fell on the spot. Everyone marveled at this feat. However, Kulan, who suffered the damage, demanded that the boy serve him for some time as a watchman for the dog, which was done: hence the name of our hero - Ku-Kulain, "Kulan's Dog".

At seven years old, he first received a weapon and immediately began to defeat the strongest fighters in Ireland. When Cuchulainn became a young man, the women and girls of Ireland began to fall in love with him for his beauty and exploits. At the insistence of the Ulads, he decided to marry - "Matchmaking to Emer". In the twists and turns of dangerous matchmaking, he had to visit Scotland, where he learned all the subtleties of the art of war. Fleetingly, he fell in love there with the hero Aife, who bore him a son, Konlaih. When Konleich grew up, he went to Ireland to look for his father. They met, fought, not recognizing each other, and Cuchulainn's son fell at the hands of his father. At the age of seventeen, Cuchulainn accomplished his greatest feat, defending his homeland alone against an entire enemy army.

Two of the most important episodes in Cú Chulainn’s life are his love for Side Fand, connected with his victorious expedition to the “land of the blessed” - Cúchulainn's Disease, and Cú Chulainn’s struggle for primacy, which served as the subject of the extensive saga “Feast at Brickren”. A dispute arose between the wives of Ulad's three greatest heroes - Cuchulainn, Konal the Victorious, and Loygair the Crusher - over which of their husbands had the upper hand. This quarrel was deliberately set up by the insidious Brikren, a sower of strife, who for this purpose invited all the heroes to his feast (the main motive and scheme of the story are the same as in "The Tale of the Wild Boar MacDato"). The heroes are drawn against their will by their wives in strife. There is a series of competitions between them, in which Cuchulainn invariably prevails, but each time the judges refuse to recognize the test as decisive. Finally, all three go to Muman, to the cunning wizard-king Kuroi, the son of Daira, who comes up with the idea of \u200b\u200btesting not their strength and fighting courage, but moral prowess. He invites each of them to cut off his head, Kuroi, so that the next day he will appear, if he can, and, in turn, cut off the head of the daredevil. All three accept the challenge, but when the revived Kuroi appears for reckoning, Conal and Loiguire evade, and only one Cuchulainn dares to put his head under the ax. However, Kuroi spares Cuchulainn and rewards him for his courage: henceforth he receives the name of the "first hero" of Ireland.

Cú Chulainn's poetic biography ends with the majestic saga of his death. The image of Cuchulainn has, in all likelihood, a historical basis, early overgrown with mythical elements. Archaic, perhaps native (Pictish) features emerge in it. Along with the description of the formidable appearance and beauty of Cúchulainn, from whose face such brilliance emanates that it is difficult for the eye to bear it, he is often depicted in the sagas as "a small, nondescript man, dark-skinned and dark-haired": this is no longer the Continental Celtic type (close to the ancient -German), but rather Pictish, akin to Iberian. The form of his original name, Setanta, is at least not Irish. As for the nickname that supplanted her - Cuchulainn, but even here it is very likely that the legend explaining it is a later interpretation ("The Dog of Kulan"), behind which something else is hidden. It has been suggested that it is of totemic origin and that it contains the international onomatopoeic name of the cuckoo. In support of this hypothesis, one could cite the saga of the birth of Cúchulainn, where he is fed in a strange house (thrown into a strange nest), and before the moment of his birth, mysterious birds appear.

In general, the whole personality and fate of Cú Chulainn, starting with the conception of his sister Conchobar from the god Luga ("The Birth of Cúchulainn"), are shrouded in mythical elements. If Conchobar is metaphorically called the "earthly god" of the Ulads, then Cuchulainn is a genuine demigod. None of the other heroes have such miraculous properties and abilities as Cuchulainn. When he gets into a battle rage, he grows up and all is transformed; he almost has the ability to fly through the air, etc. ("Matching with Emer"). It is very likely that in the image of Cuchulainn several images merged, epic, historically and mythically originally different. But, merging together, they made up one holistic image, embellished in every possible way with poetic fantasy.

It was in the image of Cuchulainn that ancient Ireland embodied its ideal of valor and moral perfection, a kind of primitive knighthood. Along with extraordinary strength and courage, Cuchulainn has a spiritual nobility. Most of the geisses lying on him have a high moral character: never refuse to help a woman, never reject the offered hospitality, always be true to the given word, etc. He is generous to enemies, responsive to all grief, refinedly polite with women, always - protector of the weak and oppressed. None of his exploits are motivated by self-interest or selfishness. He selflessly alone defends his homeland with his breast from hordes of enemies ("Hijacking a bull from Kualnge"). He is inconsolable when a friend of his youth is smitten with his hand ("Fight of Cú Chulainn with Ferdiad"). The story of his death is full of high tragedy, where he dies for others as a victim of duty and honor.

Compared to Cuchulainn, the other characters in the Irish sagas are considerably paler. It is impossible, however, to deny the authors of the sagas the ability to create characters. One after another, following Cuchulainn, the good-natured simpleton Fergus, the sarcastic and malicious Brikren, the primitively rude, ferocious Ket, the brave and gentle Nysey appear before us. We find the same shades, very expressive, in female characters. It is worth comparing the cruel, hate-breathing Queen Medb with the united love of Deirdre, or the captivating lover Fand with the faithful, self-aware wife Emer ("Cú Chulainn's Disease")

Cuchulainn is the protagonist of the Irish sagas, the so-called "Ulad cycle". He is a participant in the largest Irish heroic legend "The Abduction of the Bull from Kualnge"; at the same time around this character his own plots are cyclized, telling about his life from birth to death. In "The Abduction of the Bull from Coualnge" there are several inserts specifically about Cuchulainn. Undoubtedly, this is the favorite hero of the Irish. But he was destined to live not long - he died at the age of about 28 years. So why did the people (and the epic is a reflection of the collective popular consciousness) killed their favorite hero in the prime of youth?

In the epic itself, this is given the following explanation: in his youth, Cuchulainn heard the prophecy that the one who was ordained to war on a certain day would perform heroic deeds, become famous for centuries, but die young. Of course, Cuchulainn went to the king that day to perform a rite of passage over him. This is the motive for the prediction, but it is not clear why a person who has performed heroic deeds should die young. In the saga "Death of Cúchulainn" his death is explained by the revenge of the Galatine brothers - however, Cuchulainn killed so many enemies in his lifetime that not only the Galatine brothers had the right to revenge, ie. the choice of enemies is random. It’s not the Galatina brothers, but the fact that Cuchulainn MUST die.

Cú Chulainn's path to death is furnished in a traditional Irish style. Here, there is a threatening warning (do not go to war - they will kill), and a meeting with otherworldly creatures, and a violation of all conceivable prohibitions (geis) - Cuchulainn clearly went to meet death. If he was not a fool (and we have no reason to believe that Cuchulainn was a fool), he went to his death quite deliberately.

This conscious step includes Cú Chulainn in the circle of general Aryan ideas about the hero and fate. In a collision with fate, all Greek heroes die (a whole genre is based on this - tragedy), the heroes of Germanic legends (remember Gunther and Hogni, Sirly and Hamdir; about Siegfried (Sigurda) - a special conversation). Thus, we have the right to consider the sagas about Cuchulainn not in isolation from the entire Aryan heritage, but in direct connection with it. However, there is nothing strange in this, for the Irish are an Aryan people.

The hero's destiny is to die young. But death does not come by itself. Death is divine punishment, it is the punishment for a crime. So, the hero must commit a crime, willingly or unwillingly. The gays violation in the Death of Cuchulainn saga does not count. He is already on automatism - so to speak, he breaks taboos to a heap in accordance with the Irish concept of "the path to death" (see "Destruction of the House of Da Derg", "Destruction of the House of Da Hawk"). Most often, a crime, the payment for which is death, in the Aryan tradition is the violation of moral commandments (taboos) and violation of this oath. Sigurd swore by Brunhild, and married Gudrun, for which he paid. Gunther and Hogni entered into a rite of twinning with Siegfried, but they killed him - the result is the same (and Hogni did not personally kill Sigurd, but served the killer, because their fates turned out to be tied). Was there a motive for perjury in the legends of Cuchulainn? Yes, it was, although it is not underlined as in Germanic legends.

First, Cuchulainn served the wrong king. Conchobar broke the oaths to the sons of Usnech, and all the adherents immediately fled from him, only Cuchulainn remained. As noted in the case of Hegney, serving the perjurer is a crime.

Secondly, Cuchulainn pledged allegiance to Emer by going to study martial arts with the Stingrays. He did not keep his oath. True, the Aryan peoples are not too fixated on the physical fidelity of a man, but it also slips with them that treason does not go unpunished. Medea cursed Jason, Siegfried died because of Brunhild.

Third, Cuchulainn killed Fer Dyad, his named brother. This is more serious; crimes against relatives (and the named brother is part of the kinship system) cannot go unpunished in principle. All generic morality is shaken, which means that the whole world also shakes. To restore harmony, the killer must say goodbye to life. And let not the relatives of Fer Dyad take revenge on him - Gods and Fate take revenge on him, as the highest justice.

So, Cuchulainn violated the foundations of public morality: he supported the wrong government (state harmony), swung at the race (social harmony) and at the Woman (harmony in the relations of the sexes). And such a villain is a universal popular favorite! It is just right to ask not “Why was he killed?”, But “Why did he become a hero?”.

We will analyze further. Why do asocial personalities become our heroes? Robin Hood - although noble, but still a robber; Stenka Razin - nobility did not come close here; then - Wild West cowboys, Australian bushrangers ...

And he himself was a robber, a storm of highways,

He despised slavery all his life, he could not stand prison,

And they called him Donahue, they called him Jack,

And he was a very nice and good man.

Isn't it true that the last line is in sharp contradiction with the first? Let's continue the quote:

And this same Donahue, as you could understand,

He was expelled from Ireland, his native land ...

Brother of Cuchulainn! The same asocial personality - and the people's favorite! Everyone complains about the dominance of American militants, but this is a commercial expression of social interest in asocial types. This affects the foundations of our subconscious, and the roots of this phenomenon lie in the primary stage of development of society. They are not even Aryans, this is even further, in the primitive consciousness, which makes us akin to the marind anim. In the primary, primitive social consciousness, two opposites collide: freedom (will) and prohibition (impossibility). In this case, morality becomes the regulator of social behavior, which sets the boundaries of the individual's freedom within the framework of society, i.e., determines what behavior of an individual is permissible so that society does not collapse. The opposite here is of this kind: man, as a social creature, cannot live outside society, but man, as an individual, wants to break with it. In primitive consciousness, morality has the character of prohibitions established by forces more powerful than man - morality is considered as something primary. At the same time, the Gods themselves (or other supernatural beings) are outside the sphere of morality (that's why they are supernatural) - the one who establishes the law is not subject to this law (how similar it is to the structure of our state! ..). Violation of the law by a person is punishable by death, but for God there is no law at all. Reread Greek mythology as the most accessible - it is clearly visible there. So, what is shameful and criminal for man is natural for God.

From this there is an important consequence: a person who violates the norms of morality throws a challenge to God himself, he, as it were, declares his right to divine greatness. As a teenager, smoking a cigarette in front of everyone, sipping vodka from the throat of a bottle, swearing (I remind you that the consciousness of this teenager exactly corresponds to the primitive level of consciousness, and to some extent is embedded in the subconsciousness of each person at the level of common human thinking).

Of course, a normal representative of society (any) does not even think about violating the established morality, but the fact of the matter is that the Hero is not like that. The hero in his personality is equal to the Gods, and he challenges them by committing immoral acts. He rocks the world, breaks established ties - and dies, because the Gods are higher than people. But for a short moment he becomes equal to God, and for this moment he is ready to pay with his life. This is the tragedy of the Hero. But in this there is also the embodiment of the Great Harmony (which, by the way, stands above the Gods). Equal to the Gods, who broke with the human world, violated moral prohibitions, MUST go to the Gods - to that other world where these prohibitions do not work. He has no place among people. Such is the fate of Cuchulainn. This is the fate of many heroes.

A happy ending had not yet been invented. A happy ending is a product of a later era. Cuchulainn will die under the spear of the Galatinian brothers, pierced while standing ... Many researchers see in his death an analogy with Christ.