Who is the Favorite European Animal, Round 1, Group 2? Vote for your Fav.
Anonymous Poll
42%
Bear
29%
Raven
8%
Fox
8%
Dog
8%
Auroch
5%
Snake
Because a poll can have a max of 10, for the first round they'll be done in 2 groups. The Winner will be the one who has either more votes or in the case of equal votes a higher percentage. The Loser will follow the same rules but in reverse.-TAO
Cu Chulain, also known as Cuhulain, The Hound of Ulster and born as Setanta. His birth has many versions though the common thread is he was conceived three times dying the first two. The first by infant mortality and the second by abortion, and the other common thread is Lugh is often thought to be his father. Though he is at times thought to be an avatar of the god Lugh himself. His mother was Deichtine and due to arguments he found many foster fathers as they could not agree on who deserved to foster such a boy. In some stories he has every color of hair, seven fingers and seven toes with 7 pupils in one eye so that he may see better. His most common feature which earned him his modern nickname “The Old Irish Hulk” Was his Riastrad “Warp Spasm” which some might call a rather violent Berserk. During which his muscles and sinews would expand and contort his body mishaping him, one eye would retract further into his head while the other would bulge out. During which he was far too strong for any one man to fight or kill and was a one many army. As a youth he was very happy and carefree becoming strong enough to defeat the Boy warriors of his homeland and have them swear fealty to him by the age of 6. He also became doomed by a prophecy when Cathbad teaching his pupils says any boy who takes up arms this day will have everlasting fame, Cu Chulain wanting such fame and glory took up arms, though Cathbad lamented for Cu Chulain had not heard the whole prophecy.
He had doomed himself to a life of glory and fame but at the cost of living a very short life. He eventually found himself invited to a feast with the king and a blacksmith named Culann who had a powerful guard dog who required 3 chains and 9 men to be held back guarding the place during a feast. Forgetting Setanta was invited Culann let loose his mighty hound however when the dog attacked Setanta he threw the ball he had been playing with down his throat and slammed the hound to the ground killing it. The blacksmith weeps for he has lost the protector of his land and property and worries for his livelihood. Feeling responsible Setanta oaths to Culann that he shall act as his dog until he has a replacement. Creating his title of Cu Chulain or “Culann's Hound”. This nickname would eventually spread to become “The Hound of Ulster” when he protected the entire region by himself. As Cu Chulain grew he became so beautiful that the men worried if they did not marry him off soon he would end up stealing away one of their daughters or even their own wives.
So they found a beautiful girl named Emer to marry him too, and Cu Chulain fell madly in love but her father did not want such an unpredictable and volatile lad as a husband for his daughter and sent him off to train with Scathatch the scottish warrior woman and to eventually join the famed Red Branch Knights. While he is gone Emer's father tries to marry her off to Lugaid a powerful warrior but upon learning she is being courted by Cu Chulain Lugaid rejects the offer. While training with Scathatch he becomes battle brothers with his fellow student Ferdiad. Eventually Scathatch is put into a situation where she must fight her twin sister Aife over a blood feud but doesn't think Cu Chulain could stand up to her not wanting him to get involved Scathatch drugs him but he overpowers it jumping into the fight and barely defeating the powerful Aife, upon defeat he demands she give him a child and she agrees becoming pregnant with his son. Scathatch gives him the Gae Bulg “Spear of Mortal Pain” He returns after some adventuring with the Red Branch Knights to claim Emer's hand. But denied his promised wife he storms Emer's father house and takes Emer with him as a wife. Sadly when his son by Aife returns and refuses to identify himself as Aife had forbidden him from doing so Cu Chulain becomes enraged and kills the boy, before the boy reveals in a lament who he was. Sending Cu Chulain into a state of despair. His most famous story which is told in the Ulster cycle and the Tain is that of the cattle raid by Queen Maeve.
He had doomed himself to a life of glory and fame but at the cost of living a very short life. He eventually found himself invited to a feast with the king and a blacksmith named Culann who had a powerful guard dog who required 3 chains and 9 men to be held back guarding the place during a feast. Forgetting Setanta was invited Culann let loose his mighty hound however when the dog attacked Setanta he threw the ball he had been playing with down his throat and slammed the hound to the ground killing it. The blacksmith weeps for he has lost the protector of his land and property and worries for his livelihood. Feeling responsible Setanta oaths to Culann that he shall act as his dog until he has a replacement. Creating his title of Cu Chulain or “Culann's Hound”. This nickname would eventually spread to become “The Hound of Ulster” when he protected the entire region by himself. As Cu Chulain grew he became so beautiful that the men worried if they did not marry him off soon he would end up stealing away one of their daughters or even their own wives.
So they found a beautiful girl named Emer to marry him too, and Cu Chulain fell madly in love but her father did not want such an unpredictable and volatile lad as a husband for his daughter and sent him off to train with Scathatch the scottish warrior woman and to eventually join the famed Red Branch Knights. While he is gone Emer's father tries to marry her off to Lugaid a powerful warrior but upon learning she is being courted by Cu Chulain Lugaid rejects the offer. While training with Scathatch he becomes battle brothers with his fellow student Ferdiad. Eventually Scathatch is put into a situation where she must fight her twin sister Aife over a blood feud but doesn't think Cu Chulain could stand up to her not wanting him to get involved Scathatch drugs him but he overpowers it jumping into the fight and barely defeating the powerful Aife, upon defeat he demands she give him a child and she agrees becoming pregnant with his son. Scathatch gives him the Gae Bulg “Spear of Mortal Pain” He returns after some adventuring with the Red Branch Knights to claim Emer's hand. But denied his promised wife he storms Emer's father house and takes Emer with him as a wife. Sadly when his son by Aife returns and refuses to identify himself as Aife had forbidden him from doing so Cu Chulain becomes enraged and kills the boy, before the boy reveals in a lament who he was. Sending Cu Chulain into a state of despair. His most famous story which is told in the Ulster cycle and the Tain is that of the cattle raid by Queen Maeve.
Who is trying to get the famed Brown bull of Ulster so she can best her husband in wealth. However due to a curse most of the men find themselves suffering from labor pains and unable to fight. In order to defend Ulster Cu Chulain challenges the entire army of Maeve to single combat. Defeating one after the other for months with his friend Laeg the best charioteer in the land nearby. He defeats them one after the other attracting the romantic advances of the Morrigan. Who he spurns as he has a duty to uphold and women can wait. Enraged the Morrigan then begins to plot his downfall (In some versions she actually aids him initially and is only turned away after he is rude so how “Cruel” she is depends on the version). Eventually his injuries are severe enough that in some versions he is forced to temporarily be laid up ill and is forced to stay and get well by Lugh. However during this time the only ones able to continue the single combat are the youths of the warriors and they all die while he sleeps. Enraged Cu Chulain invokes his Riastrad “Berserk” and takes many of them out before returning to fight. Eventually this results in him fighting his battle brother Ferdiad where the two fight valiantly injured and torn between Ferdiad and his land He is forced to use the Gae Bulg and the spear enters Ferdiad and shoots barbs throughout the veins of Ferdiad killing him instantly and painfully.
In some version this is where Cu Chulain dies however in others he is either killed via machinations of Maeve or of the Morrigan. In either case he is tricked into breaking his Geis or Gessa oaths he must uphold or face ruin. His being to never reject hospitality and never eat dog meat. The Morrigan and her sisters or in some versions Maeve's allies appear as three old women who offer him dog meat. Unable to leave without breaking one oath he opts to not be rude and eats the dog meat making him weak and vulnerable. He is eventually killed by Lugaid in battle in some versions in others simply by his wounds, usually shortly after Laeg his Charioteer dies. But before he dies he ties himself to a rock so as not to die on his knees and to confuse the enemy into thinking he can still fight and defend Ulster. Eventually when a Raven (Often though to be the Morrigan) lands on him they know he is dead. However in a flash of light the corpse of Cu Chulain strikes Lugaid killing his enemy. In some versions he is also attacked by the Morrigan in various forms before hand and also appears as an old woman washing clothes (Banshee) in his dreams warning of his death. His story has been retold so many times the versions differ in ways that it can be hard to pinpoint when or how he dies. Some stories have him dying at 17 becoming the boy hero of Ireland and in others he lives til 27. However his importance remains. A statue of his death is used to mark the 1916 Easter Rise againt British Control of Ireland. He is a simple of the unity of county Ulster. The song “The Blood of Cu Chulain” from the Boondocks saints is the theme of the film and is named after him. The highest rank an Irish scout can reach is the Order of Cu Chulain.
It is possible that Sandor Clegane from Game of Thrones may have gotten his name from him and Even Conan the Barbarian was partially inspired by him. In the end he was a true hero and sacrificed himself to defend his people as their champion against unfathomable odds. What is your favorite thing about Cu Chulain?
In some version this is where Cu Chulain dies however in others he is either killed via machinations of Maeve or of the Morrigan. In either case he is tricked into breaking his Geis or Gessa oaths he must uphold or face ruin. His being to never reject hospitality and never eat dog meat. The Morrigan and her sisters or in some versions Maeve's allies appear as three old women who offer him dog meat. Unable to leave without breaking one oath he opts to not be rude and eats the dog meat making him weak and vulnerable. He is eventually killed by Lugaid in battle in some versions in others simply by his wounds, usually shortly after Laeg his Charioteer dies. But before he dies he ties himself to a rock so as not to die on his knees and to confuse the enemy into thinking he can still fight and defend Ulster. Eventually when a Raven (Often though to be the Morrigan) lands on him they know he is dead. However in a flash of light the corpse of Cu Chulain strikes Lugaid killing his enemy. In some versions he is also attacked by the Morrigan in various forms before hand and also appears as an old woman washing clothes (Banshee) in his dreams warning of his death. His story has been retold so many times the versions differ in ways that it can be hard to pinpoint when or how he dies. Some stories have him dying at 17 becoming the boy hero of Ireland and in others he lives til 27. However his importance remains. A statue of his death is used to mark the 1916 Easter Rise againt British Control of Ireland. He is a simple of the unity of county Ulster. The song “The Blood of Cu Chulain” from the Boondocks saints is the theme of the film and is named after him. The highest rank an Irish scout can reach is the Order of Cu Chulain.
It is possible that Sandor Clegane from Game of Thrones may have gotten his name from him and Even Conan the Barbarian was partially inspired by him. In the end he was a true hero and sacrificed himself to defend his people as their champion against unfathomable odds. What is your favorite thing about Cu Chulain?
The Wolf is the first Finalist, while the Mammoth was eliminated. I will have a lore post via the wolf up within the week and then round 2 can began-TAO
Forwarded from Old and New European Art and Aesthetics
The Enchanted Forest (1886). John Gilbert (English, 1817-1897).