Cú Chulainn (meaning Culann’s Hound) is a key figure in Irish mythology, and embodies the very essence of the hero. He is portrayed as a demigod with superhuman physical strength and magical powers handed down to him by the gods. A legendary figure, Cú Chulainn appears in over 76 mythological texts, making him one of the most emblematic characters… Let’s take a look at what we know about this divine being…
Cú Chulainn was born as Setanta, and was known as the son of King Connor and Queen Dechtire. Legend has it that Dechtire gave birth to Setanta after taking a few sips from a bronze cup. A being sprang from it and entered her body through her mouth. As night fell, long-armed Lug, a member of Dana’s tribes, appeared to him. Wonderful and full of nobility, he then announces the imminent birth of a new child, whom she must name Sétanta, and offers her two foals as playmates. Thus was born Cú Chulainn, son of Lug, supreme God, and Eithne, mother of all the gods.
His adoptive father, Amorgen, taught him poetry. Fergus taught him the art of war, Sencha wisdom, Cathba, Aifa and Skatha magic.
Like every year in Ulster, a great vassal welcomed Conor and his family. That year, it was the turn of blacksmith Culann. The modest man had little money and asked Conor to restrict the number of guests. As he left, the king and his people stopped to admire Sétanta’s skill at games. Alone against the 15 sons of Conors, he never stopped winning. Impressed, Conor invites her to join the feast. But filled with pride, Setanta wanted to finish his games, and assured his uncle that he would catch up with the convoy.
Culann’s estate was guarded by a fearsome dog, an animal unrivalled in all Ireland for its ferocity and strength. Equipped with his simple ball, Sétanta entered the property, not suspecting that, lurking in the bushes, Cullan’s dog was about to emerge with all fangs out. Then a cry tore through Ireland. Culann and his guests could only see the dislocated body of the dog, shot through and through by Sétanta’s bullet. Stripped of his most prized possession, Cullan mourned the fate that had befallen him. Aware of the harm he had done, Sétanta agreed to protect the blacksmith’s property as the dog had done, until an animal from the dog’s seed could be found. It was from this time on that the druid Cavad decided to name Dechtire’s son Cú Chulainn.
When Cú Chulainn became a man, he quickly distinguished himself in numerous battles. He is said to have multiplied strength and boundless magical powers. In particular, Cú Chulainn uses the gae bolga, a kind of lightning javelin that delivers a necessarily fatal blow to the enemy. In addition to this power, Cú Chulainn is known for being able to take on any appearance he wishes, and is also renowned for his great intelligence and knowledge of all things.
He owes all these powers to the great magician Scáthach, who taught him everything she knew in Scotland. Meanwhile, Cú Chulainn married his daughter Uatach, then Emer, and maintained a divine relationship with Fand.
Cú Chulainn’s greatest feats are recounted in the text of “The Razzia of the Cows of Cooley”, (Táin Bó Cúailnge in Gaelic), one of the founding texts of Irish Celtic mythology. Cú Chulainn confronts the army of Queen Medb (also known as Queen Maeve), who launched her troops against the Ulates to seize a brown bull by force. Cú Chulainn murdered 100 of the queen’s soldiers, beheading one by one anyone who wished to confront him. His strength and courage were such that Queen Medb was forced to retreat after several weeks of fighting.
His exploits will make him the Irish Lancelot, albeit a little less romantic. His position as demigod means that his life is governed by magical rules (geis) such as the prohibition on refusing an invitation to a meal, or the ban on eating dog. This will be his undoing.
Indeed, his death was linked to the fate of Queen Medb, his long-standing enemy.
She set about convincing three one-eyed witches to help her defeat him. As Cú Chulainn passed through a valley, he met the three witches, around a fire over which the legs of wild dogs were roasting. Realizing it was a trap, he tried to divert his trajectory. It was then that Bov (one of the witches) seized the brooch and attacked Cú Chulainn. In the attack, a drop of poisoned blood reached his flank and touched his mount, Macha’s Grey.
Afterwards, Bov invited the hero to join the meal. He refused, then, answering his geis never to refuse an invitation, he had to share their meal. His strength failed him, and in fury he drew his sword and decapitated the three witches.
Arriving at the plain of Murthemé, Cú Chulainn found himself facing the fortress occupied by the men of Ireland. The first javelin brought back from hell killed Loeg, Cú Chulainn’s companion. The second poisoned javelin wounded Macha’s Grey. And it was Lugaid’s equally magical third javelin that pierced Cú Chulainn’s body. His tank went into Lough Tonchuil, a lake below the plain, and the water began to boil. He quenched his thirst, his hands pressed against his stomach to prevent his insides from leaking out. Then, with a last effort, he reached a stone pillar a little higher up and fastened himself to it with his belt.
Le Gris De Macha defended his rider to the bitter end, killing 30 warriors with his hooves. White birds perched on Cú Chulainn’s shoulders, and then it was the turn of a crow (the animal form of Moriganne, goddess of death) to land on his head. Then Lugaid went behind the stone and cut off Cú Chulainn’s head, but his sword fell on his conqueror’s arm and severed his hand. The men of Ireland cut off Cú Chulainn’s right hand. And so ends the hero of a hundred battles.
