Scáthach and CùChulainn
and shortbread from Skye
Needing a break from the stresses of our modern life that have kept me away from posting for awhile , I recently came across a heroic tale mentioned by Alexander Irvine, a photographer from the Hebrides, on Facebook. It was one more remarkable story* from another island close to my Scots and Irish heart- the Isle of Skye, so after rummaging a bit I pulled it up out of the Time Traveler’s Rucksack.
Let me tell you about the greatest hero of Ulster, CùChulainn (CooCullen), son of the god Lugh and a mortal woman, He received his name as a young man for slaying the ferocious guard hound of Cullen. He regretted his action and offered to take the dog’s place until another could be found and so became known from then on as the hound of Cullen.
King Forgall did not want CùChulainn to marry his daughter, Emer so he sent him, along with his best friend Ferdiad, over the Irish Sea to study the arts of warfare on Skye. Forgall was hoping CùChulainn would be slain by the famed female warrior, Scáthach who lived there.
Some legends say that Scáthach (Ska’hawk) was a daughter of the King of Scythia, which encompassed parts of Eastern Europe and Asia. The women of the Scythian steppes were the fierce Amazons described by Homer in the Iliad and in Herodutus’ history of Thermodon.
Scáthach had a fortress on Skye called Dun Scaith and she only trained warriors who could penetrate her formidable defenses of treacherous water and precipice. CùChulainn overcame these dangerous challenges and so gained her trust and respect. He was welcomed with Ferdiad into her great hall and they became fast friends. Under her tutelage he grew into a full-fledged warrior and she gave him his famous barbed spear, the gae bulg. It is said in some accounts that they became lovers as well.
CùChulainn accompanied Scáthach on her mission to defeat a neighbouring female chieftain, named Aoife, who was said to be her own twin sister. CùChulainn ended up fathering a child by Aoife’s daughter and he also slept with Scáthach’s daughter whose husband he killed in a duel. Yet it appeared no malice was borne and Cuillen’s mountain range on Skye is named after him.
When CùChulainn returned to Ireland, King Forgall still opposed him so he was forced to abduct Emer who became his wife.
Scáthach later became a goddess of the dead leading those killed in battle to the land of eternal youth. (Tir –na- nog)
CùChulainn went on to fight many brave battles and accomplish extraordinary deeds, including the great cattle raid at Cooley. Although described as “a dark, sad man but comely,” during battle he became frenzied and monstrous ( the ríastrad), which is the Celtic counterpart of a Viking berserker.
On the eve of the battle at Muirthemne it is said CùChulainn heard the harp of the bean sidhe Aiobhell, Her music is too beautiful for mortal ears, and so he knew then that his life was coming to an end.
But those are other tales.
‘We were heart companions, We were companions in the woods, We were fellows of the same bed, where we used to sleep the balmy sleep. After mortal battles abroad, In countries many and far distant, together we used to practice, and go through each forest, learning with Scathach’. – Ferdiad
Davy Spillane Uillean pipes: Cuchulainn’s Lament
bean sidhe– the fairies who herald death often appearing as a washer woman ( of blood stained clothes) or a sweet singing maiden.
shortbread from Skye (Claire MacDonald)
the runes of the gatekeeper's daughter- dedicated to Nick 
Such an interesting story and such beautiful artwork to bring it to life. And those pipes — just swept me away! Be well, my friend!
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so happy to hear from you Linda!! I hope you are staying well too! Don’t those pipes give you the goosebumps!!? Thank you for your lovely comment,
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As usual you take us to the magical lands, away from this banal, apocalyptic gloom even though earlier times, for all their romance, don’t sound like they were much fun….but there was such beauty, as your photo art confirms. You make a world I want to be in,( without the war and pestilence parts, of course.). Thank you!!!
Hugs DG
>
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Beautiful, romantic and wistful images Cybele, to go with a fascinating tale.
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aww I’m sure you know the story!! Thanks so much for visiting and commenting my friend. Hope all is well with you!!
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Another fascinating story brought to life through your magical images. I enjoyed this post a lot.
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so good to hear from you Suzanne and thank you! I’ll be over to visit and hope all is well down under!
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I’m ok. We are just beginning to come out of our 2nd lockdown. It was harder than the first one
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😦 we also had a second spike!
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Lets hope we avoid a third!
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Gorgeous imagery and intersting story. Love your post as always 😍
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thank you so much my friend!
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Ooooh, Classic Cybele, Hannah! I LOVE that first image!
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Thank you Sue!! do you recognize her lol! loosely composited lol!!
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😊
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A beautiful ancient tale. Just to share, Scáthach and CùChulainn are famous in some video games too. Thanks to their frequent appearances in Atlus’ Shin Megami Tensei series.
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Oh wow!! I am not surprised!! thanks so much for scribbling!!!
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I too heard the harp of Aiobhell this night! Unforgettable moments…!
I really like your ancient stories full of amiable ladies, female warriors and horsemen.
Unforgettable moments hearing from you! Hugs!
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so good to hear from you Glauco! I hope all is well in Italy!! My cousin lives in the south. Isn’t Davy Spillane marvelous on the pipes!!
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Davy’s pipes are really wonderful! I felt completely immersed in the atmosphere of the tales!
All is right here, thank you! Your posts are always a great pleasure and they make me discover more and more your fantastic world!
Hugs!
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Ah such a lovely post Cybele. Right up my street. I always especially love how often there’s folks come from much further afield in these stories, leading me to well believe there ‘s truth there.
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My dearest Shehanne. I only just found out if it is to be believed, that along with my Scots and Irish dna I do have some Scythian matches!! or so they say on the Ancient dna site. but you know in the end we are “a Jock Tamson’s Bairns”!!
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It will be right enough. We are all these bairns, if only people could see.xxxxxxxxxxxx
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Thanks for this. I was only recently trying to remember who Scathach was, and now you have reminded me. And lovely art too. 🙂
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Yayy!! I’m so pleased you visited me Cath!! Thank you!
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Wonderful tale and photos…sons of gods are always divine to look at!
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Thank you Paula for commenting and I do agree!!
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Thanks for the stories, Cybele, and Davy’s pipes, too! We visited your castle in Dunvegan during our three-day tour of Skye four years ago. But we didn’t know it was yours then!
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lol! I’m connected through my mom’s side but yes, it is a grand place!! Thanks Crow!!
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Interesting tale . . . Perhaps a bit more interesting to males than females (his future wife seems very understanding of his amorous/carnal exploits).
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apparently she was!!!
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