Fled Bricrenn

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Fled Bricrenn [ fʴlʴeð 'vʴrʴikʴrʴeN ] ("Bricrius Fest") is the title of an 8th century tale in the Ulster cycle of Celtic mythology in Ireland . In Lebor na hUidre ("The Book of the Dark-Colored Cow") and in more recent manuscripts from the 15th / 16th centuries. It has been handed down to us in the 19th century. The individual versions differ in terms of gaps in the text and some later additions and deletions.

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Known and feared as a troublemaker because of his malicious speeches, Briuga (large farmer) Bricriu, known as Nemthenga (" poison tongue "), a follower of King Conchobar mac Nessa, invites Ulster's most famous heroes to a feast in his festival hall ( bruiden ). Since he threatens to punish them with diatribes ( Glám dícenn ) if the invitation is rejected, they come, albeit reluctantly. Bricriu now offers everyone the place of honor with the hero bite ( curad-mir ), which only the most excellent of those present are entitled to. In fall Loegaire Buadach , Conall Cernach and Cu Chulainn immediately in dispute and want to start a fight. The poet ( fili ) of King Conchobar, Sencha mac Ailella, who always tries to find a balance , advises them to leave the decision to an independent arbitrator. But neither the arbitration of King Ailill mac Máta of Connacht , nor that of King Cú Roí of Munster is accepted by the contestants.

Then a huge stranger appears in the festival hall with an ax and declares that he will declare the best hero of Ulster to be someone who is willing to cut off his head, but who will suffer it himself if it fails the next day. Loegaire Buadach tries his luck first, but when he doesn't make it, he doesn't dare to go back the next day. Next up is Conall Cernach, he also fails and can no longer enter the hall. Only Cú Chulainn is ready to bear the consequence after his unsuccessful blow and appears as promised to offer his neck. But the stranger only touches Cú Chulainn's neck lightly with his ax and declares him the best hero of Ireland. Then it takes on its actual shape again - it is Cú Roí.

One version of the legend takes place in Cathair . The three are sent there by Cú Roí to decide who is Ireland's greatest hero. Everyone has to guard the castle at night while Cú Roí tests it in the form of a grayish otherworldly creature from the crevice Uaigh na gCat ("Cave of Cats" near Cruachain , today's Rathcroghan in County Roscommon ). Loegaire and Conall flee from the cat monster in the roof framework, while Cú Chulainn fights with him and defeats it - here too he is named the greatest hero.

In Táin Bó Flidhais ("The Driving Away of Flidais 'Cattle"), Bricriu is the trigger for the Connachters' campaign against Mayo through the inciting of Fergus mac Róich . He describes the beauty of Queen Flidais so much that Fergus sets out to conquer her.

In the story Scéla mucce Meic Dathó (“The story of Mac Dathó's pig”), a dispute over the hero bite is also portrayed, but here Conall Cernach is the victor against some warriors from Connacht.

The opposite of the belligerent Bricriu is the poet and judge ( fili ) of King Conchobar mac Nessa, Sencha mac Ailella , who is always looking for balance .

Reception in Arthurian legend and in modern drama

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is the treatment of the subject of the beheading game ("beheading game ") in an Arthurian novel . The round table knight Gawain is the only one to face the controversy with the “Green Knight”, who spares him as in the old model.

The Irish poet William Butler Yeats wrote his prose drama The Golden Helmet in 1908 , which was followed in 1910 by the Alexandrian version of The Green Helmet , which he himself referred to as An Heroic Farce . Yeats follows the plot of the old play pretty closely, including the Arthurian epic, where he changes the colors of the clothes for reasons of stage design. CúChulainn surprises his companions in green clothes, which is why they consider him a monster, the actual opponent appears all in red. The dialect coloring of the text creates a comedy that the poet intended.

See also

literature

Web link

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Helmut Birkhan: Celts. Attempt at a complete representation of their culture. P. 1017.
  2. ↑ Helmut Birkhan: Celts. Attempt at a complete representation of their culture. Pp. 834 f, 961.
  3. ↑ Helmut Birkhan: Celts. Attempt at a complete representation of their culture. P. 841.
  4. ↑ Helmut Birkhan: Nachantike Keltenrezeption. P. 661.