Compert Con Chulainn

Compert Con Chulainn [ 'kombʴeRt xon' kuliNʴ ] ("Cú Chulainn's conception") is the title of a Remscéla (pre-narration) of the Táin Bó Cuailnge ("The Robbery of Cooley ") from the Ulster cycle of Irish mythology . This legend is handed down in two different versions in Lebor na hUidre ("The Book of the Dark Cow") from the 12th century and in several more recent manuscripts. The oldest suspected version in Lebor Dromma Snechta ("The Book of Druim Snechta") has been lost along with this compilation.

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Deichtire , the sister (different version - the daughter) of King Conchobar mac Nessa , according to mythical lore of Lugh, becomes pregnant after being united three times and gives birth to a boy who is named Sétanta. An embodiment of the child is said to have already preceded the final birth twice, since according to Druidic doctrine only the third incarnation is perfect. An incestuous connection between Conchobar and Deichtire is suggested in one version of the story. That same night, two horses are born that would later pull Cú Chulainn's wagon - Liath Macha and Dub Sainglenn . The boy is named Sétanta mac Sualtáim after Deichtire's human husband, Súaltam mac Róich . He comes to Deichtire's sister Finncháem and her husband Amairgin mac Ecit Salaig , Conall Cernach's parents , who are raising him.

When Sétanta kills the blacksmith Caulann's dog, he pledges himself to serve as a watchdog until a new one has grown up and he is therefore given the name Cú Chulainn ("Caulann's dog"). He is also given the lifelong geis (taboo) not to be allowed to eat dog meat.

See also

• Myths and legends from Ireland
• List of Celtic gods and legendary figures

literature

• Helmut Birkhan : Celts. Attempt at a complete representation of their culture. Publishing house of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna 1997, ISBN 3-7001-2609-3 .
• Bernhard Maier : Lexicon of Celtic Religion and Culture (= Kröner's pocket edition . Volume 466). Kröner, Stuttgart 1994, ISBN 3-520-46601-5 .
• Ingeborg Clarus : Celtic Myths. Man and his otherworld. Walter Verlag 1991, ppb edition Patmos Verlag, Düsseldorf, 2000, 2nd edition, ISBN 3-491-69109-5 .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Helmut Birkhan: Celts. Attempt at a complete representation of their culture. P. 869.
2. ↑ Helmut Birkhan: Celts. Attempt at a complete representation of their culture. Pp. 915, 955.
3. ↑ Helmut Birkhan: Celts. Attempt at a complete representation of their culture. P. 873.
4. ^ Ingeborg Clarus: Celtic myths. Man and his otherworld. P. 120 ff.