Eachtra Mhacaoimhan-iolair

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Eachtra Mhacaoimhan-iolair ("The Adventures of the Eagle Boy") is an Irish story from the legendary circle of King Arthur . A second legend of the same structure is Eachtra an Mhadra Mhaoil (“The adventures of the dog with the clipped ears”).

Text history

The story has come down to us in several manuscripts, all of which date from the 18th century. The age of the story is, according to the language, in the 15th / 16th centuries. Century. A takeover of Dutch Arthurian traditions is likely, an indication of this is, in addition to other text elements, above all the use of the word ridire ("knight"). Regular military and peaceful contacts between Ireland and Flanders have been documented since 1167, when a mercenary army of Normans, Welsh and Flemings fought in Ireland for the first time.

The previous oral tradition is clearly understandable in the structure of the story. Despite the exotic locations, this legend is entirely part of the narrative tradition of Irish mythology. Unlike the Arthurian heroes of the Matière de Bretagne , the protagonists have magical powers and are subject to the typical Irish gessi (taboos). The connection to the Arthurian legend is limited to a mention of the king under the title Rí at Domhain ( "King of the World").

content

The sons of the king of Sorcha dispute over the paternal inheritance. The older son, called Ridire na Sealga ("Knight of the Hunt"), marries a princess of the Scythians and succeeds on the throne. His younger brother, the Ridire an Ghaisirdh ("Knight of Boldness"), murders him and locks his pregnant wife in a tower. There she gives birth to a son who is stolen by an eagle and deposited at the Carrthad na mBuaidh ("Stone of Virtues") on the Máigh na nLongnadh ("Field of Miracles") in front of the court of King Arthur. The boy is raised by the king and soon surpasses all his contemporaries in strength and intelligence. He sets out on the quest (“search”) for his origin, as in the Arthurian legends it is the task of the knights. He has to watch from afar as a woman, whose companions have been stunned by playing on a silver flute, is abused and kidnapped by a knight. The eagle boy pursues this Ridire an Chiuil ("Knight of Music"), similar to the old Irish Immrama ("rowing", seafaring, sea voyage to mythical islands), with his curragh (leather boat), which has wonderful properties. In his search for the knight, he manages to kill three giants who have a girl in their power. He frees her and becomes engaged to her. With the help of a knight whom he has honored, he finds the tower of the Knight of Music. He penetrates the tower with a giant leap, overcomes the owner who is holding the abused and robbed woman prisoner and brings her to Arthur, who marries her. On the further quest to find out where he came from, he came to Scythia, where his mother was able to flee. This country is attacked by the murderer of his father, the knight of daring, the eagle boy is defeated and kills him and takes over the rule in Sorcha .

The reference to Scythia as the home of the mother of the eagle boy is likely to be an insertion in favor of the Scythia / Scotia etymology. Already in the Lebor Gabála Érenn ("Book of Landing of Ireland") an origin of the Gaelic people from Scythia is derived (see Agnomain ).

See also

literature