Post by Iris on Mar 13, 2004 16:12:19 GMT -5
Seti said:
Would you mind explaining the Cuchulainn story for the ones who don't know it? I don't recall hearing of the name.Sure thing. A lot of these names elude me, so I'm writing this with the help of one of my books. (I'm better with Greek mythology; I know some Celtic stuff, but I'm horrible with the names.)
Cuchulainn was the champion of Ulster, according to Celtic myth. He was rather tempermental and killed his own son--this part doesn't fit Cuan, but a lot of the other stuff does. ^^;;
Cathbad, who was a druid and advisor to King Conchobar Mac Nessa, foretold that Cuchulainn would become a great warrior but die young. (Curse of the Gae Bolg, anyone?) Cathbad, incidentally, was also Cuchulainn's grandfather on his mother's side. Cuchulainn's father was technically the god Lugh, but he was raised as the son of Sualtam Mac Roth. I can't really find a parallel with Cuan for the bit about his father, but the curse being predicted by his grandfather...well, that kind of fits right into the whole deal about the curse going down through the family, and in the Osawa manga, Cuan's father is the one who explains the curse.
Cathbad warned Cuchulainn that if he went into battle for the first time on a certain day, he was destined for a short life, but Cuchulainn, displaying that natural arrogance (I've always read Cuan as being confident almost to the point of arrogance), couldn't wait to take down Ulster's enemies and went out there anyway (Cuan's rather zealous about fighting Thracia). He displayed a really frightening battle frenzy here...okay, I can't really relate that one to Cuan, either.
He got his battle training from Scathach, a warrior from the Isle of Shadows. (He also slept with her daughter. Okay, so once again I can't make that fit Cuan. Shut up.) He challenged Scathach's sister Aoifa, beat her in a fight, and slept with her too. (*facepalm* The womanizing doesn't fit, okay?) Scathach is the one who gave him the Gae Bolg.
Queen Medb attacked Ulster, and most of the warriors were laid low, but Cuchulainn kept fighting alone and was able to hold them off until the curse wore off. But he died in the process, after tying himself to an upright stone so he could fight until his last breath. (Which I could easily see Cuan doing if Altenna hadn't come into the picture.)
Okay, so when I look at it more closely, the parallels aren't perfect, but I still think there's enough there to make a very good case. Add in the other parallels between Lenster and Celtic mythology, and I think it's the best reference in the game because a lot of fits really well.
