C is for Cuchulain

"The story, I heard was that when this youth was attacked by the hound, he killed it. And while the warriors of Ulaidh were amazed by this feat, Cullan was sorrowful that his faithful hound had died for the safety of his house. The youth Setanta then offered to guard Cullan's house until such time as a hound whelp had been trained to take its sire's place. So Setanta became Cullan's hound - Cuchulain." 

- Celtic Myths and Legends- 

Cuchulain is an interesting character within Celtic Mythology, as his origins are quite unclear. Whether he is a god at all remains unclear, as his parents differ in many retellings. In some tellings, his mother is divine, and in others she is human. What can be agreed upon is the influence of the god Lugh, who is said to be a type of spiritual father to Cuchulain. To confuse the tale though, Cuchulain has a biological father, who is human. Still, in the tales Cuchulain is somehow divine himself. Part of all this confusion is no doubt due to the massive time span of these tales. Tales regarding Cuchulain date back prior to the seventh century, only then to be revived. It's an amazing thing that these tales survive today, in many different forms. 

Cuchulain is first introduced as Setanta, who famously kills one of Cullan's hounds. Offering to take its place, he earns the nickname Cuchulain or Hound of Ulster. A few years pass, and Cuchulain is a handsome youth, and the men around him begin to worry. The men convince him to accept a challenge to train under Scathach, who is a warrior and Goddess. Hoping the ordeal will be too much for Cuchulain, they see him off on this challenge. The tales of Cuchulain's training are many, and perhaps some of the best told about him. It was these first initial tales that I was introduced to his character, and I have been fond of him ever since. Though there are different versions, many of the events stay the same. 

Cuchulain reaches the Isle of Shadow, where the Goddess Scathach lives. Gaining entrance to her castle, which was no easy task, gave Cuchulain entrance to Scathach's academy. There he trained under the Goddess, and became a highly skilled warrior. Later, he returned to Ulster, and joined the Red Branch, a group of warriors. Cuchulain died young, fighting Queen Maeve of Connacht. Some say that Cuchulain failed to recognize Morrigan flying over him, and that is what lead to his death. With his life cut short, and his strong fighting abilities many have linked him with the likes of Achilles and Hercules. While many Celtic deities shared influences with Roman deities, there is no solid link between these tales.

For me, it is rare to find gods to relate to, and the ones that I do startle my awareness. For years, I focused on the gods Apollo, Mars, Ares, Eros, and Thanatos. Because most of the gods I've gotten to know in the past have been Roman or Greek, it's tough to switch to a new pantheon. What makes this transition easier, is being able to recognized equatable gods. While Cuchulain doesn't really have an equivalent, his father is still Lugh, God of light. Lugh is equivalent to the god Apollo, and one I have gotten to know quite well. As it happens Apollo was the first aspect of god that I worshipped and got to know in my path. This was became of his twin sister Artemis, who I related to greatly at the time. 

It seems wonderful to me, that the first god I was introduced to in Celtic mythology was Lugh. The familiar attributes were a welcome change. Perhaps this is why I enjoy getting to know Cuchulain. He has a mixture of both the god Ares and Apollo. Cuchulain is often linked to the sword and the spear, as is Ares, not to mention Cuchulain's fierceness in battle. The things I have gotten to know about Cuchulain are the playfulness of Apollo, and the passion of Ares. For me, the combination is almost one of pure enjoyment. Cuchulain isn't as prevalent in my life as many other god/desses, and it's that much better when he shows up. At times though, it's Setanta that shows up, before the burdens of life create a god out of a man. 

Cuchulain remains a symbol of perseverance, and shows us where our own strength lies. For me, some of the things Cuchllain has taught me lie in the nature of his aspect. Widely though, Cuchulain teaches the power of masculinity. He is symbolic of the power of the god within each of us, whether male or female. Cuchulain may appear a god, or a mortal man still yet to achieve his greatness. He was a lover of Fand, and yet a lover of Emer. A strong warrior, he still remained chivalrous and yet fierce. Cuchulain is the very son of Lugh, and no doubt his handsome is because of that great light within him. Whatever the path today, the light of Lugh and Cuchulain are sure to guide your path.