The Boy Who Became a Hero Trivia Quiz

Answer:

Cú Chulainn is a hero of the Ulster Cycle, one of the four great cycles of Irish mythology (along with the Mythological, Fenian and Historical Cycles). While the Mythological Cycle deals with gods and supernatural beings, the Ulster Cycle tells of mortal heroes, tribal warfare, honour and tragic fates in a mythical version of Iron Age Ulster. It is particularly concerned with the court of King Conchobar mac Nessa and the warriors of the Red Branch.

The "Táin Bó Cúailnge" ("The Cattle Raid of Cooley") is the central epic of the Ulster Cycle and one of the most important works of early Irish literature. Often referred to simply as "The Táin", it is the longest and most coherent heroic saga in the Irish mythological tradition. It survives in several manuscript versions, the earliest in the 12th century "Book of the Dun Cow" and the 14th century "Book of Leinster", although the stories themselves probably date from the 7th or 8th century and are derived from oral tradition. "The Táin" tells of a great war between the province of Connacht, led by Queen Medb, and Ulster, over the possession of a magnificent bull called Donn Cúailnge. It is within this war tale that Cú Chulainn emerges as the lone defender of Ulster, holding off an entire invading army.

Cú Chulainn was born as Sétanta, son of Deichtine and possibly the god Lugh. He acquired his new name as a boy when he was invited to a feast at the home of the smith Culann. Arriving late and unaware that a fearsome guard dog had been unleashed, Sétanta was attacked - but he killed the beast by driving his sliotar (a hurling ball) down its throat with his hurley. Ashamed to have killed the smith's guard, he offered to take its place until a replacement could be found. From then on he was knwon as Cú Chulainn - "the Hound of Culann".

As a young man he travelled to Scotland to train with the warrior-woman Scáthach, who ruled a stronghold on the Isle of Skye. She was renowned for her martial prowess and her ability to foresee fate. She taught Cú Chulainn many things, most famously the use of the Gáe Bulg - a uniquely deadly spear that penetrated the body with a single thrust but exploded into barbs, making it fatal and impossible to withdraw. Only Cú Chulainn was said to have mastered it. While its exploding nature is unique, the idea of a divine or exclusive weapon is common in world mythology: King Arthur's sword Excalibur could only be drawn by him; in Hindu myth, Arjuna's Gandiva and Karna's Vasavi Shakti were divine weapons wielded by chosen heroes; and Thor's hammer Mjölnir could not be lifted by others and always returned to him.

In battle, Cú Chulainn would enter a supernatural frenzy known as the Ríastrad. This terrifying state distorted his body into monstrous shapes - muscles swelling, one eye shrinking as the other bulged out, and his hair bristling with sparks. It made him almost unstoppable. The Ríastrad is unique to Cú Chulainn in Irish myth, but comparable to the Norse berserker rage: elite Viking warriors would enter a trance-like rage (berserkgangr), becoming immune to pain and possessed by animal spirits such as bears or wolves.

Today, Cú Chulainn is a powerful symbol in Irish culture and appears in literature, sculpture and murals. His image has been adopted by both nationalists and unionist traditions - seen as a martyr of Irish independence by Republicans and as a heroic defender of Ulster by Loyalists.