FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!
Quiz about Figures from Celtic Folklore
Quiz about Figures from Celtic Folklore

Figures from Celtic Folklore Trivia Quiz


Celtic culture is primarily found in six Celtic nations of the British Isles and France. Here are some folklore figures from these traditions. By the way, each of these names has a multitude of spelling variations, so bear with me. Thanks and enjoy!

A multiple-choice quiz by shvdotr. Estimated time: 5 mins.
  1. Home
  2. »
  3. Quizzes
  4. »
  5. Humanities Trivia
  6. »
  7. Mythology & Legends
  8. »
  9. World Myth

Author
shvdotr
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
388,772
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
212
Awards
Top 20% Quiz
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. Which giant of Welsh folklore is a Celtic hero and King of Britain, whose head was buried in London to protect the island? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Born Setanta, this defender of Ulster was renamed after killing a blacksmith's enormous hound in self defense. At the age of 17 he defended Ulster's prize stud bull from a raid by the Warrior Queen of Connacht. Who was this Irish hero? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. The Minch is a stretch of water that separates the northwest coast of Scotland from the Outer Hebrides. It is inhabited by creatures sometimes called storm kelpies who sometimes recite poetry as a challenge before capturing sailors or passengers on ships crossing the Minch. What is the most common term for these creatures? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. While five of the six Celtic nations lie in the British Isles, the sixth is found on the French peninsula known as Brittany. Who is a major figure of Breton folk stories who earned the epithet of "the Great" as legendary king of Cornouaille (Brittany)? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. The founder of Cornwall was a prodigious warrior and slayer of the giant Gogmagog. Who was this Celtic hero who led a group of Trojan survivors to Britain after killing thousands of warriors single handedly in Gaul before crossing the Channel? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. In the Irish Sea is the Celtic nation of the Isle of Man. It is widely believed that the island gets its name from which son of the sea god Lir? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Other pockets of Celtic culture can be found in Spain and Portugal, despite the lack of Celtic languages being spoken there. In Spain's Asturias and Galicia regions can be found a Celtic figure depicted as a man with a thick beard and a large hat. Who is this figure whose name means "the Cloud Master" and who can control the weather? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Who was the legendary Irish giant often credited with the creation of Antrim County's Giant's Causeway, that he built in anticipation of a battle with the Scottish giant Benandonner? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Let's wrap up with a couple of strong Celtic women. First, from the Welsh "Mabinogion", comes a woman who chooses Pwyll, prince of the west Wales kingdom Dyfed, as her consort. Their son, Pryderi, becomes a hero in his own right. Who is this lady who is also seen in Welsh tradition as a goddess? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Our final figure is a Scottish warrior queen who also features in the Irish Ulster Cycle as the person to whom Cu Chulainn goes for his final training as a warrior. As a matter of fact, it is she who presents him with his fearsome spear. Who is this queen whose dun is the Fortress of Shadows? Hint



(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

arrow Select a User ID:
arrow Choose a Password:
arrow Your Email:




Most Recent Scores
Mar 16 2024 : Guest 110: 2/10
Feb 03 2024 : colbymanram: 8/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Which giant of Welsh folklore is a Celtic hero and King of Britain, whose head was buried in London to protect the island?

Answer: Bran

Also known as Bran the Blessed, this hero also shares the name of the God of Regeneration, Bran Fendigaid. "Bran" means crow or raven in Welsh. He was so large that he was able to walk from Britain to Ireland while his forces sailed, when Bran's sister was in distress.

Mortally wounded fighting the Irish, Bran tells the Welsh survivors of the battle to bury his head at the site of modern London, where it protects the island until disinterred later by King Arthur.

Caradoc, also called Caradoc Vreichvras (Caradoc Strongarm), is an ancestor of the kings of Gwent (part of Wales). He is also known as a knight of Arthur's Roundtable. Taliesin is a great poet of Celtic Britain. Tanith is an ancient goddess of Carthage. Her name has also been used for several fantasy literary characters.
2. Born Setanta, this defender of Ulster was renamed after killing a blacksmith's enormous hound in self defense. At the age of 17 he defended Ulster's prize stud bull from a raid by the Warrior Queen of Connacht. Who was this Irish hero?

Answer: Cu Chulainn

Setanta arrived late at a feast at the home of Culann (or Chulainn) the Smith, who had released his guard dog, thinking all the visitors had arrived. The hound attacked the newcomer, who was forced to kill it. The lad then promised to take the guard dog's place as long as necessary and he was given the name "Culann's Hound," or Cu Chulainn.

The Tuatha De Danann are the Irish race of gods founded by Danu. Later in Celtic culture they become fairy folk. Gae Bulg is Cu Chulainn's spear. Zmey Gorynych is a dragon in Slavic mythology.
3. The Minch is a stretch of water that separates the northwest coast of Scotland from the Outer Hebrides. It is inhabited by creatures sometimes called storm kelpies who sometimes recite poetry as a challenge before capturing sailors or passengers on ships crossing the Minch. What is the most common term for these creatures?

Answer: Blue Men

The Dagda was the leader and father figure of the Tuatha De Danaan. Russalka was a water spirit or mermaid from Slavic culture. Ben varrey are the merfolk living near the Isle of Man. The mermaids are especially noted by the Manx for many acts of kindness toward the islanders.
4. While five of the six Celtic nations lie in the British Isles, the sixth is found on the French peninsula known as Brittany. Who is a major figure of Breton folk stories who earned the epithet of "the Great" as legendary king of Cornouaille (Brittany)?

Answer: Gradlon Mawr

Gradlon Mawr (Gradlon the Great) is the son of Conan Meriadoc, founder of Brittany. Gradlon is said to have fallen in love with, and marrying, a fairy or magician named Malgven. Their daughter, Dahut, will eventually die in the sea in the sinking of Gradlon's city of Ker Ys, and become a siren. Outside of Brittany, Gradlon is known as Urban.

Several Gradlons appear as counts in historical records of Brittany.

Lugh is the Celtic sun god. Lia Fail is the Stone of Destiny in Irish legend. Tir na Og, translated as "Land of Youth," is another name for the Otherworld, where the Tuatha De Danann dwell.
5. The founder of Cornwall was a prodigious warrior and slayer of the giant Gogmagog. Who was this Celtic hero who led a group of Trojan survivors to Britain after killing thousands of warriors single handedly in Gaul before crossing the Channel?

Answer: Corineus

According to Geoffrey of Monmouth's 1136 work, "History of the Kings of Britain," Corineus led a contingent of Troy's survivors to Britain. On the way, he accepted the leadership of Brutus, a son of Aeneas, to lead the group to Albion, which Brutus names Britain after himself. Corineus settled in Cornwall, where he established his rule as duke by throwing Gogmagog over a cliff during a wrestling match.

The Korrigans are a group of female spirits of Brittany associated with rivers and wells. Be wary of them and their fairy-like powers. Conn of the Hundred Battles (Conn Cétchathach) was a high king of Ireland. Conn Iggulden is an outstanding British author, especially of historical fiction.
6. In the Irish Sea is the Celtic nation of the Isle of Man. It is widely believed that the island gets its name from which son of the sea god Lir?

Answer: Manannan

The Manx name for the Isle of Man is Mannin. Manannán mac Lir is the modern Irish and Scots Gaelic name of this son of Lir (Llyr in Welsh). Manannan himself has come to be considered the sea god. In an early Manx poem, he is mentioned as the first king of the Isle of Man with the name Manannan-beg-mac-y-Lheirr.

Mandanu is the Mesopotamian god of divine judgment. Manu is the Hindu figure of the first man. Manitowoc is a city in Wisconsin, located on Lake Michigan.
7. Other pockets of Celtic culture can be found in Spain and Portugal, despite the lack of Celtic languages being spoken there. In Spain's Asturias and Galicia regions can be found a Celtic figure depicted as a man with a thick beard and a large hat. Who is this figure whose name means "the Cloud Master" and who can control the weather?

Answer: the Nuberu

In some tales the Nuberu is a single individual, while in others the term refers to a species of dwarf-like people. Known as Reñubeiru or Xuan Cabritu in Western Asturias, he is the god of clouds and storms.

Among the Tuatha De Danann, Ogma is the brother of The Dagda. He is associated with learning and is credited with creating the Ogham script.

The Morrigan is a goddess of strife and fertility. She often appears as a crow or raven.

The Pwca are shape-shifting creatures who can bring good or ill fortunes to humans. They often appear as horses, dogs, or hares, or as humans with animal ears or tails.
8. Who was the legendary Irish giant often credited with the creation of Antrim County's Giant's Causeway, that he built in anticipation of a battle with the Scottish giant Benandonner?

Answer: Fionn mac Cumhaill

In Irish legend and story, Fionn is also known as Finn McCool. The figure is also seen as a hero and leader of the warrior band Fianna, as found in the Irish literary Fenian Cycle.

Ysbaddaden Bencawr is a legendary Welsh giant from the Welsh romance "Culhwch ac Olwen." Wieland der Schmied (Weland the Smith), also known as Volunder in the Norse mythology, is the blacksmith who forged the sword of Siegfried and the Ring of the Nibelungen in the Germanic legends and Wagner's operas. Gwyn ap Nudd is a king of Annwn, part of the Welsh Otherworld.
9. Let's wrap up with a couple of strong Celtic women. First, from the Welsh "Mabinogion", comes a woman who chooses Pwyll, prince of the west Wales kingdom Dyfed, as her consort. Their son, Pryderi, becomes a hero in his own right. Who is this lady who is also seen in Welsh tradition as a goddess?

Answer: Rhiannon

Rhiannon is also linked to Epona, the horse goddess of Gaulish traditions. Rhiannon's name and image have become very popular in modern music and art.

Gwenivere (Gwenhwyfar in Welsh) is the wife of King Arthur. Brigid is a Celtic fire goddess and is associated with Arthur's sword Excalibur, as well as Avalon, the Isle of Apples. She is also associated with oak trees and is considered patroness of Druids. Iseult, or Isolde, is an Irish princess and chief character in the story of Tristan and Isolde, a Celtic romance in the Arthurian tradition as well as an opera by Richard Wagner.
10. Our final figure is a Scottish warrior queen who also features in the Irish Ulster Cycle as the person to whom Cu Chulainn goes for his final training as a warrior. As a matter of fact, it is she who presents him with his fearsome spear. Who is this queen whose dun is the Fortress of Shadows?

Answer: Sgathaich

Sgathach is also known as the Shadowy One. The ruins of Dunscaith Castle, on the Isle of Skye, stand at the location of her fortress, Dùn Sgàthaich.

Nimue is one of the names ascribed to the Lady of the Lake of the Arthurian tales. Iceni Queen Boadicea (spelled "Boudicca" by Tacitus) led a rebellion against Roman rule in Britain about AD 60. Isis is a major Egyptian goddess as sister and wife of Osiris. Isis cults also became prominent among the Greeks and Romans.
Source: Author shvdotr

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor looney_tunes before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
3/29/2024, Copyright 2024 FunTrivia, Inc. - Report an Error / Contact Us