For questions about an epic story making up part of the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, compiled in the Middle Ages but dating from many centuries earlier.
A translation of the tain-bo-cuailnge can be found here.
Questions tagged [tain-bo-cuailnge]
7 questions
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What did Cuchulainn's warp spasm look like?
In the Táin Bó Cúailnge, or Cattle Raid of Cooley, the great Irish hero Cuchulainn is said to undergo a process which appears to be quite similar to "hulking out". The most colorful translation of the phrase used to describe this transformation is…
Wad Cheber
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Why isn't Súaltam disabled by Macha's curse?
In the Táin Bó Cúailnge, the men of Ulster are disabled by a curse placed upon them by Macha to feel her labor pains in their hour of greatest need, thus disabling them when the army of Connacht attacks.
Cúchulainn is immune to the curse. I've…
femtoRgon
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Why isn't Loeg disabled by Macha's curse?
In the Táin Bó Cúailnge, the men of Ulster are disabled by a curse placed upon them by Macha to feel her labor pains in their hour of greatest need, thus disabling them when the army of Connacht attacks.
Cúchulainn is immune to this curse. As I…
femtoRgon
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Symbolism of Irish characters with multiple pupils in each eye
Multiple translations of the Táin Bó Cúalnge describe Fedelm as having three pupils in each eye:
She had a blue-grey and laughing eye; each eye had three pupils.
(Dunn)
Each of her two eyes had three pupils.
(Faraday)
Why is that?
On a related…
user62
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1 answer
Where are the three Maels of Meath?
The Tain fairly often specifies specific geographical locations as the settings for its events.
In the final battle of the Tain, Fergus is convinced to turn from the battle and expend his anger on the hills, to spare the men of Ulster.
Thus it was…
femtoRgon
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How could Cuchulainn yield to Fergus?
This is closely related to a previous question: Why couldn't Cuchulainn yield to Ferdiad (or vice versa)?
It seems clear from the answer there that Cuchulainn would be bound to fight to defend the men of Ulster, regardless of any affection for his…
femtoRgon
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Why couldn't Cuchulainn yield to Ferdiad (or vice versa)?
Earlier in the Tain Bo Cuailnge, Fergus Mac Roich and Cuchulainn meet for single combat. At this time, Fergus makes an arrangement with Cuchulainn, that if Cuchulainn yeilds to him in their single combat, Fergus will yield when they meet in battle…
femtoRgon
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