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This is the main illustration of the Celtic Heroes website. We wanted to show it to you full size (click on the image to see it in its entirety) though, as it illustrates one of the most Epic moment of Irish Celtic mythology. The following text (see below for more) is translated by us from the French translation by C.J. Guyonvarc'h (Textes Mythologiques Irlandais), lacking for a source in English language. If you know of one, please link it in a comment. Thanks.
This version of Lug's engagement in the Second Battle of Mag Tured is little known. It's an extract from a late manuscript from the XVIIth century (MS24p9, Royal Irish Academy of Dublin, folio 65-97, published by Brian O' Cuiv, Institute for Advanced Studies, Dublin, 1945) composed between year 1651 and 1652. Most specialists though, agree on the fact that this source records a much older version of the traditional oral epic.
Chained, Lug gave himself a shake, so that he threw away the heavy stone pillars set deep in the ground, and the heavy chains were dragged in their wake, so strong was the blow he dealt, he, the illustrious master of numerous arts.
He then sprinted after the troops to withhold them.
The commotion of this race was great, in truth, due to the rubbing of the rough iron chains, and the clanging of the tough headed pillars against the bare and heavy stones. So that they could have made a blazing day from the darkest of nights.
The bursting of chains and the collision of pillars was such, with sparks and particles of red fire, that each flame of red fire which loomed over the edge was like the woolly fleece of a three years old ram.
He then sprinted after the troops to withhold them.
The commotion of this race was great, in truth, due to the rubbing of the rough iron chains, and the clanging of the tough headed pillars against the bare and heavy stones. So that they could have made a blazing day from the darkest of nights.
The bursting of chains and the collision of pillars was such, with sparks and particles of red fire, that each flame of red fire which loomed over the edge was like the woolly fleece of a three years old ram.
This version of Lug's engagement in the Second Battle of Mag Tured is little known. It's an extract from a late manuscript from the XVIIth century (MS24p9, Royal Irish Academy of Dublin, folio 65-97, published by Brian O' Cuiv, Institute for Advanced Studies, Dublin, 1945) composed between year 1651 and 1652. Most specialists though, agree on the fact that this source records a much older version of the traditional oral epic.
Comments
The second battle of Moytura can be found on the CELT (Corpus of Electronic Texts) website.
http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T3...
It's the most epic tale of the Mythological cycle, without a doubt.
I love this part:
"Many beautiful men fell there in the stall of death. Great was the slaughter and the grave-lying which took place there. Pride and shame were there side by side. There was anger and indignation. Abundant was the stream of blood over the white skin of young warriors mangled by the hands of bold men while rushing into danger for shame. Harsh was the noise made by the multitude of warriors and champions protecting their swords and shields and bodies while others were striking them with spears and swords. Harsh too the tumult all over the battlefield—the shouting of the warriors and the clashing of bright shields, the swish of swords and ivory-hilted blades, the clatter and rattling of the quivers, the hum and whirr of spears and javelins, the crashing strokes of weapons.
As they hacked at each other their fingertips and their feet almost met; and because of the slipperiness of the blood under the warriors' feet, they kept falling down, and their heads were cut off them as they sat. A gory, wound-inflicting, sharp, bloody battle was upheaved, and spearshafts were reddened in the hands of foes."
@Al : Hi Al.
Yes, no doubt you're quoting the most epic passage of them all !
As for the source, we couldn't find the specific passage we're talking of on the Dr. Elizabeth A. Gray's compilation you're referring to. I don't remember having seen it in English language anywhere on the web.
Thanks a lot for adding this great passage to this post. It illustrates the Battle so well.
Ups something happen and it post my former comment instead of the new one.... I didn't find the exact passage neither, I'll make further research
this my favorite moment.it's very powerful!
hail my brother great stuff, it's the better of yourself!
sorry for my english!
You might want to look at the books of Lady Gregory. She collected together many of our great myths into one compendium at the turn of the last century.
You can read the story of Lugh (pronounced Looo) and The Tuatha De Danaan here: http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/cel...
I have to say that I love your artwork, and a little saddened by the name translations into English. They lose some of their elegance IMHO. If I can help with this, please let me know.
@Rory O'Connor : Yes, we sure loose something in translations. Gaeilge is such a beautifull language (not that I can speak it, but I love the sounds of it).
We plan on working on a sort of illustrated genealogical chart of all the characters intervening in both the Book of Invasions and the Red Branch Cycle, sometime at the end of the year, and this document will HAVE to feature the original spellings. Could we contact you then for some proofreading ?
Thanks for your kind appreciation, !