Celtic MythologyFew surviving Celtic myths bear any resemblance to their originals. In the course of time they have been infused with romance, pseudohistory and Christian theory. Stories of Ireland and Wales have been combined with tales of love, war and slaughterdeeds both noble and ignoble. In this classic study, MacCulloch proves that Celtic legend borrowed from preCeltic mythology, just as Christianity in Britain subsumed much of the Celtic past. |
Contents
Illustrations | |
Dedication | |
Authors Preface | |
Introduction | |
Chapter I The Strife of the Gods | 23 |
Chapter II Tuatha De Danann and Milesians | 42 |
Chapter III The Division of the Sid | 49 |
Chapter IV Mythic Powers of the Gods | 54 |
Chapter VIII The Myths of the British Celts | 92 |
Chapter IX The Divine Land | 114 |
Chapter X Mythical Animals and Other Beings | 123 |
Chapter XI Myths of Origins | 135 |
Chapter XII The Heroic Myths I Cuchulainn and his Circle | 139 |
Chapter XIII The Heroic Myths II Fionn and the Feinn | 160 |
Chapter XIV The Heroic Myths III Arthur | 184 |
Chapter XV Paganism and Christianity | 206 |
Chapter V Gods Helping Mortals | 62 |
Chapter VI Divine Enmity and Punishment | 68 |
Chapter VII The Loves of the Gods | 78 |
Notes | 215 |
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Common terms and phrases
Ailill animals Annwfn appeared Arthur bade battle beautiful became birds boar Bodb Bodb Dearg Bran Bres Bricriu Brug Brythonic bull Caoilte cauldron Celtic Celts Cernunnos Christian Conall Conchobar Connla Cormac Cúalnge Cúchulainn Cumhal Cúroi d'Arbois Dagda daughter death deity Diarmaid divine land Druids Elcmar Elysium Eochaid Erin Etain euhemerizing fairy Fand father Féinn Fiachna fight Findabair Fionn folk-tale Fomorians Gaulish goddess gods Grail Grainne head hero horse incident Ireland Irish island killed King Kulhwch Lludd loch Loeg Loegaire Loth Mabinogion magic Manannan Manawyddan Medb Midir Milesians Mongan Morrígan mortals mother myth mythic mythology Nuada O'Curry Oengus Oisin pagan Plate poem Pryderi Pwyll RCel xv romance S-symbol S. H. O'Grady sang Scáthach síd slain slew Stokes story supra swine sword Táin tale Taliesin Text and translation told tradition Tuatha Dé Danann Ulster warrior Welsh whereupon wife Windisch woman